Windows 7

Microsoft Windows 7: A Review
By D.B. Grady


It's hard to believe that Microsoft Windows XP is eight years old. In computer years, that's just slightly younger than the abacus. And though I was a reluctant convert, would come to adore its jellybean-explosion user interface and remarkable stability. When Windows Vista hit the market, however, it felt like a bad redesign of a classic muscle car.

Microsoft bungled Vista's release with confusing versions, weak driver support, and User Account Control, the engine behind that multitude of nagging nanny prompts asking, "Are you sure you want to do that?" followed by prompts asking, "Are you really sure you want to do that?" followed by prompts demanding administrative permissions, which amounted to clicking the OK button.

But in fairness, Windows Vista got a bum rap. UAC could be disabled, and driver support quickly improved. The worst of its reputation was not Microsoft's fault. Vista hit the market as computer prices plummeted. To compensate for diminished revenue, PC makers turned to third-party developers to subsidize the cost of manufacturing.

The result was computers bundled and overburdened with "shovelware," rendering many systems so sluggish out-of-the-box as to be useless to the average consumer. The shiny Powered by Vista stickers suddenly looked like warning labels, even though Vista had little to do with the performance issues.

It remains to be seen whether software bloat will so cripple the newest version of Microsoft's flagship product, Windows 7. On its own, however, Windows 7 is in many ways what Vista should have been. (Indeed, in a lot of ways, Windows 7 is Vista, polished, much in the way that Apple Snow Leopard is an incremental improvement on Leopard.) It's faster. It's more aesthetically pleasing. It's packed with features that Windows users have desired for years (and Mac users have enjoyed since the 90s). It's a tremendous product of engineering that many thought the Redmond company was no longer capable of producing.

Computers running multi-core processors (that is to say, most modern computers) will notice a pronounced speed boost, as the new Windows is more adept at leveraging this technology. Everyone will see decreased boot times. Internet functionality is now seamless and tightly integrated, blurring the line between the "cloud" and the physical.

Windows 7 was designed with an eye toward the future. The most obvious visual enhancement is the taskbar, which now allows programs to be pinned alongside running programs, a clear nod to the Mac's Dock.

If there were a statue of User Account Control in the town square, rejoicing computer users everywhere would have overturned it in celebration of Windows 7's release. UAC has been heavily refined so as to be invisible for general computing.

Some speculate that this leaves Windows 7 vulnerable to spyware and viruses, but experience tells me that the same people who'd stumble across and install malware never hesitated to click "Yes, Yes, Yes" in any event. As always, it is critical to run a good antivirus program such as Microsoft Security Essentials, a free download at: http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

While nobody will be disappointed with Windows 7, it does come at a steep price: $159.95 at the lowest end, up to $299. Therein lies another of Microsoft's weaknesses: multiple versions of the same software. Do you need Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, or Professional or Enterprise or Ultimate?

Microsoft offers a checklist of features available to each one, but the real question is: why not give users the best experience, every time, at a reasonable price? Why ask users to decide whether or not they need Domain Joining, AppLocker, or DirectAccess, when most users have no idea what such features entail?

Regardless, Windows 7 is the best operating system from Microsoft since Windows XP, and well worth upgrading on any multi-core system. But do your homework first. There is a world of difference between Ultimate and Home Basic.

The Mouse That Roared

Anyone who works in an office or is otherwise shackled to a computer all day should demand three accommodations from his or her employer: a good chair, a good monitor, and a good mouse. The first two can get very expensive very quickly, and short of a doctor's note – this works, by the way! – do not always meet with a stingy manager's approval.

But mouse devices are relatively inexpensive, and well worth the investment. (A good mouse is cheaper than a good carpal tunnel surgeon.)

But not all mice are created equal. If the choice is between a Logitech mouse and sawing off my own hand, my only real decision is Craftsman or Black and Decker.

Microsoft is the undisputed king of mouse technology. The Redmond company pioneered ergonomic design. They mainstreamed optical tracking (ridding the world of the lint magnet that was the mechanical ball mouse).

They introduced arguably the most impressive leap in human-computer interaction since the keyboard – the clickable scroll wheel. And most recently, they pioneered Blue Track technology, allowing their mice to be used on virtually any surface, from carpet to cardboard.

Whether one is a gamer or a spreadsheet jockey, Microsoft makes a mouse for you. Prices vary with features. The standard wireless workhorse – the Optical Mouse 3000 – can be found for as little as $15, a real bargain. Its collapsible (and gorgeously designed) Arc Mouse, for those frequently on the go, runs $30. And its flagship device, the Blue Track Explorer, runs $69.

Each mouse is compatible with both PC and Mac systems, and included software enables complete customization and button assignment. Microsoft has left little to chance, and with a bit of research (there are demonstration models in stores everywhere), the right model can be found for users of every type.

Apple, on the other hand, hasn't made a good mouse since 1984, when they popularized the peripheral with the original Macintosh computer. (The notorious technology curmudgeon John Dvorak guaranteed its popularity by declaring that nobody would ever want to use such things.)

Since then, however, it's been one failure after another, most notably the appalling "puck" mouse, released in conjunction with the otherwise game-changing iMac in 1998. (This is not even to mention the execrable Mighty Mouse in 2005.)

Last week, Steve Jobs unveiled the Magic Mouse, a device with a name only Billy Mays could love, but with features that may well turn the industry upside-down.

The Magic Mouse has no buttons. It has no scroll wheel or trackball or wires. And yet it may well be the most ambitious input device on the market. The entire mouse is a "multitouch" device. Users of the Apple iPhone will recognize that word – it's the feature that allows photos and websites to be enlarged and reduced. It enables swiping through contact lists and across music libraries. It fosters imaginative video games and facilitates touchscreen interaction.
And now it's come to the mouse.

The entire surface of the Magic Mouse is a button. The entire surface of the mouse is a scroll wheel for navigation both horizontal and vertical. It detects two-finger navigation and enables screen zooming and iTunes navigation. It supports right-clicking, and allows for ambidextrous customization. Its laser, while not so advanced as Microsoft's Blue Track, supports a broad array of surface tracking.

The Magic Mouse is powered by AA-batteries, and communicates with Macs and MacBooks by way of a Bluetooth connection, no USB dongles or base stations required. As of right now, it does not support PCs (though intrepid developers will no doubt remedy this oversight) and runs $69.

In the end, whether one settles on the sleek Apple device or the proven Microsoft brand, a well-chosen mouse can make computer work a little less frustrating, and maybe a little more enjoyable. But if the only choice is a Logitech, always go with a sharp blade, and find a leather strap to bite on. Better to go without a hand than to place a frustration in one.

Google Wave: Back to the Future

Last week, Google released invitations for the first private beta of Google Wave. Described by the Mountain View company as "email, if it were invented today," Wave is an ambitious attempt at real-time collaborative messaging with full multimedia integration. If ever there were a product with aspirations of completing a buzzword bingo card, this is it.

My expectations were high. It was clear from the earliest version of Gmail that web-based email had been fundamentally transformed. But to transform the very concept of email itself? If any company can do it, it is Google, with its elite stable of Computer Science PhDs and hippie culture of software dreamers.

Note to Google: keep dreaming.


In its present state—and understand that as a beta, it should be considered a work-in-progress—Google Wave is a mess. Putting aside the bugs, which result in frequent hangs, and its proclivity to simply stop working entirely, Wave is a shotgun blast to the face of information. When everything is important, nothing is important, and that is Wave's greatest weakness.

Here is how it works. Just as with traditional email, there is an inbox and an address book, folders and a trashcan. Just as with traditional email, letters (called "waves," lower-case) can be composed to one or several recipients at once. Wave takes the concept a step further, allowing public messages to be written for the whole world, a clear nod to the blog concept.

Composing messages in Wave, however, is like walking on a tightrope, because the recipient can see your messages as you type them. Every backspace, every deleted clause, every corrected typo, and every toned-down rewrite. (Who among us hasn't written a stern rebuke to a correspondent, only to delete the letter, and respond with a simple, "Thanks for your suggestion.")

Real time message streaming is not new. Indeed, it's very, very old. Hardened computer geeks will recall the BBS days, where such was common place. College students of the 90s will recall ICQ, the first mainstream instant messenger, which operated similarly. But that paradigm died as technology improved and the tension of livewire messaging became obvious. Do you know how much profanity can accidentally be typed from innocuous words? After a week on Wave, I do. Have fun messaging Grandma.

Responding to waves is the key to its potential. Instead of replying to an entire letter, correspondents can reply to individual paragraphs, sentences, or even words. The result is a letter that becomes sliced ever more thinly from a coherent construct of prose to a series of single-sentence back-and-forths. In a sense, what starts as a letter quickly regresses into fine-grain Twitter posts.

In messages between two or three people, this is not as problematic as one might think. But on public waves, or private correspondence between ten or more people (standard collaborative business emails, in other words), messages tend to self-destruct as everyone responds in real time to different slices of the message.

It soon becomes an exponential problem of figuring out who said what, and when, and the "larger message" is lost to details and asides. Ultimately, communication breaks down into brief replies to complete letters, which trends closely to the Gmail model, and defeats the Wave concept entirely.

Google is no doubt aware of this, and will almost certainly address these issues. Because Wave is an open, extensible standard, with the eventual goal of host interoperability, the system will soon break free of Google's walls and spread to private business servers and public domains.

If you work for a big business, the Wave tide will soon be rolling in, dictated by well-meaning corporate types. Remember when Share Point was the imposed panacea for every business communications woe? Get ready for the latest in migraine technology.

As of right now, Google is mad or delusional to think Wave will supplant email, even once the kinks are ironed out. Wave will undoubtedly spawn very exciting extensions and very useful niches, but as a person-to-person method of communication, the sense of permanence and intimacy of email is completely lost. In large measure, in fact, it seems not so much a replacement for email as a replacement for USENET.

But let's leave USENET six feet in the ground, where it belongs. And since email isn't dead, yet, let's not give it a premature burial. When it comes to messaging, I'm not saying Google Wave isn't the future. I'm just saying it looks an awful lot like the past.
Google Wave: http://wave.google.com

There's an App for That

The iPhone is unique for many things. A glass screen, for example, with its facial-grease collection technology. (Never before have I realized how truly disgusting human skin is, which makes the iPhone both a biology class and a Wes Craven film.) Its reliance on AT&T, and their advanced call-dropping feature, which makes every conversation a race to the final "goodbyes." Its compass application (available only in the new iPhone 3GS), which is useful for... something, I think.

But there is one place where Apple took the ball and ran with it, a place where not only did they revolutionize the mobile phone, but change the fundamental nature of software distribution: the App Store. To use an Army expression, the App Store is a "force multiplier." It took the existing iPhone platform, already a powerful, portable personal computer in its own right, and increased its utility exponentially. Yes, third-party software was available for smart phones and PDAs of yore. Palm Computing was rife with expansions. But never before has software browsing, purchasing, and installation been so easy, so effortless, so tempting. And at prices generally as low as 99-cents, a lot of basement millionaires have been made, and a lot of people have been helped on the go.

Evernote ranks as one of the most useful apps on the market. Part notepad, part voice memo recorder, part document storage service, Evernote allows users to organize and manage ideas and information. Browsing a website and want to save a bit of text or a photo? (Or the entire site?) Paste it into Evernote. Have PDFs or Microsoft Office documents that you need to access from anywhere? Upload it to the Evernote servers. See something at the store that you want to remember to purchase later, or research online? Take an Evernote snapshot.

Evernote is designed to read and search though this mountain of data. There are Windows, Mac, and web clients available, in addition to the iPhone app, and Blackberry and Palm versions. The app price: free. The online component is also free for the first 40 megabytes per month (which amounts to 20,000 notes or 400 pictures). Expansion, in the unlikely event that the quota is reached, runs $45 a year.

Facebook, the social networking site once confined to college campuses and now reaching into nursing homes and daycares alike has a top-notch app available. It fully supports the service, to include mail, chat, and the newsfeed. It allows for friend and request management, and enables photos and video taken on the iPhone to be uploaded directly to the user's profile. The price: free.

mSecure is a password management app that stores user logins and passwords behind 256-bit encryption. (Using brute force methods, it would take a hacker upward of two hundred years to crack the program.) It also conveniently stores and sorts credit card, banking information, flight numbers and even clothing sizes. The app runs $2.99, and includes a free backup utility that saves your data to a thumb drive in the event of a catastrophic data loss, like, say, you drop your iPhone in the toilet on the same day you spill a cup of coffee on your computer. (Trust me, it happens.)

iFitness is a personal fitness app that allows users not only to build and manage workout schedules, but also keep a running log of progress. Featured in the app is a full database of exercise demonstrations (with photographs of each workout position) to maximize routines and enhance performance. Like health club memberships, this is an app I bought, but generally just gaze longingly at while eating doughnuts and watching television. iFitness costs $1.99.

There are now 75,000 programs in the App Store. I've listed a few that I use daily, but whether your needs are travel, games, or money management, the software is there, and you are only a few swipes away from turning your iPhone into a workhorse computer.

Evernote: http://www.evernote.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com
mSecure: http://www.msevensoftware.com/msecure.html
iFitness: http://medicalprod.com/ifitness.html

Snow Leopard

Earlier this month, Apple released Snow Leopard, the newest version of its Macintosh Operating System. For those who actually got dates in high school, an operating system is the software middleman between the computer and user.

If you've got a PC, you're probably running Microsoft Windows XP, or, if you did something particularly nasty in a past life, Windows Vista.

If that is the case, Snow Leopard might feel foreign to you. Maybe it's the speed. Maybe it's the lack of viruses and spyware. Maybe it's the absence of blue screens and access boxes asking if you're really, really sure you want to do something. On Snow Leopard, you don't click the "Start" button to stop your computer.

Purchasing Snow Leopard is easy. Walk into an electronics store, and pick up the box labeled "Snow Leopard." This may seem like a refreshing glass of water to a computer user in Windows hell, where there are no less than eight versions of Vista, to include Vista Home Basic, Vista Home Premium, Vista Business, Vista Enterprise, and Vista Ultimate. Which one is best for you? I suggest a Magic 8-Ball, and $320 dollars, which is the going rate for Ultimate.

Snow Leopard runs $29.

Just for the record, things will improve with the upcoming Microsoft Windows 7. They've streamlined things, and will bless the serfs with a choice of six arbitrarily defined versions. (Do you need Branch Cache? BitLocker? These questions will determine which version you need. Best of luck! I expect to get a year's worth of columns out of that alone.)

Most of Snow Leopard's improvements are under the hood. Upon installation, users will notice more space available on their computers. (I gained an astonishing 14 gigabytes, which amounts to around 3500 songs, or 10,000 pictures.) This is because Apple scrapped years of legacy code that had bogged the system down.

The upshot is a faster, tighter, more optimized operating environment, at the expense of older, PowerPC-based systems, which are no longer supported. By focusing on contemporary computers, Snow Leopard is able to fully leverage its 64-bit architecture. This is a significant step in personal computing, enhancing performance and allowing for considerably more system memory. In automotive terms, it's like going from a 4-cylinder engine to a Warp Drive.

The MacOS Finder has been rewritten from the ground up. (Finder is the Mac equivalent of Windows Explorer – the file manager, not the web browser.) In addition to a newfound snappiness, files can now be read and videos previewed on the spot without loading external programs such as QuickTime.

QuickTime itself is vastly improved. Long the hallmark of quality digital media, it's been given a contemporary, minimalist interface for video playback, and now natively supports high-resolution video recording and compression. (This had previously been available only with a pricey add-on.) The result is video immediately available for playback on iPhones and iPods, and transferrable directly to YouTube and other such sites.

Other enhancements, to include a redesigned Exposé and scrollable Stacks (windowing services both), as well as integrated support for Microsoft Exchange make the $29 investment a bargain at twice the price. (Or ten times the price, by Microsoft standards.)

There is a downside. While "big name" programs survive the transition intact, some standalone software will require upgrades to work in the Snow Leopard environment. Safari, Apple's own web browser, runs faster than ever, but the superior Firefox seems to have taken a performance hit. Also, printer support is weak at best. Be sure to consult with the compatibility chart on Apple's web site before upgrading.

The bottom line, however, is the bottom line. Thirty bucks for a shiny new operating system is a phenomenal deal, especially coming from Apple, a company not known for basement pricing. Also available is a $59 "Family Pack," which can be installed on up to five computers.

Unless you are running mission critical applications for the space program, there's no reason not to take the leap. Snow Leopard is a fine addition to the Apple software lineup, and a worthy upgrade for any Intel-based Mac or MacBook.

Snow Leopard: http://apple.com/snowleopard

One Ring to Rule Them All

Google knows your search history. They've got your email. They know what sites you read, what's on your calendar for next week and where you're taking a vacation next month. They're trying to get your word processing documents and are lobbying hard for your medical records. Have I mentioned the satellite imagery they've got of your house?

Yeah, that's not scary. Google is, after all, cuddly, with a colorful logo. And their motto is "Don't be evil." There is nothing suspicious about that.

But seeing as how we've already consumed industrial drums of Google-flavored Kool-Aid, what's the harm in giving them a little more information? How about your telephone?

Google Voice is the latest offering from the California-based company. Part Skype and part iPhone Visual Voicemail, it is a new way of thinking about telephone service, adding features decades overdue, and removing headaches that have long plagued the telecom industry.

Upon sign-up, users are asked to choose a new phone number. This is your One True Number Evermore, and the heart of Google Voice. (Integrated into the selection page is a widget that converts your chosen number to words. If your goal is something akin to 337-AWESOME, you are in luck.)

After settling on digits, users are asked to enter all of their current phone numbers, to include mobile phones, and home and work landlines. By tying these contacts to the Voice account, the old numbers become meaningless. Whether or not one changes jobs or mobile phones or houses or area codes, friends and family will never know; the Google Voice number always stays the same.

Voice allows users to toggle the default destination. If a user is at the office, he or she needs only to select "Work," and all calls will forward to the desk line. On the road? Send all calls to the cell. The utility of this is self-evident; "daytime minutes" and long-distance become a thing of the past.

A cornerstone of Voice is its voicemail management. In addition to centralizing voicemail—no longer are there separate work, home, and mobile boxes—it also transcribes all messages, and allows for their archival in text and voice form.

The upshot of this is the ability to search voicemail messages the same way one searches the Internet. (Notably, incoming calls can be recorded, with similar transcription and search features on the way.) Similarly, Google Voice allows voicemails to be forwarded by email and text message.

Text messaging is critical to the Voice experience. Again, messages can be permanently archived and searched, but more impressively, unlimited texts can be sent and received. For free. No longer are customers extorted into paying an extra, criminally inflated twenty bucks a month for messaging that costs the telecoms a fraction of a cent. (The bell tolls for thee, AT&T.)

None of this is to say Voice is perfect. Because all data passes though Google's servers, there is sometimes a wavering lag in conversation akin to trans-Atlantic phone calls, often leading to crosstalk. This will improve as the compression algorithms governing Google Voice are optimized, but might be a deal breaker for now.

Also, not many users are keen to update business cards and change phone numbers yet again. According to the rumor mill, however, number porting is a top priority at Google. That is to say, just as one can port numbers from AT&T to Sprint, he or she will soon be able to move from AT&T to Google.

Picture messaging, also known as MMS, is not yet supported either, which may or may not be heartbreaking seeing as how AT&T has yet to roll out the promised feature for iPhones. (The technology is only five years old; I can see how it might be a challenge for them.)

Lastly, taking your telephone experience to Google completes the company's quest to have access to every facet of your personal data. In exchange for "one ring to rule them all," you fall under the watchful eye of Sauron—er, Google.

But they've already promised us they won't be evil. What could possibly go wrong?

Money Management Made Easy

When I'm not grooming my polo ponies or watching the help tidy my yacht, I find it relaxing to examine my finances. Oh, there was a time when I was like you. No servants, no exotic sports car collection, no top hat. But then I discovered Mint, a free financial management website.

At first glance, it might not appear much different than the online checking services offered by your personal bank. But astute first glances are what separate those of us who roll cigars with hundred dollar bills from those of you who roll cigarettes with strips of worn newspaper.

After entering your checking account credentials—note that Mint uses the same security measures as most banks, keeping your account secure—the site lists your check register and balance. It also allows you to enter each of your credit cards, and your mortgage, and your car loans and personal loans and student loans and credit lines and 401k and investment portfolios, among other accounts. It even lets you list PayPal. The result is an unfettered view of your financial status with intuitive charts and graphs.

But that is only a small part of Mint's magic. It analyzes your expenditures and breaks them down by category. (That is to say, when it sees McDonalds on your Visa, it automatically files it under Fast Food. When it sees La Truffe Sauvage, it files it under Dining. In this respect, it's also casting judgment on your palette.) It paints a complete portrait, to the penny, of your purchases across accounts and through time, and does so with no user involvement.

The upshot of this is an immediate means of financial self-evaluation that is always up to date. It allows the user to set financial goals based on accurate numbers, and make careful decisions about which corners to cut, and where. In a down economy, belt tightening is a way of life. Mint not only tells you where to tighten the belt, but handles the buckle for you, as well.

It is especially useful when used in conjunction with a pen-and-paper check register. Whenever an underhanded ATM fee or other nebulous service charge is deducted from your account, it fires an immediate email or text message alert, helping achieve that ever-elusive checkbook that's accurate to the penny. It also sends alerts for payments due and interest rate changes, and offers warnings whenever your account falls below a predefined threshold. In this respect, Mint takes the fear out of finances, and helps even the laziest or most fiscally clueless take charge of his or her account.

When I'm at the vacation house in Prague—or is it Paris? These days, it's hard to keep up with my sprawling real estate—I like the freedom that a web-based financial management suite brings. Since the dawn of personal computing, we've been tethered to desktop software and the possibility of crashed hard drives and data loss. Those days are no more. Microsoft Money? So last year. (No, really, it's last year; Microsoft has discontinued the program.) Quicken, too, has seen the light and released an online competitor for Mint, but does not allow data imports from the desktop version, removing its only potential edge.

On-the-go, Mint is accessible through an iPhone app. (I carry around my iPhone in my smoking jacket, when I don't feel like delegating telephone duties to my personal assistant.) The app is nicely featured, offering full account overviews, as well as cash flow and budget reports.

I didn't always wear a monocle or have a swimming pool filled with cash. But with Mint as my guide, I've been able to cope with the recession and make wise choices with my money. Now you'll have to excuse me. My helicopter is fueled and primed to get me to the airport where my private jet awaits. The coral reefs of Bora Bora aren't going to snorkel themselves.

Mint Software, Inc. (http://www.mint.com)

They’re Out To Get You: Preventing Spyware, Viruses On Your Computer

by D.B. Grady


You're not paranoid. They're out to get you.

You probably have spyware on your computer. There's a good chance you've got a virus or two. Your personal files are likely insecure, and your hard drive might be shared for the entire world to see. In real world terms, you've not only left your car unlocked, you've left the windows down, the doors open, the engine running, and a sign on the dashboard reading FREE CAR.

If you are infected, you will probably need to visit a local computer repair shop. Malicious software is notoriously difficult to remove, and the wrong combination of deleted files can often result in a computer that doubles as a boat anchor, doorstop, or shooting range target. If your computer is in proper working order, however, there are a few practices you can implement that will keep you both protected and secure.

Windows Update (sometimes, in its more expansive mode, called Microsoft Update) is a utility built into Windows that keeps your computer up to date. As bugs and security vulnerabilities are discovered, and new features are added, Microsoft releases patches and service packs free for download. Windows Update automates the installation process, checking the files of your operating system against a central repository at Microsoft, and applying the newest versions.

This may be the most critical part of your computer housekeeping routine, as an out-of-date operating system is as secure as an ATM card with its password written on it. Windows Update can be found under the Start menu, in the Programs folder, or oftentimes in the system tray (bottom-right of the screen, next to the clock) as a yellow shield pleading with you to "click here to install updates."

Every Windows-based computer needs antivirus software. Popular programs include McAfee Total Protection ($34.98/year), Norton Antivirus ($39.99/year), and Trend Micro Antivirus ($39.95/year). Free alternatives include AVG Free and Avast Home Edition. Upon installation, allow the antivirus to download and apply the most current virus definitions, and run a full system scan.

Once your computer is protected, like Windows Update, make it a priority to update your antivirus software regularly. (Note that virus protection software can often be acquired for free though public libraries, colleges, government agencies, and the military. Check their websites for more information.)

Spyware is often the easiest malicious software to install and the hardest to delete. It often appears in friendly, apparently helpful website popup ads warning that, "Antivirus 2009 has detected 32 threats on your computer! Would you like to remove them?" Clicking either yes or no results in the same thing: an infected computer. Unless you are computer savvy, the safest course of action when faced with such prompts is to exit your web browser entirely.

Two of the most effective and anti-spyware utilities on the market are Spybot and Windows Defender. Both programs are free, and in both cases, the installation and maintenance procedures are similar to those of antivirus software. Upon setup, allow the programs to update, and run a full system scan. Update the spyware definitions regularly.

While an updated operating system, strong virus-protection, and a spyware monitor are crucial to safe computing, they will not do the job on their own. It is up to you to adopt smart practices to keep your computer secure. This means never opening email attachments from people you don't know. It means carefully reading the screen whenever an unexpected window is prompted. (Blindly clicking "Next" is a recipe for disaster.)

It also means avoiding the more unsavory areas of the Internet—most notably file-sharing sites such as Kazaa and Limewire. In addition to the legal ramifications of downloading copyrighted music and software, every illicit file runs the risk of bringing with it malicious software.

It's a dangerous web out there. If it seems like "they" are out to get you, it's because they are. Thankfully, safe computing doesn’t require an advanced degree. All it takes is a little discipline and a couple of free programs.

Software referenced in this article:
McAfee Total Protection: http://www.mcafee.com ($34.98/year)
Norton Antivirus: http://www.symantec.com/norton ($39.99/year)
Trend Micro Antivirus: http://us.trendmicro.com/us/home/home-user ($39.95/year)
AVG Free: http://free.avg.com (Free for personal use)
Avast Home Edition: http://www.avast.com (Free for personal use)
Spybot: http://www.safer-networking.org (Free)
Windows Defender: http://www.microsoft.com/defender (Free)

Which Computer Should I Buy?

By D.B. Grady



"I'm thinking of buying a laptop computer. Which one do you recommend?" None. Seriously, think of the headaches that come with a computer. Viruses. Spyware. Twitter. Do you really want to do that to yourself? Wouldn't you rather spend a thousand bucks on a nice cruise to the Bahamas? I've never seen a spiral notebook crash or one of those big, green ledger-books blue-screen just after adding an entire quarter of sales figures.

But if you're absolutely determined to get a computer—think hard about those sandy beaches and umbrella drinks, though—there are fewer factors in choosing a system than you might think. While this may be the opposite of what you've heard from others, don't worry about RAM or CPUs or hard drives or anything else measured in bytes or hertz.

There are only three questions you should be concerned with:
1. Mac or PC?
2. Is the computer "comfortable?"
3. How much can I afford?

Buying a Mac used to be a big deal, akin to changing religions or moving to Canada. There were separate stores, separate software, separate peripheral supports, separate user paradigms—the decision was nontrivial, and unless one worked in video or graphics design (where the Mac has always excelled) it was rare that the hassle warranted the investment.

The Internet and Apple's remarkable marketing and engineering efforts have changed this. The Internet is the Internet, whether one owns a bottom-shelf eMachine or a top-of-the-line MacBook Pro. Email is email.

The web is the web. Macs have the benefit of being impervious to viruses or spyware, which is a bonus, but a well-protected PC is just as safe. As for program availability, all of the major players in the software business support both platforms, including Microsoft Office, Firefox, Adobe Photoshop, Acrobat, iTunes, Skype, and Picasa, to name a few.

Because Macs use Intel processors, they also have the luxury of supporting Windows XP, Windows Vista, and the upcoming Windows 7 by way of dual booting—that is, selecting on startup whether to boot into Mac OS or Windows—or through free emulation software such as VirtualBox (http://www.virtualbox.org). With regard to peripherals, from printers to external hard drives, if it works on a PC, it works on a Mac.

The real question, though, is "How does it feel?" Unless one purchases an extraordinarily expensive system in the thousands of dollars, or a second-hand pawnshop special, there is little difference from one computer to the next. A thousand dollar Dell, a thousand dollar HP, and a thousand dollar Mac have the pretty much the same horsepower under the hood. (In the case of Dell and HP, they even have the same outsourced telephone technical support staffs that employ so many in Third World countries.)

The best way to choose a computer is to visit an electronics store and play with the demo models. Is the screen bright enough, or is it too bright? How does the keyboard feel? Are the keys awkwardly placed? Is the track pad well positioned? Is the computer too small for aging eyes, or too large to lug to class every day?

Hold the computer to gauge its weight and test its durability. One doesn't need an advanced degree in electrical engineering to know whether a computer feels cheap or not.

Just as the average mid-sized sedan buyer isn't particularly concerned with torque or engine liter displacement, neither should the average computer buyer worry much about whether the central processing unit runs at 2.2GHz or 2.4GHz. Faster is always better, but in the context of playing Freecell and chatting with Aunt Thelma in Des Moines, the difference is negligible.

Indeed, that very reasoning has led to a new variety of portable computer known as the netbook. Purchased for as little as $200, netbooks are designed primarily for online use. As general computer activity moves from the desktop to the Internet, many users find there is little reason to invest in "big iron" computers at all.

The exception to this is gaming, of course. Some high school students might sooner die than accept anything less than a computer that dims the lights when it's powered on. But with the money saved by purchasing a less expensive system, one can buy an XBox 360 and enjoy hassle-free gaming.

In the end, it all comes down to price. Buy the most comfortable computer you can afford, and buy locally, if possible. The least expensive MacBook is $999, and worth every penny. But if the thousand-dollar HP is more to your liking, get it.

Whether you've budgeted two thousand dollars or two hundred dollars, there is something out there for you. Oftentimes, local mom-and-pop computer shops have staggering bargains on second-hand laptops, and personal support that doesn't require an interpreter or a passport.

No longer the intimidating beasts they once were, purchasing a computer should not be a worrisome experience requiring years of expertise. Go with your gut and a handle on your checkbook, and you'll do just fine.
But really, think about taking that vacation. On the islands, the only blue screens you'll see are in the sky and on the sea.

Review of the New Apple iPhone 3GS

By D.B. Grady



When Apple unveiled the original iPhone in 2007, I was one of the thousands standing in line, eager to be among its first adopters. This type of thinking is why so much of my lunch money was stolen in grade school. In 2008, when Apple released its successor device, I was in a different line, at the hospital, selling plasma. The original iPhone cost $599 dollars, and I was still paying it off.

But with my blood replenished and my contract up for renewal, I decided to take the plunge and upgrade to the new iPhone 3GS. Wooed by the promise of unbridled digital horsepower and a video camera, I fished out my credit card and did my part to stimulate the economy.

The iPhone 3GS improves upon the first and second-generation models in a few key areas. The most obvious is speed. It's a snappy device, capable of rendering even the most graphically intensive and overly designed website in seconds. Applications load much faster, and grind through data with greater efficiency.

The camera resolution has been bumped to 3 megapixels, and sports an innovative touchscreen auto-focus. More impressive is the video recording feature. Users can record high quality video, edit it, and upload it directly to YouTube, no computer required.

This was the feature that brought me over. Sadly, like every father who eagerly shelled out for a camcorder in the late 80s, I quickly discovered that I do nothing worth video recording. If ever I spot a UFO or Bigfoot, though, I've got just the phone for the job. Or tornadoes—this is my chance to make the evening news. And with the iPhone's bundled weather application, I'll know exactly when to expect flying cows and houses.

There is also an integrated compass, enabling developers like Tom Tom and Garmin to write iPhone-specific GPS car navigation systems. Until such software is released, though, the compass makes it a lot easier to shoot an azimuth and earn that Boy Scout merit badge. Just for the record, my house faces south. I didn't know that before I got this phone. Can one really put a price on such useful information?

Gamers especially will be pleased with the iPhone 3GS. With its faster CPU, boosted memory and 3D graphics accelerator chip, mobile gaming has a new contender. John Carmack, renowned programmer and founder of Id Software (makers of the Doom and Quake series) calls the iPhone more powerful than "a Nintendo DS and PSP combined."

If there is fault with AT&T's new flagship phone, it's AT&T. The iPhone 3GS supports the blisteringly fast 7.2 megabit-per-second HSPDA network. That's the network AT&T has yet to roll out. The iPhone 3GS offers MMS picture messaging. AT&T does not. The iPhone 3GS offers out-of-the-box computer tethering, enabling laptops to be online, everywhere, all the time.

Guess which telecom giant doesn't support this feature? (Hint: it starts with an A and ends with two Ts.) I do not claim to be a business expert, but if I ran a telephone empire, and my most valued and sought-after product offered a slew of new and exciting features, I might consider investing a few dollars to actually support those features.

AT&T is essentially selling a Ferrari, wheels not included. (Though the company promises these features will come in due course.) Still, with the exclusivity deal between Apple and AT&T rumored to end next year, users might soon be asked to choose between the two companies. Considering Apple's notoriously loyal fan base, and AT&T's general and unrelenting villainy, the executives at Verizon must already be pricing new yachts and Gulfstream jets.

If your phone contract is up and you're looking to buy, you will not be disappointed with the iPhone 3GS. The staggering list of features, the elegant design, and its battery's heroic lifespan make it worth the upgrade. And at $199 (with a 2-year contract), it is cost-competitive.

But what about next year, when another iPhone is released? This year we got a compass and a camcorder. Next year I fully expect a retractable chainsaw and electric toothbrush. I'm not worried about the price. I'm out of plasma, but I've got two kidneys. For Apple's latest toy, I'm sure I could get along fine with just one.
Apple iPhone 3GS (http://apple.com/iphone)

Rekindling The Publishing Industry

By D.B. Grady

Have a technology-related question, or advice for other users? Email me at tech@timessw.com

The publishing industry is doomed. The publishing industry is saved. Those are the dissonant themes running throughout most coverage of the book business since the recession's start. The naysayers have a strong argument. In 2009, publishers HarperCollins and Random House axed multiple imprints. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt cut entire divisions, and put an unprecedented freeze on manuscript acquisitions. Big box booksellers Barnes and Noble and Books-A-Million have posted quarterly losses, and Borders faces bankruptcy. Independent bookstores have not fared much better, with reports every day of venerable locals closing their doors. Executives, editors, authors and dealers have found themselves on the business end of the sharpened blade of an overstretched industry in a failing economy.

And then there is Amazon.com. With earnings robust and growth continuing, it is indisputable that they are weathering the storm. And through its strong position in a weak market, they are in the unique position of reordering an entire industry. The most audacious and exciting weapon in Amazon's arsenal is an electronic book called the Kindle.

E-books have been around for a long time. In 2000, Microsoft marketed a product called Reader, geared for desktop computers and existing personal digital assistants. Sony has long offered a tablet device, also called Reader, and lesser-known companies have put out competing products. But for all the technical capabilities, engineering achievements, and publishing partnerships built around and into these devices, none have gained traction in the cultural zeitgeist. Serious readers love books – not just the words within, but the objects themselves – and e-books have always felt like imposters.

Amazon is not a hardware company. Nor would many consider it a software company. Rather, it was built from the ground up as a book company, and that may be the reason the Kindle is succeeding where others have failed.

To see the device is to love the device. The Kindle is the size of a DVD case, and only slightly heavier. Taking a cue from Apple's minimalist designs, it is austere but for a small keyboard and buttons for navigation. It is intuitive. One need not possess a computer science degree to operate the Kindle. Indeed, Amazon diverged from its competitors by limiting the device in its capabilities, focusing instead on one thing, and doing it very well: displaying books to be read.

The e-ink technology of the Kindle screen is its tipping point. It is the reason that printed-and-bound books are destined to go the way of papyrus scrolls and chiseled stone tablets. With detail so fine and print so exact, it is hard to believe that the screen is digital at all. Unlike staring into a computer monitor or iPhone, the display is not backlit, and consequently, is not harsh on the eyes. Quite simply, reading a book on a Kindle feels like reading a book. After a few pages, the device seems to melt away until only the words remain, and the reader is no more aware that he or she is staring into technology than he or she might ponder the manufacture of a paperback novel.

On the Kindle, all books are created equal. Forest-slashing Stephen King tomes are no heavier than Ian Fleming pulps. The text-size of books can be increased or decreased, enabling every book to be a large-print edition. And through Text-to-Speech technology, the device can read books aloud, making every book an audio book.

The only up-front drawback is the price. The Amazon Kindle starts at $359. This is mitigated by the lower price of most e-books, which generally peak at $9.99, including new releases of even the hottest authors. And no trip to the bookstore is required. Utilizing the Sprint network, the Kindle is always online, everywhere, for free, allowing books to be purchased on the go, and appearing on the device instantaneously, no cables or computers required.

In the same way the iPod revitalized music and the iPhone rejuvenated mobile phones, the Amazon Kindle is rewriting the written word. If it reaches ubiquity, it may well have the biggest impact on reading since Johannes Gutenberg. And if that's the case, in this time of uncertainty, the publishing industry can consider itself saved.

Twitter: The Global Cocktail Party

by D.B. Grady

Have a technology-related question, or advice for other users? Email me at tech@timessw.com

The first tweet is the hardest. Twitter might be the social network du jour, attracting everyone from Karl Rove to Shaquille O'Neal, but it can be intimidating to a new user. What does one make of the three million messages posted daily, and where does a new user fit in the global conversation?
For the uninitiated, Twitter is the web service founded in 2006 that asks a simple question: "What are you doing?" Users have 140 characters – the upper limit of a mobile phone text message – to answer. And answer it they have. Sports fans comment on the action as it happens. American Idol viewers offer snap judgments of performances. Political junkies disseminate information and offer opinion before the headlines are even written. Discussions once confined to living rooms and cocktail parties now have global reach and global influence.

Twitter bridges the gap between Facebook and blogging. Where Facebook brings together friends through personal connections, Twitter works to connect strangers through ideas. Other users follow you based on your tweets, as Twitter updates are called. You, in turn, have the option of following those users whose tweets interest you.

Blogging is the ideal medium for expansive discourse, but slightly lumbering a beast to share a single thought or interesting link. Twitter, however, thrives on the brief, the hot news item or cool website.

Businesses ignore Twitter at their peril. Because Twitter operates at the speed of thought, it doesn't take long for a botched car rental in Des Moines or a rude airline representative in Memphis to blossom into a national complaint-fest.

In response, many large businesses have established a Twitter presence, and respond on the spot to irate customers. This presence also gives lumbering corporations a human face, and demonstrates a public, proactive customer service that might otherwise be cost-prohibitive or ineffective.

Similarly, Twitter is a powerful weapon for directing traffic to websites and special deals. Everyone from the New York Times to the Times of Southwest Louisiana post breaking news and highlight recent editorials. Jazzy Bird Coffee, a gourmet espresso company out of Baton Rouge recently joined Twitter as part of a marketing strategy to build brand recognition as it expands into other states. "I've been amazed at the number of unsolicited tweets," says Shari LeBlanc, the company's co-founder.

Because it is an open network, a cottage industry of software has arisen around Twitter. Twitter Job Search (http://www.twitterjobsearch.com) does just what one might expect. Based upon search criteria, it lists newly available jobs tweeted by companies. TwitterFon (http://www.twitterfon.net/) is a free program that integrates Twitter into the iPhone. And if you'd like to add pictures to your tweets, TwitPic (http://www.twitpic.com) can help.

Like any other online community, there is a social etiquette that should be respected. Excessive self-promotion is considered offensive, and a good way to lose audience. Because Twitter is, at its best, a freewheeling discussion, using your account as a megaphone is poor form. The best way to build friendships is to reply to others, and to acknowledge those who reply to you. Similarly, when followed, take time to check out the other user's profile. If they seem interesting, follow them in return.

A visit to Shaquille O'Neal's house is likely to result in a restraining order. Phone calls will, at best, be unreturned. But he's on Twitter and is fond of talking with fans. Send him a message, and you might be surprised by what you get back.

Yes, that first tweet is the hardest. But the best way to learn is to log in and have fun; you've already got two friends waiting. The Times of Southwest Louisiana can be found at www.twitter.com/TimesSWLA. I can be reached at www.twitter.com/dbgrady. We're looking forward to meeting you.

Have a technology-related question, or advice for other users? Email me at tech@timessw.com

Million Dollar Password

by D.B. Grady

Have a technology-related question, or advice for other users? Email me at tech@timessw.com

When they come for your money, they won't break into the bank. Online identity thieves are too smart for that. They're gambling that you use the same password for every website. Why attempt a break-in on a guarded, highly encrypted financial site when they can steal your password from the fly-fishing forum you frequent?

Passwords are the great annoyance of the Internet. (Well, one of the great annoyances. I still can't get the "peanut butter jelly time" song out of my head.) Major players in the web industry have attempted to unify logins through such initiatives as OpenID and Passport, but have fallen short in the kind of ubiquity required for such programs to succeed. In the meantime, users are forced to remember countless credentials for a never-ending array of sites. As a result, they have fallen into dangerous practices.

A few simple security guidelines can go a long way toward a safer Internet experience. The first, most important rule is: never repeat a password. Your bank and email and Amazon accounts should have unique and varied passwords that cannot be guessed by personal knowledge. (That is to say, if you are a dog breeder, "puppy1" is a bad idea.) Passwords should be changed regularly, and should always increase in complexity, with greater creativity than adding the trailing digit plus 1. A strong password utilizes case, numerals and punctuation. There are 101 keys on a standard keyboard. Use them. "Madden-09" is an improvement on "football," but "09(mAddeN" is even better).

Never give your password to anyone for any reason, ever. A common online scam involves third parties claiming to be with technical support, emailing users and asking for their log-in information. Assorted reasons are given. Sometimes it is to "verify accounts." Sometimes it is to "renew subscriptions." But the reasons are always a lie, and the results are always the same. Once they've got your password, they've got your identity.

There are several programs and websites designed to help you track multiple passwords. Passpack is a free online credential manager that utilizes a government-approved encryption algorithm for maximum security. Because it is web-based, it can be accessed anywhere (Passpack: http://www.passpack.com).

Roboform is an automated tracker that installs to a computer or thumb drive, and remembers passwords as you type them. In addition, it will generate a strong password if you're stumped, and fill in password fields automatically when a site is revisited. Stored information is protected with encryption up to 256-bits, which would take a hacker the better part of two centuries to crack by brute force. Because it can be installed to a USB thumb drive, it can be taken with you and used on any Windows-based computer. Roboform costs $29.95, with a 30-day free trial (Roboform: http://www.roboform.com).

Mobile phones are an excellent place for password storage and management, provided the data is encrypted. iPhone users can take advantage of mSecure, a native application that stores not only passwords but also credit card, banking information and even clothing sizes. Data can be traversed with the iPhone's trademark "swipes," or sorted and searched by site and type. MSecure is available on the iTunes App Store, and runs $2.99 (mSecure: http://www.msevensoftware.com/msecure.html). SplashID offers Blackberry, Palm, and Windows Mobile users an application that provides all of the features of mSecure, as well as password generation. A companion desktop client allows for easy data entry and synchronization. SplashID costs $29.95, with a 30-day free trial (SplashID: http://www.splashdata.com/splashid).

Identity thieves want your money, and they know how to get it. Until unified credentialing services like OpenID proliferate across the web, it's up to you to stay one step ahead of the game. Strong, varied passwords of mixed case and special characters go a long way, so long as you keep the passwords secret. And because nobody should suffer alone, it's peanut butter jelly time! (http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/banana)

Have a technology-related question, or advice for other users? Email me at tech@timessw.com

Backup Now or Pay Later

by D.B. Grady


Data recovery is a big business, and when your computer crashes, you learn just how big it is. The cost of restoring lost documents, music, and email can run into the thousands, and you can't even write the technician a check, because your Quicken data is gone, too.

For many computer users, backing up data falls on the same list as cleaning the garage and organizing the attic. In years past, this was understandable. Backups once required expensive software, arcane knowledge of directory structures and hours to spare for glacial file transfers. Today, however, there are online services and specialized hardware that automate the task with minimal user involvement. A few quick and inexpensive routines can save a fortune in data recovery when the worst happens.

Mozy is an online backup utility that stores your data on secure, remote servers (Off-site solutions are always the safest bet, protecting backups in the event of a house-fire, theft or other disaster.) From the Mozy client, select which files you want to copy and let the program do the rest. It encrypts and sends your data across the web for storage, and stays resident on your computer, monitoring files for changes. Subsequent updates are immediate and automatic, utilizing a feature called "differential backup," which updates only the portions of files that you change. As a result, your backup is always current. Mozy offers 2 gigabytes of free storage, which is enough to save documents and email. Unlimited storage, which can protect all of your data to include pictures, movies, and music, runs $4.95 a month. Mozy supports Windows and Macintosh operating systems. (Mozy: http://www.mozy.com)

If you prefer a local backup solution, or shy away from monthly fees, Maxtor offers the One Touch 4 Plus external hard drive. It connects to your computer USB port and supports two backup modes. The first copies your data with the push of a button, and can be used to share files between two computers. The second mode, called Safety Drill, creates a full bit-by-bit image of your system to include the operating system and protected files. This is the most thorough backup possible, but also the most time consuming, as it reboots your computer into special software to perform the task. The Maxtor One Touch 4 Plus comes in multiple sizes, the largest of which is 1 terabyte, or 1000 gigabytes, with a suggested retail price of $199.99. (Maxtor: http://www.maxtor.com)

Only Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple, Inc., would think one button is one-button-too-many when it comes to data protection. Last year, Apple introduced Time Capsule, a no-touch backup solution for Macs. Rather than plug directly into a computer, Time Capsule replaces your wireless router. It offers dual band Wi-Fi support and an integrated hard drive that allows every Apple computer on your network to backup concurrently. Time Machine, a free utility bundled with the most recent Mac operating system, enables you not only to restore a file, but also to travel "back in time" and restore previous versions of the file. Documents, as edited a week ago, a month ago, or, space permitting, a year ago can be recovered with equal simplicity. Configuration of Time Capsule could not be easier, as your Mac automatically finds it on the network, and immediately gets to work creating and maintaining a full image of your system. The Apple Time Capsule comes in 500-gigabyte and 1-terabyte varieties, the latter of which runs $499.00, Macs only (http://www.apple.com/timecapsule).

Data recovery is expensive. Data backup is cheap. Before your documents disappear, before your photo album is gone and your precious memories become precious memories, get on a backup plan. And whether you choose an online service or a local hardware solution, because it's automated, you'll finally have time to clean the garage.

Have a technology related question or advice for other users? Email me at tech@timessw.com.