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Newsletter Number Twenty Two- September 2007
In this Newsletter... Updating your iTunes Library, other Remote Connectivity options, Wired or Wireless, why I prefer Rogers High Speed Internet, and more...
You're getting this Newsletter because you are a client, friend, prospect or just because you enjoy the content and want to be kept in touch with some of the trends affecting Small Businesses and Information Technology.
Thank you for joining me again. What a wonderful summer it's been, although a little harsh on the grass (like in lawn)! Sorry I've missed putting out an issue in July and August, mainly because of the weather being so good, (for me anyway) and looking at ways of improving my service offerings to you. As always, I trust that you'll find this issue informative, interesting and of value.
To my Jewish clients, friends and family, Barbara and I would like to take this opportunity of wishing you and yours a Joyous New Year and Well over the Fast.
I think I've mentioned in the past that I do not have an iPod. I love music (particularly Jazz - am a big listener and supporter of Jazz FM - listen live). Visited the Markham Jazz Festival and took in some concerts, thoroughly enjoyed the Heather Bambrick Quintet on Saturday morning - she's a terrific entertainer!
I've helped some clients get their music libraries up to date by getting rid of duplicates, adding a missing tune and generally tidying things up. There's a utility available called iTunes Library Updater that you can download and install to assist with the task. Read the info provided before use... and of course, make a backup of the database. See Newsletter 21 for more on this.
Remote Connectivity (or Remote Access) to your computer using other tools, like I'm in Touch is an excellent and affordable way of getting to your computer from any web browser. You can click the I'm in Touch button on my web site and download and install a Free 30 Day Trial of the software. Log Me In and Go To My PC are tools that provide a similar solution with certain limitations. I use a related product to I'm in Touch, called I'm on Call to facilitate a remote Access Connection to my client's computer when I feel that a live on-site call may not be required. Some of you might have already experienced this solution and mostly a resolution to your problem!
Networking - Wired or Wireless? That is the question? My answer to this never-ending question is always "go wired wherever possible". There is no interference from wired networking. So why would you use wireless and how can you minimize interference (or interruption of signal)? You don't want to spend the money on getting wiring installed and want the ability to move around the office (or home) and maintain network and internet connectivity. One of the major sources of interference comes from cordless phones. Remember when they were operating in the 900MHz band? Never a problem! Now most operate in the 2.4GHz band, the same band that Wireless Networks use and hence, the interference. The newer cordless phones have now moved up into the 5.8MHz band - twice the frequency and from all accounts, does not interfere with wireless networking.
The latest cordless phones are now moving to something called DECT ((Digital Ehanced Cordless Telecommunications) a cordless phone standard widely used in Europe. Based on TDMA and the 1.8 and 1.9GHz bands, it uses Dynamic Channel Selection/Dynamic Channel Allocation (DCS/DCA) to enable multiple DECT users to coexist on the same frequency. DECT provides data links up to 522 Kbps with 2 Mbps expected in the future. Using dual-mode handsets, DECT coexists with GSM, which is the standard cellular system in Europe. For more information, visit the Switzerland-based DECT Forum at www.dect.org. An additional resource is www.dectweb.com. I have seen both Panasonic and Uniden DECT phones at stores like Costco, Future Shop and Best Buy. (Thanks to Mike in Edmonton for this paragraph)
That said, you may be okay, if you have the 5.8GHz phone and the 2.4GHz Wireless Network - but remember you also have neighbours! When using wireless, most of the new Wireless Routers can be configured for WEP, WPA and WPA2 Encryption. Wikipedia has good descriptions of the acronyms and what they do (I've linked to WEP to help you find the first one).
Athol's Rants
Of the ISP's I've used over the years, (and I've used a few since 1994) I've found FCI Broadband and Rogers to be the most reliable from an up-time point of view and from a customer service perspective too. Yes, we've all had our horror stories with Rogers. One of my friends and clients is moving on the 17th of September and called Rogers to arrange (ahead of time) for the transfer. Lo and behold, they disconnected his service on the day he called to arrange it!
After all is said and done, I choose Rogers over the rest for the following reasons. Their High Speed Internet speed is the highest of the ISP's. Their customer service is second only to FCI Broadband, whom I used previously and left them because they were only able to offer me 3Mb of Bandwidth whereas Rogers is able to offer me 8Mb. The "other" well known ISP who shall remain nameless continues to exasperate me when I have to work with my clients in resolving Internet issues. Their arrogance and finger-pointing at everything other than their own service and equipment never ceases to astound me!
The latest anecdote came from one of my clients who has been using a D-Link Wireless Router and has started to experience service disruption. On those occasions that I've called to check on the issue, it's always been their service. Their latest solution to the problem is to send them one of their provided Speedstream Wireless Routers that they have said will put an end to the disruption of service. Oh by the way, they do have to pay an additional $100.00 for the router! We shall see.
Remember in my last edition I mentioned the issue with the LaserJet 1012 and 1020. My client was able to get the 1012 to work by using 1150 drivers. HP did release a set of Vista drivers for the 1020.
Also remember the ScanJet 7400 that had only the basic driver for Vista? Well I bit the bullet and bought a new HP ScanJet 4010 scanner which is fully compatible with Vista. You may be interested to know that the 7400 was over $400.00 in 2003 and the 4010 cost me $130.00. It's a better quality scanner and less that half the cost - the price we pay for being early adopters.
On the topic of early adopters, those folks that bought iPhones (that's the hot Apple product) in the USA for $600.00 only 6 weeks ago, were really pi@#ed off about the recent $200.00US price drop. Steve Jobs the Apple CEO offered the iPhone owners a $100.00US in-store gift card to (try and) make amends. Ah well?
In the upcoming issue...... Office 2007, New Wireless Technology, is your computer ready for Fall (that's autumn, not a fall)!
Once again, I appreciate your perspective on the content of my newsletter, both good and bad. I look forward to hearing from you. Just click this feedback link and let me have your comments.
PS: Feel free to forward this issue to any peers, friends and associates you think would benefit from its contents. They will thank you, and so will I!
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