This system will enable users to use Internet while on the move, and will cost less than existing cellular broadband systems.

The software giant is working on this technology in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts and the University of Washington.

This new technology promises to offer a steady signal unlike Wi-Fi networks, where each signal station (base station) only broadcasts so far, so users have to hop between stations. During these transitions, known as “hard handoffs”, the signal strength typically drops, writes DailyTech.

Today’s Wi-Fi handoff protocols are incredibly fragile in outdoor environments and mobile environments artificially limited to talking to only one access point, or only one base station at a time, even though there may be other base stations in the area.

Therefore, Vi-Fi is being designed to send and receive signals from more than one base station and the strongest strength gets designated as anchor, while others are also used as auxiliary systems.

Researchers with Microsoft, University of Washington and Massachusettsbelieve they are the first to suggest such a solution, which may finally make vehicle Wi-Fi workable. They have already tested the system on Microsoft’s campus in Washington and further planning to conduct the test on a bigger scale in the area surrounding the campus.

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1. Change text size while browsing

While browsing, you may come across web pages that use too small or too large a text size to be comfortably readable. To change the size of the text, click View and then Text Size. Click the text size that you’d like from the options available.

2. Open links in new Internet Explorer windows

When you right-click a link on a Web page, it will open in a new Internet Explorer window. Another way of doing this is to press the SHIFT key and then left-click the link.

3. Set a home page of your choice

You can choose which website you’d like to view—such as your e-mail account, a favorite portal, your organization’ s website, and so on—every time you start Internet Explorer. Go to Tools and click Internet Options. Under Home page on the General tab, type or copy-paste the URL of the website. Click Use Blank if you want to start with a blank page. Click Apply and then OK.

4. Type URLs quickly

When you’re visiting a website for the first time, you don’t need to type the whole www.thiswebsite. com in the Internet Explorer address bar. Instead, just type the name of the website (such as msn) and press CTRL and ENTER together. However, this works only with .com pages, not with others like .org, .net, or .in.

5. Navigate Web pages quicker

In a long browsing session, you may find yourself going back and forth between Web pages to revisit what you saw a while ago. To simplify this task, right-click the Back button to see all the pages that you’d seen before the current page, and click the one that you want to visit. Similarly, you can right-click the Forward button to see the Web pages you visited from the current Web page.

6. Clear the Web cache

Internet Explorer stores frequently visited Web pages in a cache, so that if they haven’t changed since the last time you visited them, they are opened from your hard disk for faster access. However, if the cache becomes too full, IE may become slow. To clear the cache, click Tools and then Internet Options. On the General tab, under Temporary Internet files, click Delete Files. Click the checkbox against ‘Delete all offline content’ if you want to delete content that you’ve stored offline. Click OK and wait for your cursor to change from the hourglass to the arrow icon again. Then, click OK.

7. Open and close new IE windows quickly

If you like to surf for long hours, here are some keyboard shortcuts to open and close new windows for Web browsing. To open a new window in Internet Explorer, click CTRL and N. To close each window, click the ALT key and the F4 key together; or click CTRL and W.

8. Create Desktop shortcuts to your Favorite websites

If you have websites in your Favorites folder that you like to visit very frequently, you can create shortcuts to them on your Desktop. Open Internet Explorer and shrink its size using the square icon on the top-right corner, so that you can see your Desktop. Click Favorites and go to the saved link for your website. Drag the icon for this website and drop it to your Desktop. Your shortcut is ready.

9. Rename or delete Favorites quickly

You can organize the links stored in your Favorites list without going to Organize Favorites. Open Internet Explorer and click Favorites. Right-click the link that you want to rename or delete; and choose the desired option from the menu.

10. Arrange your Favorites in alphabetical order

You can sort your list of links under Favorites alphabetically. Open Internet Explorer and click Favorites. Right-click and link and then click Sort by name on the menu.

11. Make your Favorites pages available offline

If you have some existing links in the Favorites list that you’d like to make available for offline viewing, click Favorites and go to the link. Right-click and then click Make available offline in the menu.

12. Turn off alert for permanently deleting messages

When you decide to delete messages in your Deleted Items folder in Outlook, you are asked whether you’re sure you want to delete these messages. If you want to turn off this notification, click Tools, then Options, and go to the Other tab. Click Advanced Options here, and click the checkbox against ‘Warn before permanently deleting items’.

13. Remove messages from Outlook as you delete them

If you’d like to clear your Deleted Items folder daily, click Tools, then Options and go to the Other tab. Click the checkbox against the option ‘Empty the Deleted Items folder upon exiting’. Every time you close Outlook, all the items in your Deleted Items folder will be cleared.

14. Determine when to mark messages as read

If you view messages in the Reading Pane in Outlook, you can decide when the messages that you’ve read should be marked as such. Click Tools, then Options and go to the Other tab. Click Reading Pane. Click the checkbox against ‘Mark items as read when viewed in the Reading Pane’, and enter the number of seconds to wait before marking the message. Or, you can click the checkbox against ‘Mark item as read when selection changes’ if you want to mark the message as read when you move to another message. Click OK and then OK again.

15. Add or remove a column in Outlook 2007

In the main Outlook window, you can see lots of columns for your message list, such as Date, Subject and so on. To add or remove any of these columns, click View, go to Current View and then click Customize Current View. Click Fields. In the Available fields list, click the required field, and click Add or Remove.

16. Move a column in Outlook 2007

To change the order of columns that appear in the main Outlook window, click View, go to Current View and then click Customize Current View. Click Fields and go to the Show these fields in this order list. Click the required field, and then click Move Up or Move Down to change the field’s position.

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There are five categories of laptops. Every category has its advantages and disadvantages.

Ultraportables (weight: under 4 pounds)

It represents a very compact notebook that one can carry in a small bag. Computers from this category have low demands, which is why they are quite small in size. An ultraportable laptop has a futuristic design, a light weight and it represents a perfect choice for a traveler.

However, ultraportables are meant mainly for less space rather than high performance. They are not meant for high-demand business applications and games that require intense graphics. The smaller is the laptop the less life its battery will have. The screen is small and a high resolution can be hard on one’s eyes.

Because of its small size the keyboard has smaller buttons which is not very comfortable for those with large fingers. Light ultraportbles do not include CD and DVD drives. The latter serve as external accessories. However these drives can be found on heavier laptops from the ultraportable category.

Standard Laptops (weight: 6 to 8 pounds)

Almost every standard laptop includes DVD/CD-RW drives. This category is very popular and the prices are more affordable than notebooks from other categories. The average battery life is about 3 hours but there are high-capacity versions that are able to work for 5 hours. The standard laptops are not as compact as ultraportables. The user will also have to carry additional peripherals in order to read various media card formats. The same concerns the connection to other devices.

Thin and Light (weight: 4 to 6 pounds)

Laptops from this category have powerful processors. Most thin and light notebooks have 14 inch displays, which allow viewing everything from Word and Excel files to various internet pages. The battery is able to live for more than 3 hours. There are a lot of thin and light laptops that have the ability of swapping out an optical drive. Notebooks from this category are able to transfer the information wirelessly (for example through Bluetooth) without a significant drain of battery life.

There are also several ports available: USB 2.0 and parallel. Some thin and light laptops encounter even serial ports. This category is popular for the ability of connecting a video camera.

Desktop Replacements (weight: 8 pound and up)

This category includes laptops with wide screens, sharp displays as well as great graphical performances. Desktop replacements are perfect for gaming and business performance. This is due to the fast CPU and improved video chips. These laptops have improved audio systems and some of them also include subwoofers.

One of the disadvantages of desktop replacements is their size. For example they will not fit under an airplane seat. Another negative aspect is their battery life.

This category includes some of the most expensive computers on the market today. The price varies from 1,500 to 4,000 US dollars.

Tablet PC (weight: 2 to 4 pounds)

The main advantage of the table PC is their touch screen. This feature is very useful for some specific professions like, for example, medicine. These computers are also able to convert hand writing into editable text. The user can view tablets in two modes: regular and pivoted on end. Thus one can switch the table screen to a portrait mode.

Laptops from this category have the longest battery life among other categories. The disadvantage of tablet PC is their slow processor and little RAM. These notebooks are not meant for business or gaming performances. The CD and DVD drives are very often add-ons connected as external sources.

According to a laptop’s performance one can choose a notebook suitable enough for his or her lifestyle. The market of laptops continues its expansion adding new additional features satisfying even more of customers’ needs.

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As you probably know, your hard drive is the most important component in your computer because it houses all your data. Unfortunately it is the most likely device to fail. While virtually all modern hard drives have S.M.A.R.T. technology built in to detect failures, one important factor you can monitor is your hard drive temperature with HDD Temperature.

HDD Temperature is a free program which, simply put, monitors and warns you when temperatures get to high on your hard drive. You can customize the temperature warning level as well as how the system responds to a tripped warning.

The free version is limited to a single hard drive, so if you have multiple hard drives in your system, or you want to monitor a server, then the pro version might be a better fit.

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The present day USB 2.0 delivers a transfer speed of upto 480 Mbps, whereas USB 3.0 promises 10 times of this speed taking the transfer rate to 4.8 Gbps.
Moreover, It will be backwards-compatible with USB 2.0, which is backwards-compatible with the first USB 1.1 definition.

Intel stated that the USB 3.0 specification would be optimized for low power and improved protocol efficiency. The USB 3.0 ports and cabling will be designed with both copper and optical cable capabilities, meaning even higher speeds will be possible in the future. “USB 3.0 is the next logical step for the PC’s most popular wired connectivity,” said Jeff Ravencraft, technology strategist with Intel and president of the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). “The digital era requires high-speed performance and reliable connectivity to move the enormous amounts of digital content now present in everyday life. USB 3.0 will meet this challenge while maintaining the ease-of-use experience that users have come to love and expect from any USB technology.”

He further said : “If the USB 3.0 Promoter’s group meets its objective of spec completion in the first half of 2008, then we should see the first silicon solutions on the market in 2009, followed by end products in late 2009 or early 2010.”

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Firewire and USB 2.0 connectors are the two most popular ways to connect a peripheral device to a desktop or laptop. Whether it is a printer, scanner, MP3 player or video camera, chances are it connects to your computer via one of those two technologies. While both of the technologies are fast and similar in other ways, there are differences between the two. This article will help you identify the similarities and differences between Firewire and USB 2.0.

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Installing a second drive or replacing an existing one is a fairly simple procedure, and a good experience for those looking to learn more about how their PC works. With the price of storage at rock bottom, there is no reason not to add a second drive to your set up, which will give you additional space for applications and extend the useful life of your PC.

When looking to buy a hard drive, it is important to check a few things first to ensure that it will indeed work with your system. The most important is the interface (Older machines used IDE whereas newer machines lean towards SATA or even SATA2), though you should also take disk space and spindle speed into consideration.

Once you have your hard drive, you should do your best to leave it in the packaging until it is required. This will help prevent exposure to static, which can damage electrical circuitry. It is wise to wear an anti static wrist strap whenever doing any work within your PC.

First, ensure your PC is switched off at the mains but leave it plugged in. This will earth the case and help prevent static. Next, remove the case screws and slide off either the side panels or entire case housing depending on the design. The hard drive should be fairly easy to spot, and normally sits in a metal cage towards the front of the PC. If you are upgrading your drive, you will need to remove both cables from the back of the drive, undo the four screws holding it in and gently slide the device out.

However, if you are installing a second drive, you must check the jumper setting before installing the drive. The jumper settings are dictated by the location of a small plastic sleeve relative to the set of pins located next to the power connection. The drive can be configured in several ways, though the most common are master or slave your primary or secondary drive. To find out which pins you must connect with the small black sleeve, refer to the sticker on the drive itself or the manufacturers handbook.

Once you have set the jumper on your new drive, slide it carefully into one of the bays, preferably with space between drives to allow air to flow, though this isn’t always possible if you have a small case, and secure it with four screws. Next, connect the IDE or SATA cable and power cable to the drive. If you have replaced your drive, you need to use the same connector as was in your previous drive. If this is a second drive, you need to plug the other connector on the same cable into your new drive. Most IDE cables come with two connectors, with the one at the far end the master and the one in the middle the slave. If you have second SATA drive, you need to connect a new cable from one of the remaining SATA channels on your motherboard to the new drive.

Replace the casing and turn on your PC and watch carefully as it boots up. Not only should you hear your new drive spinning up, but you should see it listed under the drives as your machine boots up. If this is a second drive, you should boot straight into Windows and be able to see your new drive under My Computer. You will need to right click on the drive itself and format it to the desired file system. If it is a replacement drive, there will be no operating system present, so you will have to install one using the set up CD.

If the drive does not appear, it is worth double checking the connections and that you have indeed set the jumpers appropriately.

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Once you have your graphics card, the first thing to do is uninstall your current graphics drivers. Although this may not be an essential step, it will help keep things tidy and avoid any conflicts, so it is worth doing. To uninstall the drivers, click Start Settings Control Panel System Hardware tab Device Manager. Expand the Display Adapter tree and you should see a graphics card listed. Right click on the card name and select properties. Finally, go to the Driver tab and select Uninstall.

Next, shut down your machine and switch it off at the wall. Remove the case and locate your current graphics card, if you have one. The graphics card is typically found in the uppermost brown slot (AGP or even PCI-E) located above a series of white slots (PCI slots). Older machines may have a PCI graphics card, hence will be located in one of the PCI slots, though these are becoming more uncommon. To remove your current card, remove the screw holding the silver backing plate in place. An anti static wristband is useful here, though simply touching a metal part of the case will be sufficient to avoid static build up. You should now be able to carefully slide the card out of its slot, taking care not to touch any of the other components.

Next, take your new card out of it s anti static bag and place it in the same slot. You may need to apply a little force to get it to sit in properly, though if the motherboard begins to bow excessively, ensure you have the connector lined up with the slot correctly. You may also need to pull a plastic catch up to hold the card in place. Next, replace the screw to the backing plate and check that the card is seated firmly. Some newer cards require their own power source, and if this is the case you will need to insert a power cable into the appropriate slot. This will be outlined in your new cards manual, and it is always advisable to quickly flick through and look for any additional steps.

Replace the sides of your case and boot your machine up. Windows should detect your new card, though it may be a good idea not to install a driver when prompted. Instead, click cancel and your machine should finish booting to the desktop albeit at a default resolution. Insert the CD that came with your card and set the drivers up from here, as there may be additional features and utilities that came with your card. Once this has completed, you will be prompted to restart your machine. After you have done this, you should be able to change the resolution and colour depth of your desktop by right clicking on desktop, selecting properties, going to the Settings tab and using the slider to select the most appropriate resolution.

It may also be worth going to the graphics card manufacturers website and searching for any driver updates. Newer drivers will get the best performance out of your card, fix bugs in prior releases and may even add new features.

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One thing you can do to help detect if a drive is in good health is periodically testing it with the respective manufacturer’s diagnostic tools. These can be downloaded for free from each manufacturer’s website, or more conveniently in an all-in-one package inside the Ultimate Boot CD.

For the most part, pretty much all modern hard drives come equipped with SMART detection which basically is the drive alerting the system when something is wrong. While this is usually sufficient, it never hurts to forcefully test your entire drive for any indication of error, which is what the hard drive tools are designed to do.

Keep in mind, even hard drives in tip-top condition are subject to fail at any instant, so having your data backed up is very important.

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