If you suddenly start noticing problems with your network or you experience intermittent difficulty, RF interference may be affecting your WLAN. Identifying sources of RF interference isn’t easy, especially if they originate from outside your home. There are a number of things in your home that can cause interference. I identified the most common causes: [...]

Rugged computers are special laptops designed to withstand things that would otherwise damage or destroy a standard laptop. Originally designed for field use by the military, rugged computers are available from a number of manufacturers and are now styled to be more attractive to the average consumer. That’s right, no big, blocky, camouflage laptops. Many [...]

The first thing you need to consider is whether wireless fits your needs, or if you should go with a wired alternative. I know, funny thing for a wireless book to even suggest, but Ethernet is worth considering for some applications. If you are planning to network just two or three computers and they are [...]

Unfortunately, not many people bother to report stolen laptops. In the event that your device is stolen, take the time to file a police report and contact the manufacturer. Your manufacturer may be able to locate the device in the future if someone attempts to register the product or obtain service and support. The police [...]

Careful planning in choosing which Wi-Fi standard your WLAN will be based on will help you avoid headaches and wasted money. 802.11b has been on the market the longest, and that means that there’s a lot of 802.lib-compliant hardware on the market. Now that 802.llg and 802.11a have arrived on the scene, the prices on [...]

The screen is the most frequently damaged part of a PDA and often a laptop. Accidents can result in all sorts of damage, including crushing, cracking, scratches, and electrical component failure. A good case protects your screen from crushing and other damage, but to prevent scratches you should consider a removable protective film. Protective films [...]

Besides the obvious difference, the wireless Web differs from the regular World Wide Web primarily by the content that can be presented on mobile devices. The wireless Web isn’t a separate entity. When you access the wireless Web you’re accessing the regular Internet, just via a different route. To deal with the limitations of cell [...]

Mobile devices are popular because they are portable and powerful. Unfortunately, this and the fact that they are relatively expensive make them prime targets for thieves. In the 1980s and early ’90s, thieves targeted camcorders for the same reasons (they still do, actually), but now a stolen laptop or PDA can offer more return for [...]