What you decide to back up depends on the level of importance you place on each type of data. Some data may be easily recovered, while considerable time and effort may go into reproducing other data. Consider the following types of data and decide what level of effort would be required to recover from...

Digital convergence is the latest and greatest techno-buzzword. It promises us a world where all our disparate consumer electronics and personal computing devices coexist peacefully, communicate, and seamlessly integrate to serve all our entertainment and informational needs. This begs the question:...

Even though X10 units communicate over wires they can still suffer from interference. The power lines that XI0 uses as its communication medium are anything but quiet. Normally the interference isn't enough to cause problems but some devices in your home can introduce RF interference onto the line, making...

In addition to labels, there is special software available to actively track stolen or lost computers and recover them. Often thieves will be unaware that this software is running, and will be unable to delete or disable it even if they notice it. The tracking software connects to the software company's...

Apart from the "big three" 802.11 protocols, users and installers of WiFi really don't need to worry about many other protocols (except for Bluetooth, which can prove useful in many products that connect with your WLAN, such as personal digital assistants or smart phones). I present just a few of the...

Because most of us can't type 80+ words a minute, we need some way to make IM and chat more enjoyable and less like a Mavis Beacon typing exercise. The Internet community slowly evolved its own shorthand to deal with this, which resulted in a collection of abbreviations and emoticons, also known as smileys. According...

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....

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...

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...

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...