Microsoft SyncToy

There are a number of ways to backup your data, but I prefer to have an exact duplicate of my crucial data on at least two physically separate media. An easy and free way to do that (for windows users) is MS SyncToy. It allows you to sync two folder in a number of different ways.
My favorite here is "echo" in which the new and update files in one directory are synced to a second directory, Simple and efficient.

Checksums – md5deep or md5sums

Most cd/dvd images are now provided with a checksum, which is a hash that certifies if one file a true copy of another and was not corrupted during transmission by ftp,...

I am writing this as I have been trying to download Mandriva and OpenSuse, but unluckily and somewhat uniquely my 2 downlaods have been bad. Checksums for Mandriva are here and for OpenSuse DVDs are here.

1) Use md5sums for windows and use command line window to run
md5sume filename.
2) Use md5deep either for windows or source code for linux/unix. You can use either md5deep or sha1, ...

Opera: it is awesome!

I still am an avid Firefox user, but boy oh boy how could I have not tried Opera before. I am getting to like it very much and use it more and more. Although you cannot add extensions to it like Firefox but still it is quite complete.

• minimize to tray: (Firefox - MinimizeToTray extension)(Opera - Ctrl+H or use TrayIt)

• Bookmarks toolbar: (Firefox - Bookmarks toolbar)(Opera - Personal Toolbar)

• Keyword search off address bar: (Firefox - SerachWords extension)(Opera - built in)

• Flashget downloader: (Firefox - Flashgot extension)(Opera - flashget plugin, instructions)

• ....

Some great features are:

• the amazing fast backward and fast forward buttons,
  
• an integrated sidebar with a lot of features and a lot of flexibility in its view styles,
• excellent tab browsing,
  
• unique navigation bar,
  
• easily accessible and useful view modes (Author, user),
  
• different view modes for the bookmarks,
  
• comprehensive site/webpage information,
• Widgets (bittorrent, ...)
  
• ...
  

Two very annoying shortcomings:

• Search doesn't keep a list of previous entries --> no search history
  
• Google suggest is not available (unless of course, I literally visit the Google suggest website) and I haven't figured out if I can fix this.
  

I still have some problems when using encrypted sites also blogger (text wrapping seems not want to work and it does not have automatic spell checker) ... But most problems that occur are due to bad browser specific webpage designs not Opera. I will keep on using it as much as I can.

A few facts about the actual usable hard disk space

There are many deceiving factors concerning the actual hard disk space that will be available to you. This is very important to consider, when purchasing a new budget-concerned computer with limited amount of hard drive space. All the examples here are based on an 80G dual-core laptop.

1) Don't confuse the binary versus the decimal method of measurements. Windows usually shows both at the same time. Manufactures use the decimal method so an 80G hard disk will result in a 76G in binary standard.

2) Formating: Some space is consumed during the formating process.

3) Nowadays all computers and laptops come with a hidden section of the hard disk used for restore purposes. You can restore back to the factory settings using this part. This will eat up some part of your hard drives, typically about 5G.

4) You need some space for the Windows folder (~4G) and program files folder (variable, consider at least 6G).

5) The actual size versus size on disk. Specially , if your laptop came formatted based on FAT32 instead of NTFS (example is my Acer laptop, which is like that, strangely). For example my program files folder is 4.3G in real size but takes 7G of my hard drive.*

6) Paging file: this depends on the system but at least consider 2G of your hard drive to be eaten up for the paging file (well, that is the price for better performance), unless you have at least 1.5G of RAM (for Vista, I assume this is going to be even way higher).**

7) Recycle bin: it is safe to consider that you will need at least 10% of your total hard drive for the recycle bin. You can adjust that easily though but still a minimum of 4G is advised.

8) System restore of the Windows itself: It can be up to 12% of your hard drive.

Considering all the above when you buy a laptop with 80G of hard disk, you may end up with an actual available space of about 55G to start with for your data.

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* NTFS is better than FAT in every sense. The only reason you may want to keep FAT is if you want to install more that one operating system. It is possible to easily and undestructively convert to NTFS. See:
1) NTFS vs. FAT: Which Is Right for You?
2) How to Convert FAT Disks to NTFS.

** Read this very good article about the paging file, if need more info.

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Simple networking methods for file sharing in windows 1

Method 1 -- using the built-in windows XP's file sharing

A) It is the simplest to use the shared folder located at the "my computer" as you sharing folder. Make sure in the properties, proper privileges have given to computer on the network to use this folder.
B) In your network connection properties, you need to set: (1) windows network services is checked. 2) file and printer sharing is checked (at least for the computer that that its folder is being shared.)
C) Make sure in your firewall you have assigned the computers that are to access the shared folder as trusted. For example for me who am using a private router with DHCP, then in my zonelab firewall set my either subnet works as the trusted with medium security.
That's it now on the start menu click on "my network places" or type in the address. For example if you want to access the shared folder documents on computer Blackcomb then type "\\Blackcomb\Documents"

You can also mount a network place as like a local drive easily, see here for detailed info and instructions.

Audit Your Computer

WinAudit is a no hassle, easy software for auditing the hardware and software of your computer. Find more info here and download here.

Acrobat reader 8

Here it comes a response to Microsoft's XPS and XPS viewer. This new 2007 version of the acrobat reader has completely the feel of the XPS viewer and is quite faster than its descendants. I assume it is built on XML similar to XPS.

And the winner is Philips Speed-XL HQ8160/33

It was about time to acquire a new electric shaver, and when is a better time than the boxing week. I am a Philips fan so I was set with the brand selection from the beginning. After quite a research and considering the value for the money of the available deals, the winner was a Philips HQ8160. The official website nicely details its amazing specifications.

It has a number of great features:

Functionality: The shaving unit comes with a triple circle head: meaning 50% more shaving surface. It is equipped with the sophisticated "lift and cut", "individual floating heads" and "reflex action" features. And it is washable, and works both corded and cordless.

Usability: Charging time is just one hour. A charging stand is provided. The battery charged capacity is shown by LEDs from 0 to 100% with 20% intervals. Did I mention that it comes with a cool travel pouch.

Securing your wireless network

Just right now I can log into 3 different wireless networks from my laptop. It always strikes me why there is no regulation to enforce the industry to make sure the consumer is protected. Of course, you can not assume everybody knows how to configure a router so they just go with the default. But eh eh that is not good, although in a utopia nothing evil can happen, right?
Here is a nicely written article from the US government about this issue.

To summarize:

1) turn the wireless capability off when not used for a prolonged period. Or turn off the identifier broadcasting after your computer is connected. You don't need it, as long as you don't want to list the available wireless networks. Then nobody else knows it is there, but yourself who knows for a fact it is there.
2) Set a strong administrator password. Although this is not crucial as most routers do not allow remote access by default, but only by a computer which is connected physically to port #1.
3) Set at least a 128 WPA encryption. WEP is extremely weak but still is something if you don't have WPA as an option. If you can, go with WPA 2 which supports a mixed of AES and TKIP. No need to mention that you should use a strong phrase with a length of at least 8 random characters with it.
4) Change the SSID to identify your network.
5) Change the default channel (b or g): best is to use 1 or 11, as the default is 6 and so by using 1 or 11 you have the least channel overlap (resulting a better connection speed) with what everybody else is using.