Joseph Moran

External hard drives provide a convenient way to add large amounts of storage to a PC, but accessing the storage when you travel means setting up an FTP server or remote access software (or lugging the drive around with you). The $99 Pogoplug from CloudEngines represents a much more attractive option for getting at your […]

Network management software falls into the “must-have” category for medium-to-large firms, but for smaller ones, it’s typically in the “nice to have, but can’t afford” category. Spiceworks 4 is network management software that any size firm can afford, mainly because it’s free. The advertising-supported software gives resource-constrained smaller firms the capability to inventory and manage […]

As the peak PC buying season approaches, the enormous popularity of netbooks shows no signs of abating, as they remain an attractive option for those seeking an inexpensive, compact, and lightweight system for Internet connectivity. That connectivity primarily comes in the form of Wi-Fi, but given the need to keep costs down, the wireless chipsets […]

These days you don’t need to be sitting in front of a PC to use it considering the countless utilities/services that can provide remote access to a system over the Internet. If you regularly access a system from afar, you probably leave it on 24/7 to ensure its constant availability. Keeping a system perpetually powered […]

A few weeks ago we highlighted ten free and noteworthy networking utilities. Here we follow up with ten free Web-based sites/services (with a connectivity focus) that we think may also come in handy. Check Broadband Connection Speed If your downloads feel a little pokey lately, it might be time to test your broadband connection speed […]

Sluggish, error-prone Windows PCs—particularly those that have been in use for a long time– are pretty much par for the course, especially in small offices that lack IT support.  System Mechanic 8.5 Business Edition from Iolo Technologies aims to breathe new life into errant PCs by scanning for and eliminating the many configuration problems and […]

Windows’ Remote Desktop feature — which comes with Vista Business and Ultimate as well as XP Professional and Media Center editions — lets you control your PC from a distance much as you would if you were sitting right in front of it. The most common way to access a faraway computer with Remote Desktop […]

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve found myself attending to the malware-plagued computer of a friend or family member –it wouldn’t be enough to retire on, but I’d sure have an awful lot of nickels. What strikes me about the infected systems I’ve encountered lately is how many (lots) had some form […]

On any given day that mobile phone on your hip (or wherever you happen to keep it) probably rings at any number of inopportune times — when you’re in a meeting, racing a deadline to finish a task, or just trying to take a few minutes to gobble down your lunch. You can send the […]

As the famous proverb says, the best things in life are free. These 10 utilities may not change your life, but they’re all helpful with a particular aspect of networking and none of them will cost you a dime. (Unless otherwise noted, the utilities listed here are Windows-only.) 1. CrossLoop When you want to get […]

For about a year or so now, the compact and inexpensive systems known as netbooks have been a bright spot in an otherwise moribund PC industry. Netbooks (most of which have price tags between $300 and $500) have been selling in droves to those who need basic functionality and for whom portability and price trump […]

In parts one and two of this series, we explored how to set up Window Home Server on a spare PC and how perform basic configuration tasks like setting up user accounts, shared folders, and adding storage. In this third and final installment, we’ll look at how to set up WHS’s remote access feature so […]