Joseph Moran

Using virtualization to run multiple operating systems on a single physical computer was once mainly the domain of ubergeeks and IT administrators, but these days small businesses are showing interest in the technology, whether it’s to kick the tires on a new operating systems, or just to continue using an application designed for a now […]

If you’ve ever tried to send someone a large file as an e-mail attachment, you’ve probably experienced what I’ll call the boomerang effect — the e-mail seems to leave your system OK, but you check back later only to find an notice that delivery of your message failed. This week we’ll take a look at […]

Few things can put a business at greater risk than the failure to conduct frequent data and/or system backups. Most backup utilities approach the task from one of two angles– some concentrate on protecting data by backing up files and folders, while others emphasize complete system protection and employ disk imaging to create an exact […]

Protecting your PCs from online threats isn’t as simple or inexpensive as it once was. Just like there’s no single pill that covers everything from a headache to a sore throat, there’s no one piece of software that will protect your system from the various Internet-borne nasties it might come in contact with on a […]

Networks can sometimes be like closets; they start out completely organized, but then over time as items are added and stuff gets moved around, pretty soon you end up with a bit of a mess, with items that may or may not be working – or needed. This is why network management applications can be […]

When you’re out and about and you need Internet access, stumbling across an open, e.g., unsecured, Wi-Fi network can feel like finding $10 on the sidewalk. The truth is that unless you’re standing in the middle of a cornfield, there’s probably one or more open network nearby, but the challenge is in knowing exactly where […]

If you’ve got a Palm Treo, you probably bought it because you spend a fair amount of time editing or creating e-mail and other text documents on the road. The Treo’s QWERTY keyboard makes that much easier than pecking away at an on-screen keyboard or resorting to predictive text technology, but even the Treo’s keyboard […]

If you often find yourself on the road with a wireless-equipped laptop or smartphone, you probably spend a fair amount of your time parked at Wi-Fi hotspots. While there are lots of hotspots out there, they don’t exactly provide blanket coverage, so finding one wherever you happen to be isn’t always easy. However, in any […]

Picture the following: You’re sitting at the computer minding your own business. Then, all of a sudden, Windows presents you with a warning: “There is an IP address conflict with another system on the network.” You then quickly realize that you no longer have Internet access, or your connection becomes so intermittent it becomes unusable. […]

It’s hard to believe there was a time not all that long ago when the term “spam” actually referred to food (and, with apologies to Hormel, I use that term loosely). But these days, for most of us, spam means only one thing — unsolicited e-mail, and lots of it. You might be wondering why […]

Seagate would prefer that you think of their FreeAgent Pro not just as a hard drive but as a “data mover” that’s capable of giving you both local and remote access to your data. That implies the functions of a NAS device, and although the FreeAgent is merely an external hard drive, it’s one with […]

In the ongoing discussion about the problem of climate change, much is made of our penchant for gas-guzzling vehicles. But another major culprit is our use of electricity — the desktop PCs found in a typical home or office can consume a lot of energy, especially if they’re powered on 24/7. Of course, you can […]