The word "convergence" ( home remodeling ) won't mean quite the same thing to the next generation as it does to us. ( home remodeling ) That's because kids today will come of age in a time when phones were used to play video games, ( home remodeling ) computers could double as a private movie house, ( home remodeling ) and televisions were flipped on to browse the Web. Unlike us, they'll be living in a world where "ubiquity" is the word -- surrounded by devices. ( home remodeling )
Paring Down ( home remodeling )
The most interesting development of the ubiquity ( home remodeling ) age isn't that we're surrounded by screens and able to connect to the Internet in myriad ways, ( home remodeling ) from smartphones to televisions to tablets. Most fascinating is that no one device serves as the ultimate Swiss Army Knife, ( home remodeling ) acting as a substitute for all the rest.
Rather, we collect these devices the way golfers keep clubs. On the go, we check movie times on mobile phones. On the couch, we research that movie on a laptop PC or tablet, or we play a game of "Words With Friends" while our significant other watches the big game. Rather than seek a one-size-fits-all ( home remodeling ) solution for computing, consumer behavior indicates that there's a time and a place for every kind of screen. ( home remodeling )
All these screens mean that portability and power are both becoming major considerations. ( home remodeling ) Laptop shipments exceeded that of desktops in 2008, ( home remodeling ) and high-end "desktop replacements" ( home remodeling )-- notebooks with large screens and enough horsepower to handle any computing task - ( home remodeling )- became the primary computers for many consumers. ( home remodeling ) And a new designation, the netbook, sought to lower the barrier of entry to mobile computing by offering compact laptop PCs at a fraction of the price.
New Device: Ultrabooks ( home remodeling )
Now, ( home remodeling ) there's a new category of portable PC ( home remodeling ) to compete with the upstart tablet PC ( home remodeling ) and other flavors of laptop ( home remodeling ). The ultrabook format is light, thin, fast and portable -- an antidote to the traditional laptop PC. Ultrabook PCs are less than .08 inch thick, ( home remodeling ) weigh around 3.1 ( home remodeling ) pounds and have a battery life of five to eight hours.
" ( home remodeling )The ultrabook is much more than just a product segment," ( home remodeling ) says Jim Wong, president of Acer Inc. "It's a new trend that will become the mainstream for mobile PCs." ( home remodeling )
The model for this new kind of laptop ( home remodeling ) is Apple's MacBook Air, which was introduced in 2008. ( home remodeling ) Apple sold 1.1 million units of their super-thin laptop, and they managed this feat at premium pricing. The next phase of the ultrabook ( home remodeling ) device is to build major appeal by offering similar benefits to Apple's machine at a consumer-friendly price. ( home remodeling )
Toshiba's Portege Z835, ( home remodeling ) which debuted in November of last year, dipped in price to $699 (after a $200 rebate) at Best Buy. Competing ultrabooks include the Hewlett-Packard Folio 13 and the Acer Aspire S3, which both run for about $900. The entry-level MacBook Air is $999. ( home remodeling )
Early Buzz ( home remodeling )
Initial reception to the new ultrabooks is positive ( home remodeling ). Rob Beschizza of Boing Boing called the new ASUS ZENBOOK ( home remodeling )"very good," but he cautions against laptops that try to adopt the ultrabook ( home remodeling ) moniker but stray from the design specs that make the new class of computers so attractive in the first place. ( home remodeling )
Dilip Bhatia ( home remodeling ), vice president of Lenovo's ( home remodeling ) ThinkPad business unit, is excited about his company's contribution to the field. "The ThinkPad X1 Hybrid and T430u ultrabooks represent the next generation in thin and light computing, ( home remodeling)" he says. " ( home remodeling )From small businesses that literally live on the road to corporate professionals working in a managed environment, ( home remodeling ) these new crossover laptops fundamentally change the way people think about mobile computing technology." ( home remodeling )
Matt McRae, ( home remodeling ) Vizio's ( home remodeling ) chief technology ( home remodeling ) officer, recently told Business Week that his company's entry in the ultrabook game was meant to shake things up: "It's very similar to TV - ( home remodeling )- we want to get in there and disrupt it," says McRae. "We think most PCs have been designed for the small-business users, ( home remodeling ) that others have not done a very good job of making them entertainment devices. ( home remodeling )
With all the new ultrabook ( home remodeling ) models that appeared at CES recently, it's now just a matter of discovering just how the ultrabook ( home remodeling ) will find its place in our lives next to the televisions, tablets, smartphones and desktops many consumers already have. ( home remodeling ) Nobody could have predicted this 10 years ago, ( home remodeling ) but it seems pretty clear: There's still plenty of room for this light, new computing upstart. ( home remodeling )
Paring Down ( home remodeling )
The most interesting development of the ubiquity ( home remodeling ) age isn't that we're surrounded by screens and able to connect to the Internet in myriad ways, ( home remodeling ) from smartphones to televisions to tablets. Most fascinating is that no one device serves as the ultimate Swiss Army Knife, ( home remodeling ) acting as a substitute for all the rest.
Rather, we collect these devices the way golfers keep clubs. On the go, we check movie times on mobile phones. On the couch, we research that movie on a laptop PC or tablet, or we play a game of "Words With Friends" while our significant other watches the big game. Rather than seek a one-size-fits-all ( home remodeling ) solution for computing, consumer behavior indicates that there's a time and a place for every kind of screen. ( home remodeling )
All these screens mean that portability and power are both becoming major considerations. ( home remodeling ) Laptop shipments exceeded that of desktops in 2008, ( home remodeling ) and high-end "desktop replacements" ( home remodeling )-- notebooks with large screens and enough horsepower to handle any computing task - ( home remodeling )- became the primary computers for many consumers. ( home remodeling ) And a new designation, the netbook, sought to lower the barrier of entry to mobile computing by offering compact laptop PCs at a fraction of the price.
New Device: Ultrabooks ( home remodeling )
Now, ( home remodeling ) there's a new category of portable PC ( home remodeling ) to compete with the upstart tablet PC ( home remodeling ) and other flavors of laptop ( home remodeling ). The ultrabook format is light, thin, fast and portable -- an antidote to the traditional laptop PC. Ultrabook PCs are less than .08 inch thick, ( home remodeling ) weigh around 3.1 ( home remodeling ) pounds and have a battery life of five to eight hours.
" ( home remodeling )The ultrabook is much more than just a product segment," ( home remodeling ) says Jim Wong, president of Acer Inc. "It's a new trend that will become the mainstream for mobile PCs." ( home remodeling )
The model for this new kind of laptop ( home remodeling ) is Apple's MacBook Air, which was introduced in 2008. ( home remodeling ) Apple sold 1.1 million units of their super-thin laptop, and they managed this feat at premium pricing. The next phase of the ultrabook ( home remodeling ) device is to build major appeal by offering similar benefits to Apple's machine at a consumer-friendly price. ( home remodeling )
Toshiba's Portege Z835, ( home remodeling ) which debuted in November of last year, dipped in price to $699 (after a $200 rebate) at Best Buy. Competing ultrabooks include the Hewlett-Packard Folio 13 and the Acer Aspire S3, which both run for about $900. The entry-level MacBook Air is $999. ( home remodeling )
Early Buzz ( home remodeling )
Initial reception to the new ultrabooks is positive ( home remodeling ). Rob Beschizza of Boing Boing called the new ASUS ZENBOOK ( home remodeling )"very good," but he cautions against laptops that try to adopt the ultrabook ( home remodeling ) moniker but stray from the design specs that make the new class of computers so attractive in the first place. ( home remodeling )
Dilip Bhatia ( home remodeling ), vice president of Lenovo's ( home remodeling ) ThinkPad business unit, is excited about his company's contribution to the field. "The ThinkPad X1 Hybrid and T430u ultrabooks represent the next generation in thin and light computing, ( home remodeling)" he says. " ( home remodeling )From small businesses that literally live on the road to corporate professionals working in a managed environment, ( home remodeling ) these new crossover laptops fundamentally change the way people think about mobile computing technology." ( home remodeling )
Matt McRae, ( home remodeling ) Vizio's ( home remodeling ) chief technology ( home remodeling ) officer, recently told Business Week that his company's entry in the ultrabook game was meant to shake things up: "It's very similar to TV - ( home remodeling )- we want to get in there and disrupt it," says McRae. "We think most PCs have been designed for the small-business users, ( home remodeling ) that others have not done a very good job of making them entertainment devices. ( home remodeling )
With all the new ultrabook ( home remodeling ) models that appeared at CES recently, it's now just a matter of discovering just how the ultrabook ( home remodeling ) will find its place in our lives next to the televisions, tablets, smartphones and desktops many consumers already have. ( home remodeling ) Nobody could have predicted this 10 years ago, ( home remodeling ) but it seems pretty clear: There's still plenty of room for this light, new computing upstart. ( home remodeling )
If you work remotely or travel a lot for your job, ( home remodeling ) you probably take advantage of free public Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) often.
Unfortunately, that probably means you're regularly opening up your devices and your data to serious security threats. And if you're a heavy user of cloud services, which often store your data on a remote server rather than your computer, Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) security is even more crucial.
Most people these days have password-protected networks at home, ( home remodeling )so it's unlikely that anybody is able to snoop on your data as it passes between your device and your router. But when you're surfing the Web via a free public Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) at a cafe, library or airport, you should be suspicious of everyone, says technology consultant Leo Notenboom ( home remodeling ) of Ask-Leo.com ( home remodeling ). "It's trivially easy for any of them to be watching your unencrypted information flying by."home remodeling
Here's what you need to know to stay safe next time you're surfing on a free public Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) connection.
Free Public Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) Tip No. 1: Turn on your firewall. ( home remodeling )
The cafe might use firewall software to protect your computer from outside attacks, but that doesn't protect you from other people surfing around the same Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) network inside the cafe. Be sure your computer's firewall is turned on. ( macbook pro apple )
Free Public Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) Tip No. 2: Protect your smartphone or tablet. ( home remodeling )
If your smartphone or tablet connects to Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) networks, require it to ask your permission before joining any network. A lot of people never change the default network name, so if you logged on to your friend's "linksys" ( home remodeling ) network, your device will remember that and could automatically join any network of the same name in the future - ( home remodeling )- unless you tell it to ask your permission first.
Free Public Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) Tip No. 3: Use strong encryption. ( home remodeling )
Encryption works by disguising data that your computer wirelessly sends to a router. ( home remodeling ) Without it, that person sitting near you at the cafe could use special software to intercept and see all the data that travels back and forth between your device and the router. ( home remodeling ) And that means everything: emails, passwords and things you search for. That's why it's imperative, says Notenboom, to use encrypted sites when possible. ( home remodeling )
How do you know when a site offers encryption? ( home remodeling )Instead of "http" ( home remodeling ) at the beginning of the address, you'll see "https. ( home remodeling )" You'll also see a little padlock icon in your browser window, usually on the bottom right. ( home remodeling )
What else should you consider encrypting? ( home remodeling )
Your email. ( home remodeling )
If you use a locally installed email program such as Outlook or Entourage ( home remodeling ), you can protect your mail and passwords by using something called SSL (secure sockets layer ( home remodeling )) on each of your accounts. This encrypts all your data when you send and receive email. Not all email providers allow the use of SSL ( home remodeling ), though, so check your provider's help page.
Your Facebook ( home remodeling ) and Twitter pages ( home remodeling )
Facebook ( home remodeling ) and Twitter recently began offering encrypted sessions; just go into your account settings and find the option that says "Always use https."home remodeling
Your Google search ( home remodeling )
If you think the keywords you're searching could be embarrassing or you prefer to keep your privacy, try the secure version of Google search. Instead of going to Google.com ( home remodeling ), do all of your searching at Encrypted.Google.com. ( home remodeling )
Everything ( home remodeling )
Consider a VPN ( home remodeling ) service. VPN ( home remodeling ) stands for virtual private network and encrypts everything you send and receive. You can download free mobile VPN ( home remodeling ) software from such a site as Hotspot Shield and everything - ( home remodeling )- instant messages, passwords, emails and websites - ( home remodeling )- will be virtually impenetrable to prying eyes whenever you're using a free public Wi-Fi connection. Or if your employer offers its own VPN ( home remodeling ), always connect to it through your computer or mobile device.
"That guy in the corner of Starbucks with his laptop - ( home remodeling )- do you trust him with your private data?" asks Notenboom. Follow these Wi-Fi safety tips, and you won't ever have to ever wonder.
Unfortunately, that probably means you're regularly opening up your devices and your data to serious security threats. And if you're a heavy user of cloud services, which often store your data on a remote server rather than your computer, Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) security is even more crucial.
Most people these days have password-protected networks at home, ( home remodeling )so it's unlikely that anybody is able to snoop on your data as it passes between your device and your router. But when you're surfing the Web via a free public Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) at a cafe, library or airport, you should be suspicious of everyone, says technology consultant Leo Notenboom ( home remodeling ) of Ask-Leo.com ( home remodeling ). "It's trivially easy for any of them to be watching your unencrypted information flying by."home remodeling
Here's what you need to know to stay safe next time you're surfing on a free public Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) connection.
Free Public Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) Tip No. 1: Turn on your firewall. ( home remodeling )
The cafe might use firewall software to protect your computer from outside attacks, but that doesn't protect you from other people surfing around the same Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) network inside the cafe. Be sure your computer's firewall is turned on. ( macbook pro apple )
Free Public Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) Tip No. 2: Protect your smartphone or tablet. ( home remodeling )
If your smartphone or tablet connects to Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) networks, require it to ask your permission before joining any network. A lot of people never change the default network name, so if you logged on to your friend's "linksys" ( home remodeling ) network, your device will remember that and could automatically join any network of the same name in the future - ( home remodeling )- unless you tell it to ask your permission first.
Free Public Wi-Fi ( home remodeling ) Tip No. 3: Use strong encryption. ( home remodeling )
Encryption works by disguising data that your computer wirelessly sends to a router. ( home remodeling ) Without it, that person sitting near you at the cafe could use special software to intercept and see all the data that travels back and forth between your device and the router. ( home remodeling ) And that means everything: emails, passwords and things you search for. That's why it's imperative, says Notenboom, to use encrypted sites when possible. ( home remodeling )
How do you know when a site offers encryption? ( home remodeling )Instead of "http" ( home remodeling ) at the beginning of the address, you'll see "https. ( home remodeling )" You'll also see a little padlock icon in your browser window, usually on the bottom right. ( home remodeling )
What else should you consider encrypting? ( home remodeling )
Your email. ( home remodeling )
If you use a locally installed email program such as Outlook or Entourage ( home remodeling ), you can protect your mail and passwords by using something called SSL (secure sockets layer ( home remodeling )) on each of your accounts. This encrypts all your data when you send and receive email. Not all email providers allow the use of SSL ( home remodeling ), though, so check your provider's help page.
Your Facebook ( home remodeling ) and Twitter pages ( home remodeling )
Facebook ( home remodeling ) and Twitter recently began offering encrypted sessions; just go into your account settings and find the option that says "Always use https."home remodeling
Your Google search ( home remodeling )
If you think the keywords you're searching could be embarrassing or you prefer to keep your privacy, try the secure version of Google search. Instead of going to Google.com ( home remodeling ), do all of your searching at Encrypted.Google.com. ( home remodeling )
Everything ( home remodeling )
Consider a VPN ( home remodeling ) service. VPN ( home remodeling ) stands for virtual private network and encrypts everything you send and receive. You can download free mobile VPN ( home remodeling ) software from such a site as Hotspot Shield and everything - ( home remodeling )- instant messages, passwords, emails and websites - ( home remodeling )- will be virtually impenetrable to prying eyes whenever you're using a free public Wi-Fi connection. Or if your employer offers its own VPN ( home remodeling ), always connect to it through your computer or mobile device.
"That guy in the corner of Starbucks with his laptop - ( home remodeling )- do you trust him with your private data?" asks Notenboom. Follow these Wi-Fi safety tips, and you won't ever have to ever wonder.
Thanks to the Web ( home remodeling ), more and more people are working remotely - ( home remodeling )- from home or anywhere. ( home remodeling )But not commuting anymore doesn't mean you don't have the same security issues that your corporate-office counterparts do. ( home remodeling )
Here's how to protect your data, devices and computer without an IT department: ( home remodeling )
1. ( home remodeling )Back up your data in the cloud. ( home remodeling )
It's easy to lose all your work: ( home remodeling ) One computer virus or hard-disk-drive meltdown ( home remodeling ), and your important files may vanish forever. That's why, when working from home, backup is crucial. Instead of depending on bulky hardware, try the many cloud services on the Web. They back up new content every night while you sleep, ( home remodeling ) keeping your files safe and allowing you access from any computer at any time. ( home remodeling )
"Backup used to be cost-prohibitive, ( home remodeling )" says Phil Montero, founder and CEO ( home remodeling ) of an online resource called You Can Work From Anywhere. But these days, many online services charge as little as $50 per year, ( home remodeling ) depending on your needs. Mozy even offers certain amounts of backup for free. ( home remodeling ) If you're only backing up documents, Google Docs is another good bet. ( home remodeling )
2. ( home remodeling )Protect your computer and critical files ( home remodeling )
If your employer issues you a PC ( home remodeling ) or laptop ( home remodeling ) to use at home, they'll often install security software or a Web-based security service to block viruses or bar hackers. But if you are self-employed ( home remodeling ), the burden of protecting your computer and data from the increasing array of online security threats falls squarely on your shoulders. ( home remodeling )
When choosing a cloud-based ( home remodeling ) security service, be sure it protects your computer with antivirus, spyware and firewall programs. It should also constantly updates to protect you against evolving threats.
You should also limit your family members' access to your work computer. ( home remodeling )"You have to be sure that the really critical stuff isn't made accessible to someone who shouldn't have access to it," says Jack M. Nilles ( home remodeling ), founder of JALA ( home remodeling ) International, a global telecommuting consulting company. ( home remodeling ) "That includes the kids getting on your computer and downloading something [harmful]."
Finally, keep passwords and ID ( home remodeling ) numbers private so they don't fall into the wrong hands. ( home remodeling )
3. ( home remodeling )Seamlessly collaborate with others ( home remodeling )
Whether you work on your home computer ( home remodeling ) once a week or full time, ( home remodeling ) if you need to share files with colleagues, ( home remodeling ) synchronization tools can help ensure you (or your team) are working on the correct or latest version of a document ( home remodeling ). The "old" way to do this was to copy the files from your home computer onto an external hard drive, ( home remodeling )CD or thumb drive and install them on your work computer ( home remodeling ). But this process sets you up for accidentally writing over the most recent files - ( home remodeling )- and what if this external backup device you were depending on is destroyed or lost? ( home remodeling )
Cloud services enable you to sync automatically to ensure speedy backups. ( home remodeling ) Or try Microsoft's FolderShare ( home remodeling ), which allows you to synchronize files with colleagues over the Web. (home remodeling )
There's no doubt to the benefits of Web to the home office worker ( home remodeling ). That said, you want to be smart about security issues. ( home remodeling ) To really cover your bases, in addition to backing up and securing your data, ( home remodeling )Niles also says it's important to get a clear protocol from your company or clients: ( home remodeling )
" ( home remodeling )We recommend that telecommuters working for a company have a formal agreement specifically stating who is responsible for what. ( home remodeling )" This way, you can always fall back on the agreed-upon security plan for your best-quality ( home remodeling ) work away from your IT ( home remodeling ) department. ( home remodeling )
Here's how to protect your data, devices and computer without an IT department: ( home remodeling )
1. ( home remodeling )Back up your data in the cloud. ( home remodeling )
It's easy to lose all your work: ( home remodeling ) One computer virus or hard-disk-drive meltdown ( home remodeling ), and your important files may vanish forever. That's why, when working from home, backup is crucial. Instead of depending on bulky hardware, try the many cloud services on the Web. They back up new content every night while you sleep, ( home remodeling ) keeping your files safe and allowing you access from any computer at any time. ( home remodeling )
"Backup used to be cost-prohibitive, ( home remodeling )" says Phil Montero, founder and CEO ( home remodeling ) of an online resource called You Can Work From Anywhere. But these days, many online services charge as little as $50 per year, ( home remodeling ) depending on your needs. Mozy even offers certain amounts of backup for free. ( home remodeling ) If you're only backing up documents, Google Docs is another good bet. ( home remodeling )
2. ( home remodeling )Protect your computer and critical files ( home remodeling )
If your employer issues you a PC ( home remodeling ) or laptop ( home remodeling ) to use at home, they'll often install security software or a Web-based security service to block viruses or bar hackers. But if you are self-employed ( home remodeling ), the burden of protecting your computer and data from the increasing array of online security threats falls squarely on your shoulders. ( home remodeling )
When choosing a cloud-based ( home remodeling ) security service, be sure it protects your computer with antivirus, spyware and firewall programs. It should also constantly updates to protect you against evolving threats.
You should also limit your family members' access to your work computer. ( home remodeling )"You have to be sure that the really critical stuff isn't made accessible to someone who shouldn't have access to it," says Jack M. Nilles ( home remodeling ), founder of JALA ( home remodeling ) International, a global telecommuting consulting company. ( home remodeling ) "That includes the kids getting on your computer and downloading something [harmful]."
Finally, keep passwords and ID ( home remodeling ) numbers private so they don't fall into the wrong hands. ( home remodeling )
3. ( home remodeling )Seamlessly collaborate with others ( home remodeling )
Whether you work on your home computer ( home remodeling ) once a week or full time, ( home remodeling ) if you need to share files with colleagues, ( home remodeling ) synchronization tools can help ensure you (or your team) are working on the correct or latest version of a document ( home remodeling ). The "old" way to do this was to copy the files from your home computer onto an external hard drive, ( home remodeling )CD or thumb drive and install them on your work computer ( home remodeling ). But this process sets you up for accidentally writing over the most recent files - ( home remodeling )- and what if this external backup device you were depending on is destroyed or lost? ( home remodeling )
Cloud services enable you to sync automatically to ensure speedy backups. ( home remodeling ) Or try Microsoft's FolderShare ( home remodeling ), which allows you to synchronize files with colleagues over the Web. (home remodeling )
There's no doubt to the benefits of Web to the home office worker ( home remodeling ). That said, you want to be smart about security issues. ( home remodeling ) To really cover your bases, in addition to backing up and securing your data, ( home remodeling )Niles also says it's important to get a clear protocol from your company or clients: ( home remodeling )
" ( home remodeling )We recommend that telecommuters working for a company have a formal agreement specifically stating who is responsible for what. ( home remodeling )" This way, you can always fall back on the agreed-upon security plan for your best-quality ( home remodeling ) work away from your IT ( home remodeling ) department. ( home remodeling )
