Who's Tracking Your Online Identity?

By: Greg Culver

If you spend a lot of time online, looking for that special
little spot on the web-then this may intrigue you. With all the
information floating out freely on the WWW, you have to wonder,
is someone watching you? Surfing the web is entertaining in many
ways, and dangerous. This formed the usefulness of anti-spy ware
products as well as pop-up blockers, and antivirus programs.
That is a lot of protection, and it doesn't even include the
recommended firewall.

Have you ever had a pop-up show on your screen that asked you to
buy products similar to a site you were surfing, or through
random keywords you put into a search engine? That is no
coincidence.

There are companies that watch your every click, monitor your
surfing habits, and offer services to you at their leisure.
Someone is watching you, and they're not too shy about admitting
it. Every computer online has to have an IP address to identify
itself, it is the social security cards of computers. Without an
IP address, computers cannot get online. What is your IP
address? If you know it then read above-protect it like you
would protect your social security card.

With an IP address anyone can find out exclusive private
information about you, and in extreme cases, take over your
entire computer. However IP address trackers operate more on
an annoying telemarketer function, and although harmless, is
still a huge blow to privacy.

If you just happened to see flash banners online with an
interactive game, promising you'd win something if you'd win,
then you would be surprised to see your location information
filled in on the winners form after winning the game. The only
thing missing would be some personable information such as your
name and email address.

This is what website trackers do, it is similar to MSN's and
Yahoo's portal that can give you relevant information-only these
website trackers ASK for your information before displaying the
relevant details.

Normally, with the protection available to computers we surf
aimlessly without worry, not even considering how wide open our
computers are. And with IP tracking software freely available to
the public online, privacy becomes even worse to protect.

Education is the best weapon, and ways to hide and protect your
IP is freely available online.

To read more articles by Greg Culver, check out http://homeandfamilyweb.com



About the author:
www.coolcomputerweb.com
is owned by Greg Culver and is a directory dedicated to
providing information about computers and related information.

Windows Vista - An Overview

By: Lucy Bartlett

After a gap of nearly 5 years, Microsoft released the latest
version of Windows which is named as Vista. With a name change
from Longhorn to Vista, the stable version of Windows is
expected to be released during November 2006. The beta version
of this software is already available as a free download. If you
have a lot of patience or a very high speed internet connection
then you can download Vista which is nearly 2.5 GB in size.

Microsoft promises that Vista will have plenty of new features
which includes updated graphical user interface (GUI), Windows
DVD Maker - a new creation tool for multimedia - and totally
revamped audio, print and networking sub-systems. Vista will
make use of peer-to-peer technology to make file sharing between
networked computers easier. With the inclusion of Virtual PC in
Vista, Microsoft claims that running previous versions of
Windows simultaneously on the same machine will not be a problem.

The developers can make use of the Net Framework version 3.0
introduced in Vista. This version is claimed to be easier to
work with than the traditional Windows API.

The most common criticism of Windows XP is its unstable security
and its inability to protect the system from buffer overflows,
viruses and malware. The stated goal of Vista is to improve the
security considerably and make the system protected from the
invasion of malwares and virus threats.

Vista comes with improved performance of Windows Shell, easier
and faster search functions, a sidebar resembling Apple's
Spotlight, desktop gadgets for applets, the latest version of
Internet Explorer - the controversial web browser of Microsoft
-, Windows Media Player 11, specialized User Account Control,
built in Firewall to control and monitor outgoing and incoming
traffic, Windows Defender, a Windows version of anti-spyware and
Windows mail which will replace the existing Outlook Express.

Microsoft claims Vista will help in improving the performance of
the PC in certain key areas which includes starting up, response
to user actions, and waking up. The start up is going to be very
quick and while background processing of scripts and
applications are executed, the other desired tasks can be
performed by the users.

The new sleep state provision in Vista has combined features for
standby mode, data protection and low power usage during
hibernation.

If you want to try Vista on your desktop computer then your
system should have a processor which should be at least 800MHZ
speed, 512 MB RAM and have the latest version of any good
graphic card capable of executing DirectX version 9 or above.
This is only a minimum requirement. For optimum results a better
processor - above 1.2GHZ is needed.

About the author:
Lucy Bartlett is a proud contributing author. Find more articles
here. For more
info visit Windows
Vista or Vista Products

Laptops and the College Student

If you are the parent of a student that is soon planning to go to college, then you may want to purchase a laptop computer. A laptop

computer will give the student an effective tool that will allow them to keep track of their busy college schedule, to keep in touch with
friends and family, and to do academic research and papers.

A laptop for the college student is more than ideal; it’s a necessity in today’s technologically advanced and equally demanding society.

College students are expected to type all of their papers in the proper format, whether it is in the Modern Language Association or
American Psychological Association format, and they can easily do so on any of today’s laptop computers.

Don’t make your college bound child rely on the computers at the campus they attend. It can be a hassle when all of the computers

are in use or when the computers malfunction, especially when a term paper or a project is due. Let your college bound child know you
care about their education by giving them a tool they will find invaluable during their college years. College students can use their laptop
to create PowerPoint presentations, lectures, writing assignments, charts, diagrams, websites and more.

Finally, a college student will undoubtedly want to use their laptop computer for entertainment purposes. Downloading music, blog

writing, web surfing, and sharing photos with family and friends are all activities that can be accomplished with the laptop computer you
provide.

Deals On Laptops

By: Larry Haywood

Are you looking for good deals on laptops? There are an endless
amount of websites on the internet about laptops and finding
good deals on laptops. You could literally spend hours and hours
on the web researching laptops or you could visit a site like
TigerDirect.com. This site is by far one of the most helpful
sites I have been to when it comes to trying to figure out which
laptop to buy. There are so many brands and different types of
laptops out there today, it's almost mind blowing. You have
laptops, notebook pcs, and tablet pcs to choose from. Do you
know which one you need? How will you find good deals on laptops
without knowing what you need to fit your situation.

Some of the top laptop brands available today are: Dell laptops,
Gateway, Acer, Toshiba, Compaq, HP, Sony, Apple, and more. Along
with each type of laptop brand, you've also got a large variety
of models to select from. You can expect to spend anywhere from
499.00 to 1500.00 dollars for a decent laptop these days.
However, if you do your research and are open to different
laptop models and brands, you can save a load of cash.
TigerDirect.com provides a review and complete specifications on
the laptops available to buy online.

Now, the laptop specs are pretty darn important. This is what
your laptop will be made up of, so to speak. For example,
howmuch disk space and storage will your laptop have? I have
seen some laptops that come with 60-100 GB of disk space. That
is a massive hard drive for a little bitty laptop! With that
kind of storage available, you will have plenty of space for all
your mp3s, videos, movies, or whatever you want to download on
your laptop. Another important specification is the processor
used. Some of featured laptops on TigerDirect.com come with a
1.7 BHz processor, which should be more than enough juice for
the job. Then, you've got your memory, also called RAM. For
memory, I would get atleast 256MB, but you might want to go with
the 512MB memory if don't plan on updating for a while. With a
setup like this, you could use your laptop for business or
personal use.

Also, you will also want to know the dimensions of the laptop.
Howmuch does the laptop weight? How thin is it? What is the size
of the viewing screen? Now, these things really matter! You
don't want to buy the heaviest, most bulky laptop you can find.
Lightweight and thin laptops are the wave of the future. I know
I do not want to be carrying around a clumpy piece of technology
that weighs 15 lbs. when I could easily carry a 6lb. laptop
around much easier.

Finally, you will also want to pay attention to the type of
networking setup the laptop comes with. Do you plan on using a
LAN at your house? Are you going wireless? Maybe you're still
using a dial up isp. Whatever your situation, you'll want to
find a laptop that is ready to plug into your setup at home or
business. So, with a little time and patience, you can find good
deals on laptops without much effort.

About the author:
Larry runs the website Laptop Buys where you can
find information about laptops, notebook pcs, and tablet pcs.

Windows Repair Xp

By: Tom Jackson

Learn about a new way to speed up Windows XP using a new method
called computer speed system design.

According to the experts at http://windowsrepairxp.com speeding
up Windows XP has been a big problem for it's users only because
it is been approached from the wrong angle by. The correct way
to speed up Windows XP is to create a computer speed system that
has six specific parts. This computer speed system is a
collection of several pieces to a puzzle once you have these
pieces put together you'll always have computer speed.

You're very lucky to be reading this article on windows repair
xp because we are going to reveal all six parts to computer
speed. You're about to learn how to eliminate computer freeze
ups, prevent computer crashes, extend the life of your computer
almost indefinitely, and create computer speed that you've never
seen before. Now that may seem like a bold statement but most
computer owners are missing one or more pieces to this puzzle.
And as anyone knows if there are missing pieces to a puzzle you
never get a perfect picture until you find the missing pieces.

Normally computer speed has been attempted by making changes to
your computer hardware. The most popular is simply adding more
memory or getting a bigger hard drive. This does work well but
it doesn't solve the problem so your computer slows down later
on. So, what is slowing down your computer and what are the
parts to computer speed?

Computer speed has six specific parts to it when you're using
only one or two of these parts you don't get the kind of speed
that you really want.

The parts to computer speed are. 1) Windows XP optimization 2)
Windows XP tweaks, maintenance, and adjustments 3) Spyware an
Adware Removal 4) Antivirus Software 5) Software That Organizes
Your Hard Drive 6) Special Privacy Software

Now in order to have a very very fast computer you'll need to
design a system that has all of the things above in it and
working together. These are the things that slow Windows XP down
and these are the things that can speed Windows Repair XP up.
The six items are not new and they are no mystery to most of us
who've been on Internet for a long time. The real mystery is
learning how to use them properly to create computer speed.

It doesn't take much to learn and become an expert on the six
items above. What it takes is the time and effort to research
each of the individual items. You'll have to learn who, what,
where, when, and how of each individual area. You can use the
help that is available to you on many web sites like

Windows Repair Xp

where they address all six items individually and show you how
to design your own computer speed system.

The fact of the matter is computer speed is the responsibility
of the computer owner not the computer itself. Your computer
simply will not stay fast, safe and running well unless you
address all six areas of computer speed.

About the author:
This article is written by researcher and Thomas Jackson and is
taken from his e-book on XP computer speed secrets. Visit

Windows Repair Xp

to
get a free copy of Spybot Search & Destroy spyware removal
software. Watch our free advanced spyware protection video on
this software while you are there.

Laptop Essentials! Five Basic Accessories to Think About

By: Garry Allen

Everybody, it looks like, has a laptop today, and if you don't
have one, you most likely are thinking of buying one. As if it's
not difficult enough to choose from the many types and brands of
laptops out there, you are also confronted with the many
accessories that are available for one to. Of the overwhelmingly
large amount of accessories out there, it can be certainly
overwhelming to figure out what you really need for your laptop. Clearly, it is completely dependant
upon your needs and plans with your computer, but there are five
essentials you may want to consider to start with first.

Laptop Essential 1: If you are planning to use your laptop at
home with any kind of regularity, you will want to consider
getting an external keyboard and pointing device (mouse). Why?
Well, believe me, if you have ever tried typing on a laptop for
any more than an hour, then without a doubt you know that your
neck, shoulders, and wrists can start to feel wiped out, to say
the least. Well, the solution is to buy an external keyboard,
which you can plug into the back of your laptop, as well as a
mouse. And if you use your laptop in the office you can raise
the screen up with books or risers of some sort to make looking
at the screen a little more ergonomic. Of course you can also
purchase accessory swivel stands for your laptop as well if you
want them.

Laptop Essential 2: When you're home you will most likely want to
connect other peripheral devices to your laptop, like a printer,
maybe a DVD player, or even a CD burner. This can create a lot
of clutter with all the wires you need to plug in and unplug if
you want to take your laptop out of the house or move room to
room or even take it to the office. So to resolve this problem,
you will absolutely love a docking station.

Now a docking station basically turns your laptop into a desktop
computer when you're home and when you're ready to take it away,
you simply slip it out of the station and off you go.

Another alternative along the same lines is a port replicator,
which has computer ports. You connect your external devices to
the replicator and then to your laptop. When you want to move
your laptop, you simply detach the one port replicator, rather
than each external device.

Laptop Essential 3: Now this isn't as exciting as some of the
other accessories, but I assure you, you will be thankful you
have it, and that is an external hard drive. It's certainly not
going to make your day, and it certainly won't throw any
excitement in your life, but the morning you wake up and your
laptop won't start will be the day you are overjoyed that you
decided to get that external hard drive.

Here's a little tip to go along with your new external hard
drive: never pack your backup drive and your laptop in the same
case when going on a trip, keep them separated. If you happen to
lose your bag with both the backup drive and the laptop in it,
you're going to have a really bad day!

Laptop Essential 4: This little device will allow you to hook up
everything you need. So make sure you go out and get yourself an
external USB hub. Desktop computers sometimes come with several
USB ports, some with as many as 8 or 9. But, laptops since they
are smaller, often only have a couple of USB ports. USB hubs
will usually have four or more ports that will connect through
one of your laptop's USB port making them very easy to use to
hook up multiple USB devices.

Laptop Essential 5: You need to think about the worst thing that
can happen with your laptop. Now you probably bought your laptop
so you can work out of the office, or your home, or wherever you
need to, right? Well, since you will be out and about, you will
definitely want to think about insurance for your laptop. The
manufacturer's warranty usually doesn't cover anything beyond
parts, and an extended warranty will certainly not cover theft,
though it may cover you for breakage or fire.

Finally, there are literally thousands of different accessories
available for your computer. Of course some you might need and
others you won't. It really depends on what your plans are for
your laptop as well as where you plan on using it. Nevertheless,
these five things are indispensable to making your laptop as
functional to you as possible. While there may be some variation
to what you need, most of these items will be valuable to anyone
who owns a laptop, no matter how you expect to use your portable
computer.

About the author:
Garry Allen is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Best-Rated-Laptops-and-Computers.info.
Providing you with more information on computer technology and
answering the question what's the best rated
laptop that you

Home Internet Options: The War Between DSL And Cable

By: Ross Gravett

If you are still using dial-up, you have probably gotten either
the "You don't use DSL yet?" or the "You don't use cable yet?"
expressions of credulity. So you've decided that it's probably
time to get off of dial-up - yet, the question remains: which is
better, DSL or cable? There are advertisements arguing the perks
of both, but which will really get you more bang for your buck?

The three issues to take into account when comparing DSL and
cable Internet connection are speed, customer satisfaction and
security.

Theoretically, cable modems run faster than DSL because they
offer more bandwith. There is also a form of DSL called VDSL
which can match the speed of a cable modem. However, the speed
of cable is relative to the number of people in your area who
are accessing the neighborhood at the same time. One popular
commercial compares cable modems to drinking out of a straw -
the straw is fine, if one person is drinking from it. But if the
straw must be shared - well, obviously things slow down a
little. Both DSL and cable also vary in speed by the minute
depending on the congestion caused by multiple users.

Customer service surveys conducted by J.D. Power and Associates
in 2004 showed that DSL had an edge over cable in customer
satisfaction ratings. This survey looked at billing, the
provider's business image, cost and tech support, and email
services. Earthlink and Verizon, both DSL, were the top two
service providers rated in the survey.

Since cable modems necessitate the sharing of a cable line to
provide service to the entire neighborhood, DSL is slightly more
secure. However, cable modems are easier to install, and many
sources believe that the difference in security is not
significant enough to go through the trouble of installing DSL.
Many cable customers avoid security problems by putting up
firewalls in order to protect themselves, and their information.

About the author:
You have full permission to reprint this article within your
website or newsletter as long as you leave the article fully
intact and include the "About the Author" resource box.
Thanks:-) To find the best home based business ideas and
Opportunities so you can work form home Visit:
http://www.yer-it-tis.com

iMac for Education

Apple has just introduced the iMac for Education. This is an affordable entry level iMac with the dual core processor than everyone has been raving about.

Check out these specs:
• Built-in iSight camera
• 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo processor (1)
• Built-in AirPort Extreme
• 512MB memory (2x256MB SO-DIMMs)
• Front Row • 80GB Serial ATA hard drive
• Mac OS X Tiger • 24x Combo drive (DVD-ROM, CD-RW)
• iLife '06 • Free Shipping
• 17-inch widescreen LCD
• 1440x900 resolution
• Starting at $899 or $21/month

This looks like another killer Apple product!

The new iMac for Education - providing students and teachers everything they need to learn and create in today's digital classroom, all in the ultra-efficient iMac design.