Computing
Technologies that Don't Disappoint By
Jay Dougherty
Some technology products can really improve your life,
allowing you to work more productively or accomplish tasks
that you couldn't before. Others just promise to fall into
that category but ultimately lead you to question why you
bothered.
The challenge for buyers, of course, is discerning the
must-haves from the rest. While all new technologies these
days vie for your attention, there are a few out there now
that truly deserves it. Here's a rundown.
The 802.11n wireless transfer speeds are fast, very fast. If
you get the right combination of wireless 802.11n router and
PCI or notebook card, you can experience Internet speeds -
and even file transfer speeds - that equal those that you'll
get with a traditional wired network. That's a big deal.
It means that with an investment in 802.11n networking gear
you can set up a home network capable of sharing large files
and backing up entire computers to a storage device or
dedicated backup machine.
Once you set yourself up with a home network that involves
some wires, you'll quickly learn that it still takes too
long to transfer large files or to back up your computer to
an external device. Enter gigabit Ethernet.
The latest transmission standard has the potential to
transfer data along wired networks at ten times the rate of
the previous standard. While actual transfer rates are
rarely that fast, gigabit Ethernet ports do substantially
improve overall network transfer rates. If you're on a wired
network or are buying PCs that will be part of one, look for
gigabit Ethernet as part of the package.
At long last, the high-definition standards war between
Sony's Blu-ray and Toshiba's HD-DVD is all but over. In case
you haven't heard, the increasing momentum - and sales
figures - of the Blu-ray high-definition standard recently
forced Toshiba to throw in the towel, announcing a public
withdrawal from the battle over standards.
That means that Blu-ray now reigns as the high-definition
video standard that consumers will use for years to come. It
also means that prices will begin coming down on Blu-ray
players and that it's safe to purchase high-definition DVD
players without fearing that your purchase will become
obsolete any time soon.
Watching films and other video in high definition is a
thrill, and it'll soon be a thrill that millions will get to
experience for the first time.
In the operating system arena, Vista has gotten all of the
attention, but it's not nearly as extraordinary as what has
turned out to be Microsoft's best-kept secret: Windows Home
Server.
Microsoft quietly rolled out Windows Home Server late last
year, and to date relatively few know what it is. The idea
behind this latest operating system is important - provide
an operating system that will make it easy for tech-heavy
households to back up all of their computers, access those
computers while on the road, and share media - including
music and photographs - easily among all connected PCs and
notebooks.
For the most part, Windows Home Server just works - and well
enough so that it deserves a place on your watch list.
There are some, though. Among them: a bug that can spell
trouble for files that are nested in a folder structure that
extends more than 260 characters and the inability to
restore computers whose only attachment to the server is
through a slower wireless connection.
But Windows Home Server solves more problems than it
creates, and that's why, even at this early stage of its
life, it's worth having.
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