Self Employment In The Age Of The Computer

Self Employment In The Age Of The Computer

by: Richard Moore

SelfEmployment in the Age of the Computer, or: Using the computer to create your own income.

I believe that there is a huge market that is not widely recognized but, available right now for people to create their own careers. I approached Human Resources, E.I., and Canada Manpower in Canada, and Government Unemployment and Employment agencies about advertising this particular avenue of selfemployment, but they will have nothing to do with it.

It seems odd to me that with the number of people out of work that these government agencies (supposedly geared to helping people find new careers) will only deal with employers that deduct taxes from an employeeกs wage, and will not work with employers that pay by commission or allow their employees the benefits of claiming selfemployment. I feel that someone has to inform people in need of help that there are alternatives out there.

My name is Richard Moore. I own and operate an online business aimed at and designed to teach people how to start, build, run, maintain, advertise, manage, and market an online business. I see a trend towards more and more people getting away from having to go out of their homes to work or have a career. I predict that within 20 years, close to half of the working population will be working from their own homes.

O.K, I am not a psychic but I definitely talk to more and more people every day who have made this transition or are thinking about doing it. I have talked to employers who have realized the benefits of allowing their employees or associates to work from the comfort of their own homes, or are considering doing this. They tell me that in most cases they get better productivity and have people stay with them longer by letting them work from home. There is a very high turn around of employees these days, more than we have ever seen before. There are many factors to consider when dealing with this high turnover problem.

*It costs employers extremely high amounts of money to have an employee work in a building that is owned or leased and have them spend 8 hours a day there doing their job.

*Consider the overhead. Mortgages, utilities, taxes etc. All of which are higher than ever before. Everything costs more, but we bring home less money. Even if you rent or lease an office, store, or building of any type for your business, rents are constantly increasing. Then you have all the other expenses; benefits (if you offer them), advertising, packaging, shipping, and the list goes on and on. For an employer it makes sense to get rid of the high overhead costs and let people who can, such as office staff, sales, personnel, payroll, secretaries, or data entry as a few examples, work at home.

*As far as employees go, I am told there are many factors that contribute to better productivity. The main reasons being that when they are working from home there are fewer distractions and they are more comfortable, therefore they can get more work done in less time.

*Also, they do not have the expense of transporting themselves from home to work and back again. Messing around in traffic these days has got to be the most stressful part of anyoneกs day. Do you really feel you can get the best performance as an employer or give your best as an employee after fighting your way to work through an allout war zone? I don’t care if you drive, ride the bus, take the subway, or fly to work, I do not believe you can give it your best when you start your day off with stress.

*And you can eliminate the need for and cost of babysitters. People have been asking for years how they can earn a good income and not have to give up precious time with their children. (This used to be impossible. Well, not any more)

A trend I have noticed coming on like gangbusters is the selfemployed approach to earning income. More and more people are being laid off, let go, or cannot find work, than ever before. There are massive numbers of people that seem to be stuck in a gray area or a void and can’t seem to get out of it. Everyday I talk to someone who gets laid off due to lack of work or gets replaced by high tech machines, or, more often then not, their employer has to close the doors. They try to collect the little bit of Government dole which they may or may not be entitled to, and, when that runs out, then what do they do?

I do know how tough it can be to find a job, any job, at any age these days, however, try to find a job at forty or fiftysomething. It is all but impossible. One choice you have, is to set yourself up in a business and be selfemployed. A lot of people either do not think of this or cannot see themselves as being their own boss.

Some people that try selfemployment have an extremely hard time doing so. Again, there are all the costs and time and effort involved with setting up and starting a business. So, we talk ourselves out of something that all of us have probably dreamed about at least once in our lives. Being selfemployed. Being our own Boss. Being able to say those immortal words ‘take this job and…ก

Hereกs a fairly new idea that is catching on very quickly, and it is an inexpensive and relatively easy answer to the problem. The Online Business. If you have a computer and are hooked up to the internet you are half way home to being your own business owner/operator. If you do not have a computer you can purchase a good used one for about $800 to $1200. A new one will run you about $1800 and up depending on how much power or how many toys you want, or need, to have. But, this is a lesson for another article.

Hereกs my story. I had never used a computer before in my life until about a year ago. I got hurt at work and had been off for about a year when the company let me go. You see, I had only been with the company for about three weeks when I got hurt and apparently they had the legal right to lay me off. There I was getting a small disability claim. Not knowing how long that would last and not being able to do the physical type of work I was used to any more. I had to think of some way to earn a living. I bought a used computer, paid $900 for it. I had never used a computer in my life and it scared me to death. I thought if I did something wrong, I might destroy Japanกs economy with one hit of a key! BOOM!

But, the more time I spent on the internet, the better I got at it; and the easier it became to navigate. Soon I was seeing that having a business on the net (an online business) was making a lot of people very rich. I know that just because you start a business you are not going to get rich, but I did see a chance to make a good living working from home and being my own boss. I learned everything I could, and am still (and will always) be learning, but I learned what I needed to know to get started as quickly as possible.

Ask my wife. I think she got jealous of my computer.

I got hooked and spent more time with the machine than I did with her. (Iกve since made up for that!). Within two months I was on the net and had launched my business. I now earn money from selling on the internet with my own web site. I decided that this could be done by anyone, so I developed a company that teaches people to be in business for themselves, and you use an existing business to do it while you learn the ropes.

I found that there are a few other companies on the net that offer affiliate or associate programs however, one has to be very, very careful about who you sign up with or give your money to. I have started many programs, one of them is a program called the Guardian Online WatchDog. I help to keep an eye on the scams and investigate.

In spite of this, an online business can be a very satisfying and rewarding career move for anyone. Finding the right business to be associated with and getting the best support possible is crucial to learning how to start your own online business. With the proper help and good information you can be up and running in a day. Like anything else though, don’t expect to get rich overnight. Although it can be a fairly simple matter to start your business it takes effort, motivation, and dedication to succeed. I recommend finding a business that you can sign up as an Affiliate, Associate, or Partner to start with. It might cost you a small up front fee, or monthly partnership or membership fee (a whole lot less expensive than a franchise), but this will give you an existing business to learn with and, if you work at it, make some money.

Once you are comfortable with the whole process of marketing and advertising on the web, and you feel you have a good idea for your own business, Go For It!

Great Success to you all!

About The Author

Richard D. Moore is the President and Founder of IncomeNow! Marketing Masters. We were established to provide information, tips and reviews relevant to all things pertaining to online business. We are quickly growing and becoming one of the most popular internet and home business resource sites available. We give you new and innovative, up to date real and honest information and techniques to start and/or grow your online business. Everything from advertising to marketing to search engine optimization. Free ongoing one on one support for all subscribers to IncomeNow! Can We Help You? You Bet We Can! http://www.incomenow.9k.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on August 07, 2005

by Richard Moore

Boost Your Web Sales With Streaming Audio

Boost Your Web Sales With Streaming Audio

by: Steve Nichols

What do you do with your intranet or internet site once you’ve added words and pictures? How about adding audio as well?

Audio is friendly, direct and ideally suited to getting complex messages across in a short space of time.

Itกs now getting easier to add audio to the net, thanks to increasing bandwidths and innovative new ways of compressing data.

The problem has been that CDquality audio has traditionally been the preserve of ISDN and ADSLequipped users. Basically, there has been too much data to fit down the pipe.

But, borrowing on the same techniques that are used to compress digital photographic images, it is now possible to compress sound to make it fit down a standard dialup 56KBps modem line.

The trick is to compress the audio in a way that doesn’t sound offensive to the ear, but can still pass along the line at about 3 kilobytes per second, given that a dialup modem downloads at about 4ish kilobytes per second.

The next trick is to use streaming technology that can start to play the audio while it is still downloading. As a long as it is downloads fast enough you don’t get annoying stops and starts. You should also end up with a กbufferก. In many cases, the whole audio file will have downloaded long before the user has finished listening to it.

The volume of online streaming audio grew by 118 per cent last year, according to market researchers USbased AccuStream iMedia Research and the top ten internet radio stations received an average of 137.5m tuning hours in the same period, up from 63m in 2003.

Typical audio formats are Real’s Radio Player (as chosen by the BBC), the ubiquitous MP3 (as featured on thousands of youngster’s personal hifis) and Macromedia Flash.

MP3SoundStream (http://www.mp3soundstream.com/cgibin/cppro/go.cgi?snichols1) uses Flash and works well as 98% of computers already have the Flash plugin and the rest can easily download it. Flash takes the MP3 file, combines it with an audio controller button and streams it for you off any server, which means lowcost and ease of use.

So once you have the technology in place, what can you record? The answer is anything. Adding audio to an intranet lets you record a weekly message from the CEO or a sales message. Or why not have a weekly news roundup?

The audio can either be recorded straight into your PC via a microphone and soundcard, or recorded on a Minidisc recorder and then digitised into the computer. Once there you can add music, voiceovers, cuts and fades with a program like Adobe Audition or Sony Soundforge. Music can be bought online for just a few pounds and you can even use free audio editing programmes, like Audacity.

What was once the preserve of the BBC and other highend radio studios is now available on a desktop computer near you but only if you have the skills to match.

FAQs (291 words)

Q. What is streaming audio?

A. It is audio delivered to your computer that can be listened to while it is still downloading.

Q. What’s the advantage over other audio formats?

A. You don’t get an annoying delay while the whole file downloads.

Q. What do listeners need to have on their computer?

A. A soundcard and speaker(s) or headphones, their normal browser software and a socalled plugin – a small piece of software that converts the data into sound.

Q. This all sounds expensive. Is it?

A. Not really. You can get free programs to record your sound, a computer microphone costs less than a tenner and there are free audio editing programs available on the net. You then need to convert the audio file to a streaming format, but there is an increasing amount of software available to do that too. You also need to think about a MiniDisc recorder as these have superseded cassette tape for most applications. Royaltyfree background and intro music is available on CD and via the web for a small fee.

I recommend MP3SoundStream (http://www.mp3soundstream.com/cgibin/cppro/go.cgi?snichols1). Its great, very easy to use and only costs $39.95. Another alternative is Sound Streamer at $34.95 (http://hop.clickbank.net/?snichols/soundstrmr).

Q. What is the quality like?

A. Judge for yourself visit http://www.infotechcomms.co.uk/info10.htm and listen to the demonstration programmes. The trick is to get the quality as high as you can, but still make it playable on an average modemequipped home computer. Once everyone has broadband it will be CDquality for all.

Q. How do I find out more?

A. There is a great ebook available called Audio C4 (http://hop.clickbank.net/?snichols/audioc4). It only costs $29.95 and is worth its weight in gold. There is a list of other useful links at http://www.infotechcomms.co.uk/info11.htm

ENDS

Publishing Guidelines:

You may freely reprint this article in a print or online magazine, ezine, or newsletter provided you leave the byline intact. Please don’t change the content.

About The Author

Steve Nichols is a freelance journalist who runs InfoTech Communications (www.infotechcomms.co.uk). A background in radio means that Steve was ideally placed to take advantage of the arrival of streaming audio via the web.

[email protected]

This article was posted on December 17, 2004

by Steve Nichols

Regain Internet Privacy from Spyware

Regain Internet Privacy from Spyware

by: Mitch Johnson

The majority of computers connected to the internet today are infected with some sort of spyware. The prevalence of internet use has made the growth of spybot, adware, spyware, Trojans, keyloggers and other malware fast and easy.

Each form of surveillance software invades users’ privacy through numerous methods so they can gather information about people’s internet and computer activities. Users must learn to deny spyware access or remove any current infestations in order to maintain a private internet experience.

The consequences of spyware can include identity theft, loss of system control, PC slow downs, pop up ads and browsers crashes. Without a spyware removal tool you are continuing to invite spyware in to invade your privacy. Your antivirus and firewalls cannot catch most spyware applications because they are installed by piggybacking in on legitimate downloads that you approve such as freeware programs as well as music and game software.

Once on your computer the spyware works silently, beyond the user’s knowledge to gather private information. Spyware and adware software are stealthily embedded in your system, making them difficult to remove manually, which is why it is vital for internet users to find a spyware scanner. Spy scan tools search through the hard drive for spyware infected files. It then removes the detected files so your computer can be restored to it normal working capabilities. Several spyware tools actively protect you from spyware infections while you are working online.

About The Author

Mitch Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.1stinremovespyware.com/, a site that focuses primarily on spyware detection software, as well as tips on how to avoid spyware from popping up on your computer. His articles have also been featured on related spyware sites such as,

http://www.bestinspywaredetection.com/ as well as http://www.bestsypwareremovalreviews.com/

[email protected]

This article was posted on August 31

by Mitch Johnson

How to Protect your PC from Spyware in the Cyber A

How to Protect your PC from Spyware in the Cyber Age.

by: George Papazoglou

Wouldn’t you be shocked to find that your personal sensitive information, like files, credit card information, operating system / software and other nondisclosed data to be penetrated by unscrupulous prying eyes? Even worse…

กIs your computer infected by Spyware?ก

What is Spyware? Spyware are infectious programs developed to secretly subtract and transfer electronic information over the Internet, without a Userกs apprehension.

Norton AntiVirus or any other กvirus protectionก solution, will not protect your computer from malicious applications like Spyware.

Ever Downloaded any kind of Music, Video or กFree Softwareก?

On the Internet, anything กfreeก has a hidden cost… much more than the cost of a highlypriced product.

How much is your Privacyกs worth to You?

To diabolic marketing companies, your identity my friend, is worth thousands of dollars… they get rich by capitalizing and selling your privacy to third parties, who will in return, sell (again!) or use you as a guinea pig for their promotions

your AntiVirus won’t protect you from Spyware!

Hint: Some even sell your information to telemarketers, or bulk email marketing companies.

The question is… are the gigantic companies selling กantivirus solutionsก, a part of this greedy industry?

Two of the best กSpyware Scannersก you musthave to protect your computer and identity from prying Spyware.

Free Spyware Removal Tools

No Adware : Stops privacy invaders like Gator, Kazaa or Adware and PC cluttering popups.

http://cybersoftware.com/spywareremoval

XBlock Probably the most powerful tool to automatically tracking, cleaning and informing you about malicious spyware, Trojans and Privacyintruding programs.

http://cybersoftware.com/xblock

Scan your Computer now for free. Open the program here and then opt to choose กRUNก instead of downloading it. You will be probably shocked to see how your Computerกs system is infected with several spyware programs.

About The Author

Article written by George Papazoglou This article maybe freely republished provided that it is left intact including Authorกs credits and this resource box at itกs total entirety. © CyberSoftware.com

This article was posted on March 06, 2004

by George Papazoglou

Purchasing Spyware Software—Avoid the Scams

Purchasing Spyware Software—Avoid the Scams

by: Mitch Johnson

With the demand for antispyware tools continuously on the rise because of the constant release of new and more invasive spyware scams, computer users may find themselves falling victim to malicious software downloads while searching for the right spyware removal tool. Several spyware removal software programs have been identified as fakes, but not before many computer users were drawn into the trap.

Spyware Assassin claimed to be a spyware removal tool released by MaxTheater but underneath the claims to remove malicious spyware, the program was found to be a fake. The tool offered users a free scan that of course detected spyware, whether it was there or not because there was actually no real scan taking place. Once the results from the scam scan were presented to the user it was advised that they immediately purchase the entire program to rid their computer of the malicious ขspyware.ข Recently, however, the Federal Trade Commission uncovered their scam to make money off of false spyware tools.

An even sneakier spyware scam was put on by Seismic Entertainment Productions who used tactics to infect user’s computers with actual spyware and then advised those users to purchase Spy Wiper or Spy Deleter to remove the spyware. Any of these fake software programs are obvious reasons why computer users must learn to research the credibility and background of a program before purchasing or downloading.

If a company bombards you with aggressive advertising for their product or pushes you to take immediate action by offering scare tactics, it is best for users to steer clear of that product. Any company, especially new or young companies that claim perfect results or all around protection is something to look at with caution. No spyware tool can offer users complete protection and any one that claims they can is using irresponsible advertising.

Computer users should also remember not to purchase or download a spyware program based on their name. The name is not a depiction of what the product offer.

When searching for a legitimate spyware tool spend time researching the program and company’s background and avoid believing everything the advertisements tell you.

About The Author

Mitch Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.spywareremovalmadeeasy.com/, a site that focuses exclusively on spyware removal software, as well as tips on how to prevent spyware from popping up on your computer. This site articles on has spyware guard, http://www.spywareremovalmadeeasy.com/spyware_guard.htm as well as spyware scanner, http://www.spywareremovalmadeeasy.com/spyware_scanner.htm.

[email protected]

This article was posted on August 12

by Mitch Johnson

Beat The Bugs Helpful Links That May Help You Co

Beat The Bugs Helpful Links That May Help You Combat Annoying Computer Viruses

by: Jason Blackston

If you’re like most of us, you’re sick and tired of dealing with annoying computer viruses!

Instead of getting on a soap box, Iกm going to list a few helpful links that you may find valuable:

http://antivirus.miningco.com/

Features an index of antivirus software articles and downloads.

Virus Bulletin at http://www.virusbtn.com/

Independent antivirus advice

http://pages.prodigy.net/henri_delger/

The Computer Virus Help Web site, online since 1995, has provided answers to computer virusrelated questions for hundreds of thousands of people.

http://www.symantec.com/

http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php

While itกs an unfortunate situation, itกs a situation that we all have to deal with. I hope this information helps you! Have a great day!

About The Author

Free Ebook: กYahoo GroupsThe Free and Easy Way to promote your business and drive a boat load of traffic to your websites using Yahoo Groups!ก Your free copy is available at http://www.seeksky.com

This article was posted on March 04, 2004

by Jason Blackston

Can It Get Any More Digital?

Can It Get Any More Digital?

by: Nash Ville

Everyone seems to be talking about digital photography because it’s fun, fast and less costly than we might think. It’s almost everywhere – in printed materials, in the news, and on the net. What makes digital photography a hit? One, digital takes the fear out of photography because it lets us take as many pictures as we want. Two, we can see right away if we got our desired image and delete the pictures we don’t like. Three, we can upload and share those pictures with our loved ones using a computer or a mobile phone anytime, anywhere. Four, digital costs less because we don’t need films and we don’t pay developing fees. Lastly, almost all people such as doctors, scientists, fire fighters, police officers, insurance agents, and real estate agents use digital photography in their work everyday.

In digital photography, Adobe Photoshop allows digital photographers, web and graphic designers to work more efficiently, explore new creative options, and produce the highest quality images for print, web and other media. Its software delivers a comprehensive toolset that helps users to meet any creative or production challenge. Its creative tools help graphic art professionals generate appealing visual effects and stay ahead of the competition. It is no doubt that it’s very significant to general users, web designers, and even, video editors.

The book, ขEnhancing Digital Photography with Adobe Photoshopข by Chris Orwig, will guide us through the workflow of getting our digital photos from our camera to a computer and then into our hands. We will learn about the basics of taking digital pictures, loading photos to our computer, and using Adobe Photoshop to adjust our images and printing and sharing our images. Truly, this is a great way for new users to get up to speed on digital photography and modify photos using this application. This full color book provides an approachable introduction to Photoshop Elements and offers tips and insights into the vital aspects of photo manipulation. The book will offer the clearest possible route to achieving great images with Photoshop Elements as illustrated with full color images.

Do you have a digital camera, a computer, a printer and an Internet connection? Then, you’re set to go digital. But remember, even with this technology, you still need the imaginative idea and the enthusiasm to be entertained. Indeed, ขEnhancing Digital Photography with Adobe Photoshopข is expected to greatly increase the digital imaging skills and creativity of professional photographers, imaging professionals, and enthusiasts. With this book, you can work through the examples or branch out with your own Photoshop ideas. From here, welcome to the brave new world of digital photography!

About The Author

Nash Ville

For questions and comments about the Artcile you may contact The Postcard Printing Moderator at 888 888 4211 or visit http://www.mypostcardprinting.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on January 24

by Nash Ville

VOIP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

VOIP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

by: Raymond Klesc

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, has grown in popularity recently and with that rise in popularity has come a number of common misconceptions and confusion. Global Value Conncet ( http://globalvalueconnect.com ) has complied this simple guide to address some of these most common questions and concerns.

What is VoIP and what does it stand for?

How do I make a VoIP phone call?

What equipment do I need for VoIP phone calls?

Are there any differences between making a local call or a long distance call?

Who can I call if I am using a VoIP service?

Are there any advantages in using VoIP phone service?

Will I be able to dial 911 emergency services?

Will I be able to use my computer while making a VoIP phone call?

Will I be able to take my phone adapter with me while traveling?

Does my computer need to be running in order to use VoIP service?

How will I know when I receive a phone call over my VoIP service?

Who regulates VoIP services?

What are the computer system requirements for VoIP?

Are free trials normally available?

How can I improve the sound quality?

1. What is VoIP and what does it stand for?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and it allows you to place telephone calls over a data network like the internet. It operates by converting your voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that can then be transmitted over the Internet. The digital signal is then converted at the other end back to a voice signal that the other party can hear. When you use a phone with an adapter the calls are placed just like a regular telephone. You first hear a dial tone then the call is made. You are also able to place a call directly from your computer using a conventional telephone or microphone.

2. How do I make a VoIP phone call?

Making a VoIP phone call is no different from using a regular land line telephone. You pickup the receiver and listen for the dial tone. You can then dial your number as you always have in the past. The call connects to your highspeed Internet connection and travels to your local telephone companyกs equipment to a VoIP provider which transport the signal through the Internet to the local provider of the party you are calling. They relay the signal to your parties telephone. As an alternative, you may also place the call using your computerกs hardware and software, entering the number through your keyboard. The signal is then sent through your cable modem to your local telephone carrier.

3. What equipment do I need for VoIP phone calls?

Your existing incoming highspeed Internet connection should be sufficient but the higher the connectivity the better the signal.

In terms of hardware, you can hook up an inexpensive microphone to your computer or connect a phone directly to a VoIP telephone adaptor (ATA). Or you can use a phone specially made to work with Internet Voice. This is called an SIP Phone. Each SIP phone is a network endpoint, and voice is routed via its IP address. It allows a DID (direct inward dialing) number to move with a user. You can move, add or remove stations and never have to call your interconnect/PBX service company. SIP phones also allow full use of advanced features like voice mail to email and auto attendant.

4. Are there any differences between making a local call or a long distance call?

There are many different calling available for VoIP. The calling rates and fixed plans will vary from one vendor to another depending on the service you select. Please make sure to read all of the fine print associated with any plan that you choose.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that VoIP can blur the difference between local and long distance by issuing a local number for your Internet phone. This allows you to make LOCAL calls to your home area code from that phone, regardless of where you are geographically. All you need is an Internet connection to plug in your phone, it doesn’t matter what Internet provider you use, and you can call your local area code from anywhere in the world without paying long distance rates.

5. Who can I call if I am using a VoIP service?

Your calls can be made to any local telephone number, mobile phone, long distance number, or any international number. You may even use the service to speak with more than one person at a time. More importantly, the person you are calling does not need any special equipment; just a regular telephone.

6. Are there any advantages in using VoIP phone service?

If you are using a broadband internet connection, you don’t need to maintain and pay the additional cost for a regular land line just to make telephone calls. With VoIP you’re able to talk to many people at the same time. You can set up conference calls with your colleagues, staff, family and friends. VoIP allows you to reduce interconnect/PBX fees by enabling you to add, move and remove stations from your network without calling your service provider. In addition, you don’t have to buy an expensive phone switch to set up your network. VoIP also offers many advanced calling features from caller ID and call forward to voicemail and distinctive ringing to call tracing and reminder calls, among many others. You can also manage your features through the Internet; login and customize services that normally you would have to rely on your provider to change for a fee of course. Voice over Internet can lower longdistance fees by assigning a local telephone number to your VoIP phone. You will then be able to take your phone anywhere in the world, plug it into any broadband connection regardless of specific provider, and you can make LOCAL calls to your home area code. Parents can keep in touch with children at college; churches can contact missionaries all over the world; and businesses can connect branch offices in different cities.

7. Will I be able to dial 911 emergency services?

Some Internet Voice services have difficulty seamlessly connecting with the 911 dispatch center or identifying the location of Internet Voice 911 callers. Check with your local VoIP provider to determine if they can provide this service in your area.

8. Will I be able to use my computer while making a VoIP phone call?

Yes you most certainly will be able to use your computer while making calls on your VoIP network.

9. Will I be able to take my phone adapter with me while traveling?

You should be able to use your VoIP service wherever you travel as long as you have a highspeed Internet connection available. Your adaptor should work the same as when you are at home or in the office as long as you have access to a highspeed Internet connection.

10. Does my computer need to be running in order to use VoIP service?

Your computer does not need to be turned on but your broadband connection must be active in order for VoIP to functionproperly. However, if you are not using an adapter and choose to use a microphone or headset with your computer then your computer must be on.

11. How will I know when I receive a phone call over my VoIP service?

Your VoIP phone will ring like any other telephone.

12. Who regulates VoIP services?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has worked to create an environment promoting competition and innovation tobenefit consumers. Historically, the FCC has not regulated the Internet or the services provided over it. On February 12, 2004, the FCC found that an entirely Internetbased VoIP service was an unregulated information service. On the same day, the FCC began a broader proceeding to examine what its role should be in this new environment of increased consumer choice and what it can best do to meet its role of safeguarding the public interest. In November 2004 they ruled that States do not have the jurisdiction to impose taxes on VoIP services, another victory for the consumer.

13. What are the computer system requirements for VoIP?

The specific requirements of any VoIP system must be checked with each individual VoIP provider.

14. Are free trials normally available?

You need to check with your selected VoIP provider to determine if a free trial is available. Most VoIP providers will provide some kind of free trial or conditional free trial period. If you are dissatisfied for any reason you should return the equipment in their original packing boxes together with all shipping paperwork and packing slips to ensure they will honor their warrantee.

14. Will I be able to use VoIP behind a firewall?

You need to ask your network administrator regarding any special setting that are required to function through the firewall.

15. How can I improve the sound quality?

Speak with a headset instead of a microphone. Better still, use a phone with an adaptor.

If you are using a microphone, hold it away from the speakers to avoid having the sound from your speakers recirculate into your microphone causing feedback.

Lower the volume on your speakers.

Check with your sound card manufacturer to be sure you are using the latest drivers.

Use a direct phone jack. A split line or extension cord between your phone jack and computer can distort the sound causing an echo.

Global Value Conncet ( http://globalvalueconnect.com ) offers a wide range of VoIP products and services from the most reliable vendors at the most competitive prices. If you are in the market for VoIP services or curious as to what it may cost or how you may benefit then stop in and check out our products and services at: http://globalvalueconnect.com/VoIP.htm

Copyright 2004 Raymond Klesc

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated send to [email protected]

About The Author

Global Value Connect ( http://globalvalueconnect.com ) has been providing the best value in telecommunication products and services for the home or office since 1995. If you want to cut your telephone bill in half register today for our free eBook entitled ‘telephone Bill Saving Tips for Home and Officeก and is available at: http://globalvalueconnect.com/Saving_Tips.htm

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This article was posted on November 27, 2004

by Raymond Klesc

Offsite Backups Provide Digital Peace of Mind

Offsite Backups Provide Digital Peace of Mind

by: Harald Anderson

In today’s fast paced datacentric world of personal computers and consumer/business electronics (such as PDAs and digital media players) we have, as a society, developed a reliance on digital data. We have particularly developed a dependence on data stored on various magnetic media such as hard drives, removable disks, and magnetic tape. While some computer users may never have had a problem with loss of data due to viruses, Internet worms or file corruption, most of us have at some time experienced the frustration and loss of productivity that comes with the loss of computer data.

Perhaps someone in your office deleted files off the network that your entire team had been working on for months. Or maybe the corporate firewall didn’t stop the latest Internetborne virus that has a penchant for overwriting ข.docข files with junk data. Like it or not, if you connect your computer to the Internet (and in some cases, even if you don’t), your mission critical data is at risk. The question is: What can you do about it?

An excellent solution is to employ offsite backups. Offsite backup solutions allow you to store critical data that is crucial to your business or personal computing experience. Offsite backup providers make it quick and easy for you to back up your most important files to a secure, offsite facility that offers redundant storage, and round the clock accessibility to your files in the event of a critical ขsystem meltdownข. When you use an online offsite backup provider, you can be secure in knowing that your files and important information will be available to you no matter what happens to the machines you work on every day.

Even if your computer needs to be completely formatted or your laptop is stolen you can have the peace of mind that the most important part of your computing experience — the data you generate on a day to day basis — is safe and secure and always available to you.

Your DATA is your Life. Protect it.

Copyright 2005 Harald Anderson

About The Author

Harald Anderson is a freelance writer and webmaster for http://www.SafeHarborData.com an online backup service. Download your free thirty day trial and experience the Digital Peace of Mind that accompanies a secure disaster recovery routine for your business. http://www.SafeHarborData.com

This article was posted on February 01

by Harald Anderson

Networking Basics

Networking Basics

by: Kashif Raza

A network is a group of computers, printers, and other devices that are connected together with cables. The sharing of data and resources. Information travels over the cables, allowing network users to exchange documents & data with each other, print to the same printers, and generally share any hardware or software that is connected to the network. Each computer, printer, or other peripheral device that is connected to the network is called a node. Networks can have tens, thousands, or even millions of nodes.

Cabling:

The two most popular types of network cabling are twistedpair (also known as 10BaseT) and thin coax (also known as 10Base2). 10BaseT cabling looks like ordinary telephone wire, except that it has 8 wires inside instead of 4. Thin coax looks like the copper coaxial cabling thatกs often used to connect a VCR to a TV set.

Network Adapter:

A network computer is connected to the network cabling with a network interface card, (also called a กNICก, กnickก, or network adapter). Some NICs are installed inside of a computer: the PC is opened up and a network card is plugged directly into one of the computerกs internal expansion slots. 286, 386, and many 486 computers have 16bit slots, so a 16bit NIC is needed. Faster computers, like highspeed 486s and Pentiums, , often have 32bit, or PCI slots. These PCs require 32bit NICs to achieve the fastest networking speeds possible for speedcritical applications like desktop video, multimedia, publishing, and databases. And if a computer is going to be used with a Fast Ethernet network, it will need a network adapter that supports 100Mbps data speeds as well.

Hubs

The last piece of the networking puzzle is called a hub. A hub is a box that is used to gather groups of PCs together at a central location with 10BaseT cabling. If you’re networking a small group of computers together, you may be able to get by with a hub, some 10BaseT cables, and a handful of network adapters. Larger networks often use a thin coax กbackboneก that connects a row of 10BaseT hubs together. Each hub, in turn, may connect a handful of computer together using 10BaseT cabling, which allows you to build networks of tens, hundreds, or thousands of nodes. Like network cards, hubs are available in both standard (10Mbps) and Fast Ethernet (100Mbps) versions.

LANs (Local Area Networks)

A network is any collection of independent computers that communicate with one another over a shared network medium. LANs are networks usually confined to a geographic area, such as a single building or a college campus. LANs can be small, linking as few as three computers, but often link hundreds of computers used by thousands of people. The development of standard networking protocols and media has resulted in worldwide proliferation of LANs throughout business and educational organizations.

WANs (Wide Area Networks)

Often a network is located in multiple physical places. Wide area networking combines multiple LANs that are geographically separate. This is accomplished by connecting the different LANs using services such as dedicated leased phone lines, dialup phone lines (both synchronous and asynchronous), satellite links, and data packet carrier services. Wide area networking can be as simple as a modem and remote access server for employees to dial into, or it can be as complex as hundreds of branch offices globally linked using special routing protocols and filters to minimize the expense of sending data sent over vast distances.

Internet

The Internet is a system of linked networks that are worldwide in scope and facilitate data communication services such as remote login, file transfer, electronic mail, the World Wide Web and newsgroups. With the meteoric rise in demand for connectivity, the Internet has become a communications highway for millions of users. The Internet was initially restricted to military and academic institutions, but now it is a fullfledged conduit for any and all forms of information and commerce. Internet websites now provide personal, educational, political and economic resources to every corner of the planet.

Intranet

With the advancements made in browserbased software for the Internet, many private organizations are implementing intranets. An intranet is a private network utilizing Internettype tools, but available only within that organization. For large organizations, an intranet provides an easy access mode to corporate information for employees.

Ethernet

Ethernet is the most popular physical layer LAN technology in use today. Other LAN types include Token Ring, Fast Ethernet, Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and LocalTalk. Ethernet is popular because it strikes a good balance between speed, cost and ease of installation. These benefits, combined with wide acceptance in the computer marketplace and the ability to support virtually all popular network protocols, make Ethernet an ideal networking technology for most computer users today. The Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) defines the Ethernet standard as IEEE Standard 802.3. This standard defines rules for configuring an Ethernet network as well as specifying how elements in an Ethernet network interact with one another. By adhering to the IEEE standard, network equipment and network protocols can communicate efficiently.

Protocols

Network protocols are standards that allow computers to communicate. A protocol defines how computers identify one another on a network, the form that the data should take in transit, and how this information is processed once it reaches its final destination. Protocols also define procedures for handling lost or damaged transmissions or กpackets.ก TCP/IP (for UNIX, Windows NT, Windows 95 and other platforms), IPX (for Novell NetWare), DECnet (for networking Digital Equipment Corp. computers), AppleTalk (for Macintosh computers), and NetBIOS/NetBEUI (for LAN Manager and Windows NT networks) are the main types of network protocols in use today. Although each network protocol is different, they all share the same physical cabling. This common method of accessing the physical network allows multiple protocols to peacefully coexist over the network media, and allows the builder of a network to use common hardware for a variety of protocols. This concept is known as กprotocol independence,ก which means that devices that are compatible at the physical and data link layers allow the user to run many different protocols over the same medium.

Topologies

A network topology is the geometric arrangement of nodes and cable links in a LAN, and is used in two general configurations: bus and star. These two topologies define how nodes are connected to one another. A node is an active device connected to the network, such as a computer or a printer. A node can also be a piece of networking equipment such as a hub, switch or a router. A bus topology consists of nodes linked together in a series with each node connected to a long cable or bus. Many nodes can tap into the bus and begin communication with all other nodes on that cable segment. A break anywhere in the cable will usually cause the entire segment to be inoperable until the break is repaired. Examples of bus topology include 10BASE2 and 10BASE5. 10BASET Ethernet and Fast Ethernet use a star topology, in which access is controlled by a central computer. Generally a computer is located at one end of the segment, and the other end is terminated in central location with a hub. Because UTP is often run in conjunction with telephone cabling, this central location can be a telephone closet or other area where it is convenient to connect the UTP segment to a backbone. The primary advantage of this type of network is reliability, for if one of these กpointtopointก segments has a break, it will only affect the two nodes on that link. Other computer users on the network continue to operate as if that segment were nonexistent.

PeertoPeer Networks

A peertopeer network allows two or more PCs to pool their resources together. Individual resources like disk drives, CDROM drives, and even printers are transformed into shared, collective resources that are accessible from every PC.

Unlike clientserver networks, where network information is stored on a centralized file server PC and made available to tens, hundreds, or thousands client PCs, the information stored across peertopeer networks is uniquely decentralized. Because peertopeer PCs have their own hard disk drives that are accessible by all computers, each PC acts as both a client (information requestor) and a server (information provider). A peertopeer network can be built with either 10BaseT cabling and a hub or with a thin coax backbone. 10BaseT is best for small workgroups of 16 or fewer users that donกt span long distances, or for workgroups that have one or more portable computers that may be disconnected from the network from time to time.

After the networking hardware has been installed, a peertopeer network software package must be installed onto all of the PCs. Such a package allows information to be transferred back and forth between the PCs, hard disks, and other devices when users request it. Popular peertopeer NOS software includes Most NOSs allow each peertopeer user to determine which resources will be available for use by other users. Specific hard & floppy disk drives, directories or files, printers, and other resources can be attached or detached from the network via software. When one userกs disk has been configured so that it is กsharableก, it will usually appear as a new drive to the other users. In other words, if user A has an A and C drive on his computer, and user B configures his entire C drive as sharable, user A will suddenly have an A, C, and D drive (user Aกs D drive is actually user Bกs C drive). Directories work in a similar fashion. If user A has an A & C drive, and user B configures his กC:WINDOWSก and กC:DOSก directories as sharable, user A may suddenly have an A, C, D, and E drive (user Aกs D is user Bกs C:WINDOWS, and E is user Bกs C:DOS). Did you get all of that?

Because drives can be easily shared between peertopeer PCs, applications only need to be installed on one computernot two or three. If users have one copy of Microsoft Word, for example, it can be installed on user Aกs computerand still used by user B.

The advantages of peertopeer over clientserver NOSs include: � No need for a network administrator � Network is fast/inexpensive to setup & maintain � Each PC can make backup copies of its data to other PCs for security. By far the easiest type of network to build, peertopeer is perfect for both home and office use.

ClientServer Networks

In a clientserver environment like Windows NT or Novell NetWare, files are stored on a centralized, high speed file server PC that is made available to client PCs. Network access speeds are usually faster than those found on peertopeer networks, which is reasonable given the vast numbers of clients that this architecture can support. Nearly all network services like printing and electronic mail are routed through the file server, which allows networking tasks to be tracked. Inefficient network segments can be reworked to make them faster, and usersก activities can be closely monitored. Public data and applications are stored on the file server, where they are run from client PCsก locations, which makes upgrading software a simple tasknetwork administrators can simply upgrade the applications stored on the file server, rather than having to physically upgrade each client PC.

In the clientserver diagram below, the client PCs are shown to be separate and subordinate to the file server. The clientsก primary applications and files are stored in a common location. File servers are often set up so that each user on the network has access to his or her กownก directory, along with a range of กpublicก directories where applications are stored. If the two clients below want to communicate with each other, they must go through the file server to do it. A message from one client to another is first sent to the file server, where it is then routed to its destination. With tens or hundreds of client PCs, a file server is the only way to manage the often complex and simultaneous operations that large networks require.

Computer Networking is the very important and the crucial part of the Information Technology. Millions of the computers are networked together to form the Internet. Networking plays a important role in every kind of organization from small to medium sized, in Banks, Multinataional Companies, Stock Exchanges, Air Ports, Hospitals, Police Stations, Post Offices, Colleges, Universities, and even in home, in short networking plays an important role everywhere where computers are used. This article will be interesting for the students, network professionals and for the people who are interested in the computer networking

About The Author

This article is created and submitted by Kashif Raza http://www.cisconotes.net

[email protected]

This article was posted on February 14, 2005

by Kashif Raza

Learn How To Safely Backup Your Hard Drive

Learn How To Safely Backup Your Hard Drive

by: Otis F Cooper

We all know that we should back up our system as soon as possible.But if you’re like most of us,you will get to it tomorrow.The problem is that tomorrow rarely ever comes until you experience a serious computer failure and then its too lake.

Taking the time to backup your data or entire hard drive is not as painstaking as it may seem.And the rewards of doing so will be great should your system experience a crash.

WINDOWS AND OTHER BACKUP SOFTWARE

If you have Windows XP you willl need to install the new Windows backup ultility from the Windows XP cdrom.Just place the WinXP cdrom in your cdrom drive and locate the line D:\VALEADD\MSFT
TBACKUP.

Here you see the first letter as D but if your optical drive have a different drive letter,exchange the D with your driveกs letter.To install the utility,click on the file named NTBackup.msi.

The backup utility will be installed to the system tools group. Click Start,All Programs,Accessories,System Tools,and Backup.There is a neat wizard that will walk you through the backup process.

WinXPกs backup utility will backup your entire hard drive and will make a recovery disk to boot.

One neat third party backup software you can try is NewTech InfoSystems at http://www.ntius.com where you can download their trial version and put it to use for 30 days.And if its your cup of tea,the full version will run you about $79.95

INCREMENTAL OR DIFFERENTIAL BACKUPS

You should back up your entire hard drive when you perform your first backup.After that it is best to perform an Incremental backup.This type of backup only allow you to backup files that have changed since your last performed backup.

Differential Backups copy changed files and files that have been added since you last did your entire backup. This type of backup is more detailed than incremental backups and is easier to restore.

BACKUP STORAGE DEVICES

You can backup your files on cdroms and have the files compressed to save both space and backup time.WinXP will compress folders,subfolders,and files during backup.

You can purchase compression software that will do the same saving you cdrom storage space.The compressed files are automatically uncompressed once they are restored unto your hard drive.

You can also use a second hard drive as your backup storage device.We use two backup hard drives to be certain Ultimate PC Repair is up and running 24/7.

You can either purchase an internal hard drive in install it to your ide cable or you may want to purchase an external hard drive that connects to your Universal Serial Bus or USB Port.

The advantage of the external drives is that they have very large amount of storage space,transfer data fast,and can be moved from your computer to any other computer.

We use the Western Digital 170 Gigabyte External Hard Drive and we simply bounce it around to either one of our four computers with the greatest of ease.

USING ONLINE BACKUP SERVICES

You may also consider online services for backing up your data.If you lose all your backup data,say due it a natural dissaster such as a flood,your online data is right there waiting for you.

Another advantage of online backups is that you can access,upload,or download your data from any location. It is best to use high speed internet access if you’re considering online data storage.

One such online backup service is Istorage located at http://www.iomega.com/istorage and charges from $2.49 a month for 50MBs to $17.95 a month for a big 1,000MBs of storage.

Or you can check out FilesAnywhere located at the url http://www.filesanywhere.com

Still another online service to try is CapSure located at http://www.capsure.com

Backup your system now in one way or another if you have not done so.If you have critical data that you simply cannot due without,take the time to invest in a backup device or one of the many online backup services.

Stop and perform those backups as soon as possible. You will be thankful you did should something go wrong with your computer.Its always better to be safe than sorry.

About The Author

Otis F. Cooper, author of the award winning PC Super Pack, the Computer Training By Video course. Learn how to make your computer work for you. Read more about repairing your PC and register to receive Ultimate Repair Tips ezine now.

Visit http://www.ultimatepcrepair.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on December 21, 2004

by Otis F Cooper