Specialized Computing Blog

Mac OS 10.6, aka “Snow Leopard,” is the latest update to the Unix-based operating system for Macintosh. It builds on previous versions of Mac OS X to provide an even more powerful and easy-to-use experience. Snow Leopard works with Apple’s newest hardware (Intel-based Macs) to provide faster and more responsive applications that require fewer resource to install and run. The course covers everything from the basics of setting up your computer and its preferences to using your computer remotely (Back to My Mac), Time Machine to keep your files automatically up to date, and synchronization with your iPhone, iPod, and MobileMe account. To begin learning today, simply click on the movie links.

Introducing Snow Leopard

Welcome to Snow Leopard

New in Snow Leopard

Mac OS X Power & Integration

Using Snow Leopard Controls

The Snow Leopard Interface

Using Buttons

Working with Controls

Working with Text

Using Windows

Using Windows – The Basics

Window Drawers/Toolbar & Sidebars

Working with Window & View Menus

Working with Menus

Using Menus

Apple Menu pt. 1

Apple Menu pt. 2

Application Menu

Apple Menu – Services Submenu pt. 1

Apple Menu – Services Submenu pt. 2

File Menu

Edit Menu

Window & Getting He|p

Working with Files

Working with Files & Folders Basics

Looking at Files

Using Aliases

Working with Packages

Using Info & Inspector pt. 1

Using Info & Inspector pt. 2

Burning a CD or DVD

Using the Finder

Finder View Menu

Using View Options

Finder New Commands

Finder Preferences pt. 1

Finder Preferences pt. 2

Printing

Printing Documents

Using Preview & PDF

Using the Full Print Dialog

Using Print Options pt. 1

Using Print Options pt. 2

Setting Print Preferences

Adding a Printer

System Preferences

Using System Preferences

Appearance of Preferences

Desktop & Screen Saver

Dock

Expose & Spaces

Language & Text

Bluetooth

Energy Saver – UPS

Energy Saver – Battery/Power Adapter

Displays

Keyboard

Mouse & Trackpad

CDs & DVDs & Sound

Date/Time & Software Update

Startup Disk

Speech & Universal Access

Time Machine/Disks & Files

Using Time Machine

Using Archives

Using Disk Utility

Using Disk Utility Preferences

Creating Disk Images

Using Disk Images

Securing Your Computer

Security Preferences

Using File Vault

Sharing

Using the Firewall

Accounts pt. 1

Accounts pt. 2

Setting File Permissions

Keychain Access

Networking

Using Networking Preferences

Using Locations & the Assistant

Advanced Network Settings

Using TCP/IP pt. 1

Using TCP/IP pt. 2

Using DNS & Ethernet

Using Airport Utility

Configuring Airport Base Station

Manual Base Station Configuration

Using Mail

Getting Started with Mail

Setting Up an Account

Configuring an Incoming Account

Configuring an Outgoing Account

Sending & Receiving e-Mail

Using Mailboxes

Spam

Other Options

Using iCal

Introducing iCal

iCal Calendars & Mail

Using Notes & ToDos

Using Address Book

Address Book Basics

Advanced Address Book Features

Using MobileMe & Synchronizing Data

Introducing MobileMe

Setting iDisk Preferences

Setting MobileMe Preferences

Using MobileMe: Mail/Contacts & iCal

Back to My Mac & iChat

Getting Started with iChat

Exploring iChat Preferences

Dashboard

Introducing Dashboard & Widgets

Managing Dashboard

Spotlight

Searching with Spotlight

Spotlight Preferences

Automator

Introducing Automator

AppleScript: Recording & Dictionaries

Using the Web

Setting Up a Web Server

Using Safari

Parental Controls

Finder/Applications & Content

Time Limits & Logs

Troubleshooting

Activity Monitor

Console

Wrap Up

Introducing Text Edit

Plain/Rich Text & Text Wrap

Application Preferences

Working Across the Network

Credits

About the Author

Windows Server 2008 is Microsoft’s newest server operating system. This new version is not just ‘window’ dressing, there are major architectural changes and major new enhancements that administrators will welcome. Microsoft has concentrated on enhancing security by reducing the attack surface and making enterprise administration and configuration more consistent. In this course, Mark Long will introduce you to what is new and different about this new server operating system, while reinforcing the foundation of the world’s most popular server operating system. He will introduce you to the new management tools and scenarios, enhancements such as PowerShell, IPv6 and step you through the installation and basic setup of one of the most exciting new additions to the Windows Server family, ServerCore. To begin learning today, simply click the links.

Course Overview

Welcome

Prerequisites

Course Overview

History of Windows Server

Windows Server 2008 Overview

Windows Server 2008 & Vista

Windows Server 2008 Basics

System Requirements

First Look at Server 2008

Windows Server Architecture

The Vista Connection

Virtualization

Roles and Features pt. 1

Roles and Features pt. 2

Roles and Features pt. 3

Installation & Deployment

Differences About this Installation

Pre-Installation

Windows Imaging Format

Windows Automated Installation Kit

Installing Windows Server 2008 pt. 1

Installing Windows Server 2008 pt. 2

Microsoft Solutions Framework

Windows Deployment Services

Network Services

New In Network Services

Network Access Protection pt. 1

Network Access Protection pt. 2

IPv6 pt. 1

IPv6 pt. 2

TCP/IP Config

Toredo

Active Directory

Active Directory Overview

Active Directory Organization

New In Active Directory

Creating A Domain Controller pt. 1

Creating A Domain Controller pt. 2

Domain Functional Levels

Read-Only Domain Controllers

System Management

Group Policy

Group Policy Basics

Managing Group Policy pt. 1

Managing Group Policy pt. 2

Forcing Group Policy Updates

Troubleshooting Group Policy

New in Group Policy

File System

File System Basics

New in the File System

Full-Volume Encryption

Managing Windows Server 2008

Differences About Server Management

ICT Console

Server Manager

MMC

Storage Manager

Task Scheduler

Command-Line Tools

PowerShell

PowerShell

Installing PowerShell

Command Guide

Scripts

Security

New in Security

Security Configuration Wizard

Terminal Server

TS Basics

Remote Desktop

Installing TS

Remote Applications

Server Core

Server Core

Server Core Installation

Managing Server Core pt. 1

Managing Server Core pt. 2

Managing Server Core pt. 3

Course Wrap Up

Course Wrap Up

Credits

About The Author

Which came first, hardware or software? This is a rather difficult question, seeing as how hardware doesn’t do much of anything without having software installed on it, and software can’t do what it is programmed to do without the hardware to host it. So, what exactly is the difference between hardware and software, and why are their functions so different?

Hardware

Hardware is defined as a device with the task of storing and running installed software. The hardware is the physical piece of machinery, such as the hard-drive, mouse and keyboard, video and graphics cards. These devices serve as the host system for the software. Hardware is changed far less often than software.

The reason it is called “hardware” is because the physical device in not readily created, modified or erased on the CPU. These devices are hard put and usually consist of wiring and solder to hold them in place. Everything about the name speaks to what the devices are like; hard wired, hard to make, hard to install and hard coded with instruction. The easiest way to think of hardware, is that it is the part of the computer that you can physically touch.

Software

On the completely opposite hand, software is the program aspect of the computer. It cannot be physically touched and is easily created, wiped out and replaced in an instant. Software is the programming that allows you to perform the specific task you need to complete.

Software holds the collection of instructions that enables users to issue a set of commands and have the computer respond with a certain result. Programs are examples of software, like PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, Skype, and even your Internet. Basically, anything that you can point and click at on your screen is tied to some type of software.

Hardware and Software Must Work Together

It is only when hardware and software come together, that things begin to happen. Without either of the two, you have an expensive paperweight or a group of coding that cannot live up to its purpose because there is no host to help display the outputs. Software makes it possible for hardware to work and the user to interact with the software. For example, it is software that runs the mouse programming, which allows the mouse hardware to click on and interact with the software on the computer.

Software developers cannot show off their skills and talents without the hardware developers keeping up with the latest and greatest improvements. It is an ever-changing reality that pulls one behind the other. Hardware becomes useless if it out-paces software and vice versa. Only until the two entities start working together, can any lasting improvements be made and advancements can be covered in leaps and bounds. So, in the world of which came first, it doesn’t matter since one is completely useless without the other.

Next week, we’ll look at the different types of memory your computer uses…

The password for the various protected internet/computer accounts is a set of characters, in a specific sequence and case sensitive. Together with the unique user name or ID, the password confirms that the user or person trying to access the account is the real one. The user name or ID is normally displayed or shown in the log in box or in the pages of the account but the password is supposed to be known only to the account user or owner and the system that runs the account. The minimum and maximum number of characters in a password depends also on the system set and it normally consists of letters in upper or lower cases, numbers and other characters.
As the password is entered, it appears only as asterisks in the space provided so that its secrecy is maintained.

The internet has really changed the ways things are done. Very important and secure transactions, like payments for purchases, banking as well as  safekeeping  and transfer of sensitive documents and other files are processed online. With the increase in online transactions, so are the number of cyber thieves who have developed techniques to crack the passwords. Most of the time, the account owner is to blame because the password isn’t strong enough to ward off  ‘hackers” trying to break it.

Choosing the Best Password

How do you choose the best password that is strong enough to withstand any attempts to access the account? Here are some tips in creating passwords:

1. Don’t use a password that is in the dictionary, even the foreign ones. There are password cracking software to determine the exact word in seconds.

2. Don’t use passwords that are associated to you like your maiden name, place of birth, Social Security number, children’s names,  phone numbers. Mix upper and lower case letters with numbers and other symbols allowed by the system like  “miG67Ped.” This would take a long time to guess and the “hacker” will most likely just leave and go to the next target. However, the account owner should make sure there is a way to remember the password. One way is to associate the words and numbers with easy-to-remember words, dates or names. The password could also be saved on a CD or USB and copied to the log in form. Keep any password record offline.

3. Don’t use a password that is used on your other accounts.

4. Don’t use commonly used passwords like ” 12345678″ or “password”

The password is like the secret key to a secured internet/computer account. Make sure it can really secure the account.

We’ve all heard about someone whose computer has crashed. It’s a terrible mess. That person probably thought that it couldn’t happen to them until it did. Be proactive and back up your data.

A computer’s hard drive can crash for any number of reasons. You don’t want to be happily finishing up a 30 page project when it happens. Where does the information go? It is lost in the abyss that has become home to many a kilobyte.

It’s more frightening than a bad hair day but you can keep it from happening to you. Back up your computer files so that you don’t lose all of your work to the great beyond. It is a good practice for anyone who has a computer

It is not hard to put a backup system in place. When you buy most laptops these days, the system comes with free backup for one or two years. Every file is stored elsewhere for easy retrieval should you lose it. There are two ways of backing up computer files: online or software programs.

Backup Software Programs

Heard of Norton? You probably know about their antivirus software. They also make backup software for your computer. One is Norton Ghost. You can back up your entire hard drive or just specific folders. With this software, schedule regular backups just like any other maintenance operation to protect your computer. The software setup is instructive and easy to follow.

Another Norton offering is Norton Save & Restore 2.0. It is similar to Norton Ghost 14.0 but without the extra features. You can schedule your backup operations and forget about it.

Online Backup Programs

Online backup can be particularly convenient for laptop users. With an online backup, your data is sent to a secure server online. Online backup companies usually offer both free and paid services. Depending on the amount of data you are backing up, the free plan may work for you. For a business, the paid service offers unlimited data backup for a low monthly fee.

Examples of online backup programs include:

• Mozy – free up to 2GB; $4.95 per month for unlimited data
• Carbonite – yearly subscription of $49.95 for unlimited data
• SOS Online Backup – $39.95 per year

Each program offers something different. The advantage of an online backup over more traditional programs is the ease with which it happens. You no longer need to connect your laptop to a cable, or make sure your computer is on at a certain time. Simply set the online backup options and whenever your computer is connected to the internet, it will start backing up files. When you disconnect, it will stop and start from there the next time you are connected.

Use online or software options for backing up the vital information on your computer. It gives you peace of mind in the event of a system crash.

Today, we do everything from order pizza to shop for household appliances online. With that level of traffic and financial information floating around, it’s no wonder the bad guys have turned their attentions to the Internet. But, lucky for you, so have the good guys.

No one wants to be the victim of identity theft or fraud. Even though it is not your fault, the burden of proof is on you and the red tape is monstrous. So, do all that you can to protect you and your loved ones while they are online.

One way to do that is to arm your computer with anti-spyware tools. Spyware constitutes programs that hide within other programs, hence the name “spy.” Here’s how it works: You go to a site and download a program. The program may be hiding another program within to track how you use it. This is a non-lethal spyware program. It was probably employed by the site for statistical purposes.

Then, there are other spyware that, when downloaded, will go in and rewrite certain things on your computer without your consent. If you’ve ever downloaded something and then your home page changed, it was probably courtesy of a spyware program.

Both of these are mild examples, but honestly, if someone has to do something behind your back to get you to try it, steer clear. More lethal types of spy ware will search your files and retrieve financial information.

Anti-spyware tools and programs seek out these dastardly additions and eliminate them. A well-protected computer will have both antivirus and anti-spyware installed for a wider net of protection. Spyware tools, like antivirus can be obtained for free or paid for.

Shop Around

Know what you are buying. Be sure that free programs offer you adequate spyware protection. Sites like STOPzilla and pctools offer free spyware tools for you to use. These tools work behind the scenes in real-time and on schedules to detect spyware. They also clear your browsing history and prevent pop-ups. Spyware can also let you know if a site in your search results is dangerous for you to visit.

Paid spyware offers a few more perks but make sure that you actually need those perks for your system. If you choose to pay, find software with multiple user capabilities so you can arm all of the computers in your home. Some good companies are Avast (as in “Avast yee scurvy computer information pirates!”) and AVG.

Protect yourself from the beginning. Use anti-spyware tools to prevent and remove spyware that threatens your computer.

In the time of rapidly advancing technology and identity theft, it is more necessary than ever to protect your PC.

With so many antivirus products on the market, which one do you choose? There is no right and wrong answers here but what is the difference between the free programs offered and the ones that you have to pay a yearly subscription for?

Let’s backtrack a bit and talk about viruses. Unlike the ones that humans deal with, the computer variety can be found and eliminated before they cause trouble. Computer viruses, adware and hijacking programs get into your hard drive and wreak havoc.

They slow your computer down by taking up your hard drive space or hijacking computer programs. Once there, they can infect steal personal and financial information and, depending on what information they can find on your computer, even steal your identity. What you are left with is a big mess that is a pain in the neck to fix.

Antivirus software may come pre-installed on your computer. If it does, it is likely a free trial or a paid subscription that you ordered with the system. Either way, its job is to detect viruses within items on your hard drive and remove them according to your specifications. When the paid subscription is up for renewal, you’ll receive pop-up messages warning you that your system is about to be left unprotected.

What many computer owners don’t know is that you have a choice. You don’t have to pay for antivirus protection and that many companies offer antivirus software for free. We have all heard the adage, “You get what you pay for,” but, just like everything else, it is best to shop wisely before making a choice.

Ideally you want antivirus protection to alert you when a virus is trying to hack your system. Also, spyware and adware falls into this category. You probably want the software will let you know if there is a danger from anything that you have or will download.

Both free and paid software can do those things. And in this case, free doesn’t mean cheap, it means ‘minimal features’. Some companies offer a program that does only what you really need, but offers the extra bells and whistles for a fee. Depending on your computer usage, the bells and whistles are often not needed. They take up extra hard drive space and almost never get used.

For a person, like yourself, who is careful about where they go on the Internet, the basics of free antivirus protection will work quite well. Protecting yourself with some basic surfing and downloading guidelines is half the battle.

Here is some good advice: While you are still within the free 30-day trial that the manufacturer gave you, compare free and paid software. If the free software gives you what you need, go for it. You can always upgrade later.

Well, we all have been there. We turn on our computer getting ready to type that report or business presentation and guess what, our computer just does not want to work today.

Whether it’s the word processor, spreadsheet, or financial package that isn’t working, most people do not know that Microsoft Windows XP has a built in feature that just may come and save the day. That feature is called “System Restore.”

Basically, System Restore is like a little hound that runs behind the scenes taking “snapshots” of various parts of the Microsoft Windows XP operating system. So, if a part of Microsoft Windows XP stops working one day, the System Restore utility is able to reference one of the “snapshots” it took and restore your system from a previous day (a day when your computer worked).

It’s kind of like going back in time to a day when your computer worked. All your current data (Microsoft Word files, etc.) are remain untouched, so you don’t have to worry about losing any present day files or updates to the files you have made since then.

In order to restore your computer just follow these simple steps:

1. Close any open programs.
2. Click on the Windows “Start” button (normally located on the bottom of your computer desktop)
3. Click on “All Programs”
4. Click on “Accessories”
5. Click on “System Tools”
6. Then click on “System Restore”
7. At this point the System Restore wizard will launch. You will have two options:

a. “Restore my system from an earlier date”
b. “Create a system restore point”

If you just need to restore your system and get it working correctly again, just select option “a” and click “Next.”

8. On this screen you can select a date from the calendar that you would like to try and restore from. So, if you knew that your computer worked fine two days ago, just pick that date on the calendar and click “Next.”

9. The next screen is the confirmation window. Just verify the information on the screen and click “Next.” Windows XP will then reboot and try to restore your system with the settings from the date you selected.

The System Restore process can take anywhere from 3 to 30 minutes depending on how much reconfiguration Windows XP needs to do and how fast of a PC you have. When System Restore is done, a screen will pop up with the results of the restore. If it was successful, you can then log into the system and start using the computer again. Any quirky issues that you were having are now hopefully gone.

With a little practice, the System Restore utility is easy to use and a great way to help ensure the safety of your computer.

What is Open Source Software?

Open Source Software (OSS) is software that is available under a special license that allows everyone to access the program code as well as the executable program. This means that anyone is able to edit the program code and therefore customise the software for their own needs.

This ability to access the source code is protected by the license under which the software is released. There is a great many Open Source licenses, but they all have one thing in common, they protect the right of the user of the software to access and modify it in any way they desire.

This ability to modify applications is in direct contrast to the Closed Source Software model. In Closed Source only the creator of the application has access to the source code, and therefore, only the creator is able to modify the application.

Being able to change the way an Open Source Software application operates is critical in many business environments. No two businesses are identical and therefore it is unlikely that any one piece of software will satisfy the needs of all potential users. Without the ability to modify their software a company is restricted in its operations by that software.

While it is true that no two businesses are identical, it is also true that there are a great many common business practices that are repeated across organisations. These common practices can be well served by “standard” software. The remaining practices, those that are different from competitors are, typically, the ones that give a business an advantage in the marketplace.

Since these non-standard practices are key to the organisations success it is critical that any software solutions adopted by the company also support these non-standard processes. It is in this need to adapt software to a companies specific needs that makes Open Source Software attractive. Since the company has access to the source, the application can be freely adapted to suit the unique requirements of each user.

Who Pays for Open Source Development?

The ability to customise software is critical to allow an organisation to continue to improve their business processes, but how does a company afford to pay for such customisations?

One of the side effects of allowing any user access to the source code is that the cost of acquiring the software in the first instance is massively reduced. In most cases the source code is available for no cost. This enables the user to divert resources normally allocated to pay software license fees into enhancing the software.

A successful Open Source Software project has a large community of software developers. Many of these developers work as independent contractors and can be employed to customise the software, alternatively, if a company has internal developer resources, they can leverage those skills to perform the customisations.

Does it Really Work?

This all sounds fantastic, but does it really work? Are there Open Source Applications in use in the real world?

Here are a few facts to convince you that it most certainly does work:

- Around 70% of web sites are served by the Open Source Apache HTTPD server.

- In a 2002 survey it was found over 31% of UK and nearly 42% of German companies were using or planning to use OSS.

- In 2001, Debian (an Open Source Operating System), contained over 55 million lines of code and was estimated to have consumed over 14,000 person years in development time. That is a development cost of around 1.89 Billion Dollars (US) yet it is still available with no license fees.

It’s that time again: a major upgrade has been released for software you use regularly, and when you read about all the bells and whistles, you start salivating. Hmmm… can you afford an extra couple of hundred to buy it? Should you… or shouldn’t you?

Too often, eager consumers become carried away by the hype and slap down a credit card – only to find that the upgrade comes with headaches, or the extra features are not worth it. To buy or not to buy becomes an easier decision if you run through a quick checklist.

1. Will You Use The New Features?

Sure, your new software can do everything but cook dinner – but how many of these features do you actually need? Are you thinking: “Well, I don’t need these now but they might come in handy later…”? If so, you could be going to needless expense. You can always upgrade when you DO need the new features.

2. Will You Lose Any Favorite ‘Old’ Features?

Sometimes it’s a toss-up – will what you gain outweigh what you lose? A quick example: many users have been delighted with the new layout of tools in Microsoft Office 2007, and find that they can do their work much faster (or more easily). Others are aghast to find that their old macros won’t work – and that they can no longer customize toolbars full of autotext for different purposes. Make sure you know exactly how the program has changed before you upgrade.

3. Compatibility – Will Others Be Able to Read Your Files?

This is an important one. There’s not usually a problem with importing files in an older format, but you can face big problems if you send files in the new format to others. Microsoft Office 2007, for example, saves files in a very different format. You can set the default to save files in the standard format for older versions of Office, but if you forget, you’re likely to get irritated phone calls from others telling you that they can’t open your files. (Yes, they can download a compatibility pack from Microsoft – but it’s another step they have to take before they can make use of your file.)

4. Can You Afford The Learning Curve?

When an upgrade is significantly different from what has gone before, you’re going to have to factor in time to become familiar with the new version. This might not be a problem if you have plenty of time to do it (it can even be fun) but if you are constantly racing to meet deadlines, then block off enough hours to learn how to use the new features. When you’re pressed for time, it’s not much fun scrolling through an FAQ page to find out how to complete a task you used to do with your eyes closed.

Bottom line: before you invest in any upgrade, do your homework. Read the reviews and visit a few forums to see what problems real-world users have encountered. Make your own list of pluses and minuses, then make an educated decision about your purchase. If you do decide to buy, keep a working version of the old software on your backup machine or on a different drive.