ShareThisLetters have filled the box this time around before we get to some product reviews next week so let's get right to them.
Q. I read that you purchased an Apple after many years of using a Windows machine. I am considering the same road and I am interested if there is anything you miss about the Windows world and if you could make the same decision again.
A. Well, I still use Windows machines daily and I still have several Windows machines for my personal use. That said, when I reach for a laptop to use I nearly always grap the Apple Powerbook even though it is several years old.
There is nothing yet that I have discovered that I cannot use with the Apple (except the online version of Quickbooks, which requires Internet Explorer, which is no longer available for Apple.
I have Windows running on my Apple using older emulation software which isn't nearly peppy enough to run a cutting-edge game but running Windows XP Pro is plenty peppy. Today's MacBooks are more powerful than mine and can run Windows better so they make a good choice. They still need a right mouse button (start your letters now, Mac people) but overall I still like them.
Q. You wrote a couple times about repeaters for wireless routers and how you found them not to work. Well, I didn't listen and bought one. I could not get it to work either, despite 8 hours on the phone on and off with Linksys. Are they just not great technology?
A. No, I think they are terrible technology. What I would do in your shoes is investigate Powerline networking solutions. I have written about them in the past Basically you plug a small box into an electrical outlet and run a wire from it to your router. Then you plug a matching box anywhere else in your house and run a wire from it to your second device. The networking signals are passed through the power lines in your house to the second device. The speed is just about the same as a native router connection and the ease of connection cannot be beat. You'd be up and running in 5 minutes and never have a dropped connection. It can get odd if you have more than one power panel in your house but you'd have to have a pretty large house for that.
Q. I am preparing to sell my old PC and am wondering what to do with the hard drive to protect my data. I have some personal stuff on here and I heard just erasing it doesn't do it. I am confused about the various wiping utilities out there.
A. You are correct to be concerned. The only surefire way to protect your data on your hard drive is to remove the hard drive, take it apart and shred the discs on the inside or drive 5 large nails right through the guts of it.
(Seriously). I would sell the PC either without a hard drive or make sure you or your computer technician does a "three-pass binary DoD wipe" of the hard drive. If what you have on there is incredibly personal keep in mind that given enough determination and the right amount of equipment and knowledge, even that data could be recoverable (probably by the NSA or CIA type of spook.) I'd consider buying a new hard drive and selling the PC with a fresh drive.
Q. My trial version of Microsoft Office that came with my new PC has expired. Is there a cheaper alternative to this product that is just as good?
A. The problem here is what you mean by "good." There are plenty of alternatives out there including a free one, Open Office (www.openoffice.org) and other things such as WordPerfect and Microsoft Works that cost less than full-fledged Office. Keep in mind if you are a student or teacher you can get a discounted version Office, too.
(James Derk is owner of CyberDads, a computer repair firm and a tech columnist for Scripps Howard News Service. His e-mail address is jim(at)cyberdads.com)
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