Being an information-technology professional can be a somewhat isolated job, especially if you work in a small company. If you run into a networking problem you don’t know how to solve, there may not be anyone else in the company to whom you can turn for an answer. Fortunately, there are plenty of places on the Web where you can search for answers to a specific problem, chat with other IT professionals, or hit up an expert for his or her opinion. Read more
In some ways, the computer monitor is the forgotten peripheral. It dutifully sits atop your desk, serving as your window to the
Despite computer manufacturers’ continuing battle to improve the Out-Of-Box Experience (the so-called OBOES), getting up to speed with your new computer can be overwhelming. Assuming that you have all of the essential parts and that everything is plugged in correctly (I assume this because you’ve somehow made your way here), you are ready to become a productive member of the computing world. However, you may not even know how or where to begin. Fortunately, there are some great comprehensive computing tutorials for beginners that can be found on the Web. Read more
Keeping your system running like a well-oiled machine isn’t easy. Fortunately, there are plenty of sites on the Web that can help you get optimum performance from your computer. Read more
Ever wonder how computers became such an integral part of our lives? There are several online “computer museums” and history sites that trace the evolution of the computer as we know it today. Read more
The computer monitor has to be the most neglected peripheral. But the newest crop of monitors — with their sleeker yet larger-than-life looks — demand to be noticed. If you are in the market for a new monitor and are on a budget, you may want to check out one of the newly affordable 17-inch to 19-inch monitors, which all but eliminate the need to scroll down on a Web page (if paying $600 still seems like a small fortune to you, don’t fret; prices are dropping rapidly on these big-size monitors). Read more
As we enter 1999, we are slowly inching toward the dreaded “Year 000″ problem or “millennium bug” that is predicted to wreak havoc on everything from mainframe computers to traffic lights to your home computer.
The genesis of the Year 000 problem can be traced back to the time when computers could store very little information. To economize on space, programmers skimped on date data. So, for example, the date was input as 8/08/99 as opposed to 8/08/1999. Because computers don’t have the artificial intelligence to automatically substitute 0 for 19 when the century changes, they are expected to go haywire as we welcome in 2000. For more information on how this happened and all of its ramifications,.
Sun Micro systems hosts a site concerning the YK issue. The site is somewhat skewed toward Sun’s primary customers — those responsible for enterprise networks — but there still is plenty of good general information there.
To stay abreast of the latest YK news, check out CMP net’s massive Countdown to the Year 000 page, which contains up-to-the second information. Make sure to check out the YK humor page for some nerdy comic relief.
Separate the hype from reality with CNET’s Eight Myths About the Millennium Bug, which should assuage any fears you have that your coffeemaker or VCR will go haywire at the stroke of midnight 000. I’ve linked to this article before because I believe it contains valuable information. But, there are some who disagree. I have received angry e-mails from those who feel that the millennium bug isn’t a laughing matter (and from plenty of computer consultants who make their livelihood by preying on the fears of the public). None of us really know what is going to happen when the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31, so this is just a reminder to take all YK problem information with a grain of salt.
Want to find out if your computer will fall prey to the millennium bug? Use the simple test at the bottom of Robert Hilliard’s Year 000 BIOS Page to find out. The site also has useful tips on how to fix the bug and links to other useful websites.
Information Week’s Year 000 Resource Center has news and features that can help you prepare for 000. Handy Web links point you to other places on the Internet where you can get information about specific products and test your computer to see how it will hold up when the millennium hits.
This is one time when Macintosh users can mock their PC-owning friends. (OK, so this isn’t the only time.) According to Apple, the Macintosh was built to handle the millennium bug. In fact, Mac users shouldn’t have to worry about this problem until 040, the company says.