Last week, the IEEE’s Standards Board ratified the 802.11n Wi-Fi standard, which will increase the number of certified compatible products based on the standard, and is likely to encourage many businesses and users to upgrade from previous 802.11g Wi-Fi technology. Of course, many people, myself included, have been using pre-ratification Draft-N technology for a long time; I wrote last year that the Draft-N technology was worth upgrading to. Many Mac users have been using it by default for a long time via Apple’s Airport Express routers. If you are still using 802.11g, though, now is the time to upgrade. Here are some tips for getting the most out of this faster wireless technology.
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Some of the biggest hardware efficiency boosts we can get are either completely free, or nearly so. Sure, a maxed-out new laptop would be great to have, but these are tough times. If you spend a little time with the hardware you have or pick up some very inexpensive peripherals, you can immediately start working smarter. In this post, you’ll find five hardware devices and tweaks that you can put to work with good results almost immediately.
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I’m currently staying at an upmarket European hotel. Internet is free, but only if you have an Ethernet cable and can plug in. If you want Wi-Fi, the cost is a hefty 17 euros ($24) per 24 hours. Fortunately, I read James Kendrick’s “What’s In Your Bag” post before leaving home, which prompted me to stash a network cable in my bag. This cable will save me $50 over the two days that I’m staying here.
It’s always worth taking a network cable if you’re staying in an unfamiliar hotel because it might have expensive Wi-Fi, poor Wi-Fi reception in your room, or no Wi-Fi at all. This cable took a little room in my bag, but I’m very glad I packed it.
Share your travel tips in the comments.
New applications or enhancements to existing ones can provide big efficiency benefits, but there are also many simple tweaks, unsung tips, and new ways to think about the tools that you already use that can help you work better. In this post, I’ll share five ways that can help you accomplish more and experience less hassle. You can take advantage of many of these tips in minutes.
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Are you a web worker who depends heavily on a home Wi-Fi network? There are more and more of us, and I’ve written before about the importance of doing regular checkups on your wireless network to make sure you’re getting the best performance. Recently, my home Wi-Fi network was giving me some trouble, and I went down the steps in the trusty troubleshooting checklist and was able to get rid of the problem.
Here’s the common problem I had, and how I fixed it.
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For people who work on the web, getting access to the Internet is vital. If we can’t connect to our colleagues and projects online, we can’t earn a living. However, we can’t always stay attached to our home base and therefore we need a way to stay online while we’re on the go. Let’s give you a breakdown of the options for getting online on the go.
Cellular Options:
Mobile phone operators in the United States have been investing billions into building out their mobile broadband networks. Of the four major mobile carriers, three (Sprint/Nextel, Verizon and AT&T) provide high speed mobile broadband to their customers. The little brother of the bunch, T-Mobile, is still only delivering a slow EDGE network to subscribers but are rumored to be rolling out a 3G network soon.
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If you’re a road warrior or frequent traveler, what strategy do you have for staying connected to the Internet? Odds are you have use combination of Wi-Fi access, a 3G cellular card, and/or dial-up net access as a last resort.
A new service from iPass combines all three of these ways of getting online. After going after the enterprise market, iPass has launched iPassConnect for consumers. According to the company, they are the first to combine 3G data in the US, wired hotel broadband, and a global dial-up network.
Being a part if iPass will allow you to get online at nearly 1,000 hotspots in 500 airports, from hotels such as Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriot, and from retail location such as Starbucks, McDonalds, and more.
To get strted, sign up and at the iPassConnect website. Currently, the service is only available for Windows computer running Vista, XP, or Windows 2000. Pricing starts out at $29.95/month.
We’ve all been tempted to do it. Here’s the familiar situation: having a few spare minutes, you open up your laptop to do some work, then you’d like to get online. So you look at the list of available Wi-Fi hotspots and you see an open one think, “I wonder if I could just quickly send this email off?”
Using other’s Wi-Fi is a common occurrence, according to the Register. Some Internet enthusiasts feel you’re doing humanity a favor by leaving your home wireless connection open for passers-by to use. However security experts and opponents of this practice warn against subjecting yourself to legal troubles if a stranger uses your Internet connection for illicit activity. In some instances, people have been arrested for utilizing Wi-Fi that wasn’t theirs.
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Web Work 101: How To Escape The Cubicle
