Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Cisco CCNA Certification: The Value Of The CCNA And CCNP

One question I see often on the 'Net is "Is it worth my time to earn a CCNA / CCNP / CCIE certification?" My personal answer to that is a resounding yes. The power of Cisco certifications has allowed me to create a tremendous career, and they can do the same for you.There has never been a better time to accelerate your IT career, and earning a technical certification is a great way to do just t. . .

Why Do I Still Get Viruses?

Viruses & Anti-Virus SoftwareMany people have Anti-Virus software installed. Many of the major Anti-Virus software company's now promote what they call "Security Suites" or packages. These Security Suites contain everything from Anti-Virus, Firewall Protection, SPAM and Pop-Up blockers, and Ad-ware protection. Quite often, once the software is installed people find out that things they use to b. . .

Cisco CCNA / CCNP Home Lab Tutorial: The (Many) Cable Typ...

One of the most common questions I get from CCNA and CCNP candidates who are setting up their own home labs is "What cables will I need?" The answer is "It depends." As you know from your exam studies, the physical layout of your lab is what determines the cables you'll need. Let's take a look at the most common home lab cable types and when you will need them.Straight-through cables have quite. . .

How a Computer Consulting Business Can Help Your Company

While many small companies only call in a local computer consulting business when something computer-related breaks, there's a lot to be gained by forging a proactive, long-term relationship with a local computer consulting business in your area.Consider Getting Advice from a Computer Consulting BusinessIf you need to get advice once-in-a-while on how your computers can be better utilized, or y. . .

It's 2006. Do You Know Where Your IT Career Is?

Whether you're thinking of starting a career with computers and information technology, or thinking about earning a professional certification such as the CCNA or MCSE to accelerate your career, there is no better time to start than today. Silicon Valley is hiring again, and while we all can't work for Google, IT hiring is at its highest level in years and the opportunities for driven, motivate. . .

Cisco CCNP / BSCI Certification: Introduction To ISIS Ter...

When you're studying to pass the BSCI exam and earn your CCNP certification, you're going to be introduced to ISIS. ISIS and OSPF are both link-state protocols, but ISIS works quite differently from OSPF. You must master these details in order to earn your CCNP.One of the major differences between OSPF and ISIS will be evident to you when you first begin your BSCI exam studies, and that is the . . .

Tales of Email Misdirection

It's wise to remember how easily email -- this wonderful technology -- can be misused and misdirected, sometimes unintentionally, with serious consequences. Unless you are using encryption, the privacy of your message cannot be guaranteed nor the authenticity of your correspondent.Consider the case of a man who left the snow-filled streets of Chicago for a vacation in sunny Florida. When he rea. . .

Information Technology in India

India is a country with an ancient civilization and a rich tradition of culture dating back to many centuries. Her literary heritage is one of the oldest in the world. The Indian tradition of learning has reached gradually to the age of modern Information Technology, culminating into the latest Software technology available anywhere in the world.India is proud to have a pulsating world of Softw. . .

5 Easy Ways To Make Money On eBay

As the editor of the UK Auctionline Newsletter I receive a great number of e-mails from subscribers. Frequently the question they ask is, “Please tell me an easy way to make money on eBay.” I suppose the answer to this question really revolves around how you define the term easy. It is my belief that there is no easier way to make money on the Internet than by selling items through eBay. What c. . .

Web Hosting 101

The Internet is probably one of the most valuable tools of communication that man has ever invented in the last decade. Since time immemorial, man has been constantly in communication with the world around him. From his dear relatives, to his favored peers, and even with the environment that he lives in. And this would not be possible without the people equipped with the knowledge of web hostin. . .

On Reconditioned or Refurbished Notebooks

What exactly is a reconditioned or refurbished notebook computer? Depending on where you are buying, it normally should be a used - or possibly a returned notebook - that has been factory rebuilt. A refurbished notebook computer is basically a cheap, used (maybe) and renovated computer that satisfies all your performance and portability needs and provides all the advantages you would get on buy. . .

How To Create Your Own Info Product

In the last article we talked about why informational products are the best type of products to sell online. An informational product can be a digital book (known as an e-book), a digital report or a white paper, a piece of software, audio or video files, a web site, an ezine (electronic magazine), or a newsletter. Any product that's informational, instructional, or educational in nature can be. . .

A Guide To Receiving Online Payments

The World Wide Web has become an integral part of our lives. It has penetrated so deeply into our daily living that people now turn towards the World Wide Web for buying clothes, books, electronic equipment etc. For an online seller, then, it becomes imperative to find means to make an online transaction as easy and painless as possible. Since most people prefer to use their credit cards while . . .

Eurid

Eurid, otherwise known as the European Registry of Internet Domain names, is a not for profit organization based in Belgium that is specifically established to run the new .eu registry. Eurid has been appointed by the European Commission to handle the registration and management of .eu domain names. In fact, as recent as December 7, 2005, Eurid has begun accepting applications for .eu domain na. . .

Flash Opens New Windows And Opportunities For Game Designers

There are three main aspects: the player, the file format, and the authoring tool/IDE. Flash games can be developed for websites, interactive TV, as well as handheld devices. There is no need to adopt multiple programming languages to build games.It is the universal tool that permits the development of multimedia driven complex games. Games means fast, furious, efficient with rich graphics. Fla. . .

Faxing with VoIP, Can It Be Done?

Faxing with VoIP can be slightly different than the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Not all VoIP providers offer Fax capabilities and some charge extra for this feature. Some VoIP adapters or ATA's as they are called allow fax capabilities by simply connecting your fax to the device. If your ATA supports fax capabilities you should not need a second line to send faxes. Bew. . .

Ideas For VMWare ESX Server Virtual Servers

Ideas For VMWare ESX Server Virtual ServersIf your like many IT Administrators or Managers you may be wanting to use VMWare ESX Server for virtualizing servers but may meet resistance from others in your department or business unit. Many people are gun-shy on putting business critical applications on VMWare Virtual Servers and may resist if you try to go whole hog virtualizing these applicatio. . .

Small Wonders: Single Board Computers

What are Single Board ComputersWhen most people think of computers, the image of a PC or laptop comes to mind. Some may even recall the football field size computers of the 1960's and 70's before the emergence of the PC. Very few people would picture single board computers , even if there was one sitting right in front of them! A single board computer is the terminology used for a printed circu. . .

Tips On Understanding The Benefits Of A Download Manager

A download manager facilitates downloading of files from the Internet. Designed with specific purposes in mind, a manager can:• Automatically dial up an Internet provider at night, when rates are low and download files. The manager will disconnect the dial up when the downloading is complete.• Download huge files for users with a broadband connection, can resume broken downloads, limit download. . .

Do The World’s Poor Children Really Need A $100 Laptop?

The chairman and founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab recently launched the $100 laptop to the world’s media. Is it necessary?MIT rolled out a non-profit association, called One Laptop Per Child, to design, manufacture and distribute laptops that will be provided to various governments at cost price and issued to children by participating schools on a basis of one lapt. . .

HTML Email Greeting?

For those who want to be among the throng who are rushing to send out their greeting cards via every possible types of mail service, then online greeting it is.Although this is a wise choice, it is important to note that there are some things that should be considered first before opting to go HTML. There are many cases where the texts do not appear the same from one computer to another. Also t. . .

Seven Best Practices for Business Blogging

Blogs have become one of the hottest communication tools on the Web. Offering the opportunity for anyone to create their own free Web site, encouraging opinions and interaction, blogs provide forums for individuals to create their own highly personal presentations to the Web audience. They also provide for consortia of all types to experience the sort of online community feeling that was pionee. . .

Rename Files: How-To Remove the Text Stored Within Parent...

Have you ever had a lot of files with a bunch of unwanted information in between parentheses ' ( ) '? Such as a archive of photos, or your MP3 music collection? Using a program known as Batch Rename .EXE from SoftTech InterCorp we can quickly remove this unwanted information from thousands of files at once. Making renaming files, photos or mp3 collection easy. This tutorial will teach you how t. . .

Spyware, Adware And Other Malicious Softwares: What Are T...

The world we live in today is mostly governed by high-speed in almost every aspect. From the cars we drive to the internet that we use. It's all about speed, fast and now. Technology has taken steps in keeping up with the phase of modern human life. Because of the steady climb of the internet and information technology towards better and more convenient ways of mass transferring of data, photos. . .

Phone Systems & Technology for Small Business

There are two main ways, utilizing technology, that a small business can project a big-business image. A dynamic and professional website, and a dynamic cutting-edge phone system. These two can compliment each other and are often used in conjunction as marketing, customer service and revenue generation tools.As a marketing tool it’s obvious what a website can accomplish. It states for all to. . .

New To Gaming, All You Need To Know About Flash Gaming Sites

Whew! According to Computer Gaming World, there are 80 gazillion free Flash games sites in the cyber world. Popular sites are:• www.games.yahoo.com -- this has card games, word games, arcade games, as well as puzzles. The number of violent games is limited so the site appeals to the “old-young” –those who are young at heart.• www.shockwave.com -- a popular site with original games as well as Po. . .

Are You Mentor Material?

Q: I’ve been approached by a young man who asked if I would be his mentor. I’m flattered by his interest, but I’m not sure I’m cut out to be a mentor. In your opinion what makes a good mentor? - Kenneth P.The mentor/mentee relationship is very much like that of a parent and child. The younger, less experienced child mentee will look to you, the older, more experienced parent mentor, for guidanc. . .

How To Earn Cisco's VPN Specialist Certification

There's quite an emphasis on security in today's networks, and that's reflected in Cisco's certification tracks. Cisco offers a CCIE Security track and the Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) intermediate-level certification, but there is no real equivalent to the CCNA on the security side. Instead, Cisco offers several different Security Associate certifications.The good news is tha. . .

How Does Broadband Work?

These days, "broadband" is a word that is thrown around easily in telecommunications and internet lingo, but the average consumer may not have a clear understanding of how broadband works. It's easy to understand why; the technology industry even has trouble defining it clearly. So how does broadband work? The online Webster's dictionary defines broadband as "A class of communication channel ca. . .

What Are the Differences Between Telecommute Resumes and ...

Jobseekers often ask me what the difference is between a "standard" resume and a telecommute resume. So I have compiled this short article to explain those differences.1. Telecommute resumes have to stand out.Recruiters and hiring mangers are flooded with resumes when they post a telecommute job. I spoke to a recruiter that stated he gets between 750 and 1,000 resumes, each day, every time he p. . .

The Real Reasons You Need a Media Converter

Let's face it. Network technology isn't sexy. Most people don't sit around debating the various forms of network technology that exist today and think to themselves 'wow, this is what I want to do in my spare time.' The fact of the matter is that computer networks can be as boring as watching paint dry. And when it comes to the underlying technology of these networks, the only people you might . . .

A Computer And Internet Glossary

When you use computers and the Internet in your business, it's all too easy to start feeling like you're drowning in a sea of nonsense. Computer-related things tend to have a language all their own, and while you don't need to know all of it, there are many confusing words and phrases that you're going to come across sooner or later. Here's a quick primer.Bandwidth. Bandwidth is the amount of d. . .

Video conferencing guide- Learn about Video Conferencing

Video conferencing allows people at two or more locations to interact through two-way transmission at the same time. Video conferencing is also known as video teleconferencing or visual collaboration. Users require a computer, web cam, microphone, and a broadband connection to participate in videoconference. They can generate natural conversations by seeing and hearing each other. Videoconferen. . .

Cisco CCNA Certification: Cisco Switching Modes Tutorial

To pass the CCNA exam and earn that coveted certification, you've got to know Cisco switches inside and out. Among the many important details you've got to know are the three methods that Cisco switches use to forward frames, and the differences between the three.The first switching method is Store-and-Forward. The name is the recipe, because that's just what the switch does - it stores the ent. . .

ICANN in Violation of Free Enterprise Laws

Message to ICANN: Let those who want to create a tld, simply register it with ICANN.If the tld is not already taken, if they have the technical capability to mange the tld, and they have the desire to market domain names on that tld, then let them do so.It should be similar to the registering of a domain name, except on a higher level, with the added technical requirements. ICANN should be sort. . .

Internet Fax guide- How to start with Internet Fax

Due to advancement of Internet a new option, Internet fax, is available for you. An online service that provides facility to send or receive faxes without fax machine is known as Internet fax. Basic requirements of internet fax are PC with an Internet connection and an email account. It is also known as online fax, email to fax and e faxing. You’ve to just signing up with an Internet service pr. . .

Cisco CCNA Certification: Error Detection vs. Error Reco...

Passing the CCNA, Intro, and ICND exam is all about knowing and noticing the details. (Which makes perfect sense, since becoming a master networking administrator or engineer is also about noticing the details!) One such detail knows the difference between error detection and error recovery. While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not the same thing. Error detection is j. . .

Dropship Your Way To eBay Success

Dropshipping is a topic that I first addressed in my column way back in April, 2003, which is decades ago in Internet years. But with the continuing growth of eBay and it's positioning of itself as a viable way for anyone looking to launch an ebusiness, the topic of dropshipping is now hotter than ever. It is also now more misunderstood than ever.Dropshipping has been around since Sears first s. . .

Guide to Google Adwords

Google had established its supremacy amongst the ranks of search engines being the most preferred and most popular search engine on the web. I remember the instance when the son of a friend of mine refused to accept the information we gave him about Christmas, until he was convinced that the content had indeed been pulled off Google. In 2000, as Google won the race over the other search engin. . .

Protect Your PC with these Top Free Software Programs

This is a dangerous world for a computer user- threats multiply by the hour designed to swipe your data, cripple your network, steal your identity and in general- wreck havoc. Fortunately you can arm yourself to battle these menaces with several top software programs. And the best part is that these applications are free. So strap on your seatbelt and let’s get started!The first weapon in your . . .

Selling Your Own Ad Space Online

Nowadays, selling your own advertising space is a good earning stream, so long as you consider it to be an additional thing to do along with your business. Once you feel you are having a lot of traffic on your website or a large subscriber list, you can opt in for selling it. Once you have got ample amount of subscribers on list, you can offer your ad space for selling. Once advertiser’s approa. . .

World of Warcraft Power Leveling Guide

This is the method the power levelers have used since closed beta and I finally got one of them to give it up. It is by no means the way to go if you want to maximize your experience in the game as this method will bypass almost all the content in the game and essentially ignore many of the fun, unique aspects of WoW. This is not recommended for new players and is meant for players who already . . .

Google Wins The Battle For AOL

Linknet Internet News Digest - December 23, 2005 - It looked like Microsoft had a deal with AOL to replace Google as the AOL search engine of record and provider of online advertising services. This looked like a fantastic coup for Microsoft -- one that would make them a serious Google competitor on the search engine and online advertising front.But that deal fell apart last week and culminated. . .

Building A Computer - Picking the Components

Building A Computer - Picking ComponentsPicking the parts for your computer is one of the most important things in building a computer, because you cant assemble a computer without the parts! Picking parts for computers has become much easier than before, because things have been standardized, however, you need to make sure everything will fit. The first thing to think about when choosing the c. . .

Building A Computer Introduction

If you are reading this article, you are probably wondernig, why and how do you build a computer. Building your own computer is more simple than you think and has many benefits.Why Build A Computer?Building a computer has many benefits over buying a premade. First of all, it is generally cheaper if you build your own than buying one. If you shop your components, your DIY(Do it yourself) compute. . .

Blog, Blogging and Blogger - The Hottest Trend in the 21s...

The Buzz word in the internet industry today is the word “Blogging”. If you have not heard of it, read on to find out the hottest trend that is happening across right now in the 21st century. The word “Blog” could be the next craze that is sweeping across the world ever since the Internet took the world by the storm.Accordingly to Dictionary.com, the word ‘Blog’ is defined as followed “an onlin. . .

A Quick Guide To Google Analytics

Google, the best search engine ever built, has been famous for everything that it provides – free of course. It has even increased the size of the Email (G-mail) storage to 2.6 GB. Since then, it has started launching a huge variety of products & services, which contains 50 online services. It was in May 2005 that Google acquired a company named Urchin Software Corporation which provided a web . . .

Website Promotion- Valuable tips to promote a website

Website promotion is the basic requirement to attract more visitors to a particular website. Website promotion helps you to promote your website on Internet. Some fundamentals to promote a site are search engine optimization, search engine submission, or content development. With the help of these three techniques you can easily attract higher search engine traffic to a site. Search engines pla. . .

Protect Your Computer From Adware & Spyware

Are you annoying of adware and spyware every time you open any websites? They have now reached epidemic proportions. They are every where in the cyber world. Here are four methods to remove or simply avoid adware and spyware without spending a dime on the latest "anti-virus" software. 1. Do not use Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer is like Swiss cheese. It is open to the world by default. Mi. . .

Corporate Accounting: Microsoft Dynamics GP/Microsoft Gre...

The ideas of Corporate ERP/MRP/Accounting application was developed back in 1960th, however nowadays the topic is still actual and we are watching how dozens of new Accounting packages hit the market every year. This process sees some consolidation, to be admitted. In this small article we will be reviewing key parameters to take to the consideration while selecting corporate ERP and Microsof. . .