Wednesday, April 15, 2009

SHDSL -- Why Hasn't It Replaced SDSL?

Are you frustrated by office broadband pace of connectivity improvements? For how many years has (small) business been stuck with SDSL for affordable connectivity?

SHDSL was supposed streamyx connection supplant SDSL as of 2003 (or so) I thought, but I never see advertised speeds go beyond a 1.5 Mbps SDSL line... SHDSL goes celcom broadband streamyx 2.3 Mbps and has malaysia petaling jaya advantages over SDSL (longer loop lengths for given speeds, less interference with other data lines, 4-wire mode). I'm not that well educated on the topic, but I also had the impression there could be some cost savings.

Today T1's my broadband speed often delivered using this technology, but why not offer SHDSL from the customer to DSLAM like a normal dedicated DSL line.... and give customers the speed they want, distance depending???

Are ISPs just not ready to upgrade their DSLAM equipment, or don't want to cannibalize their higher priced bonded T1 services?

You streamyx 2mb not need the SLA of a real T1, but you'd sure love 2.3 Mbps up and down for let's say $150/mo or so.

First.... you have to look at who is selling SDSL. Basically Covad and a few small CLECs. They bought non-standards-based SDSL long ago and they are still using the equipment.

Given the financial state of Covad I can see why they aren't going around ripping out all their DSLAMs.

There may be some hope though, with the new Earthlink money they are upgrading DSLAMs to support LPV and ADSL2 in larger markets. I *think* that the new DSLAMs will also be offering new SDSL speeds as well, which probably means SHDSL (and finally the ability to hook a real broadband phone packages up to an SDSL line).

Most DS-1s today are delivered using either HDSL or HDSL2 on 1 or 2 pairs.

Your ILECs aren't going to upgrade equipment necessarily because of the availability of a different technology. Even with existing technology many consumers and businesses are in a fight just to be able to get ADSL services.

Covad, XO, etc. that are selling SDSL services already may not upgrade given their investment in existing equipment.... and given the state of competition now for internet services.

With the price of service dropping to $12.99/mo and the uptake of those discounted services increasing, I wouldn't want to be one of the other players and be making large capital expenditures for upgrades right now. I'd be worried about staying in business. People are price driven.....

Just my opinion though, take it for what it's worth.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

The last time we heard of lithium titanate battery technology was when learning about the £120,000 Lightning GT, and while we've no way to confirm, we're definitely hoping that the latest malacca from Toshiba ensures that we're talking about it far more frequently than once per year. According to a report over at Nikkei's Tech-On, said outfit has crafted a cell of a Li-ion secondary battery (aimed at electric vehicles, mainly) that hotel rates an energy density as high as 100Wh/kg. Needless to say, the invention relies on lithium titanate for its negative electrode, and considering that Tosh is currently producing a 4.2Ah cell with an energy density of around 67Wh/kg for electric bicycles, it's easy to see what kind of improvement we're staring at. Now, if only this stuff could be streamyx broadband speed test to AA cells, our power-gulping camera flash would be forever grateful...

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Monday, April 13, 2009

Free Web Servers - Can You Really Get The Service You Need Without Paying?

Believe it or not, today there are many companies that will offer you free Web servers to help you advance your business. These are becoming very popular, especially among beginning Internet marketers, because web hosting is not something that most people really want to think about too much.

Therefore, free hosting and web servers sound like broadband adsl cable great idea to most people. Keep in mind, while this can work for you, if you plan to allow business on the Internet, you really should not focus on free servers.

Very simply, free Web servers companies usually do not hotel kl malaysia you much space on their server, and streamyx website would they? Very simply, if you aren't paying them, it really doesn't do them much good to give you space on their server unless you provide some benefit to them; in this case, most free servers companies will require you to include a banner ad on your website linking back to them.

They penang kuala lumpur they will get some traffic this way, and therefore they will get some benefit out of the relationship. However, you certainly can't plan a getting a johor bahru malaysia of space in their server without paying any money.

Also, the free Web server companies generally don't provide you with great customer service, and here's another thing to keep in mind. Your website will be on a server with many others, and so if somebody on the server does something to mess it up, you can plan on your website being messed up as well. If the server crashes, your website will go down as well, because it only has a small portion of the server dedicated to it.

Also, if your website get a lot of traffic or has a lot of pages, and therefore will take up less space, you definitely cannot get a free server. Very simply, with a small server space will get, this is only good for a very small website that doesn't get a lot of traffic. This is great if you are a beginning internet marketer or simply run a holidays to malaysia based website; not if you plan on either having a large website or a lot of traffic coming to it. This will simply take up too much space on the companies server, and they will not allow your site to stay on unless you pay.

The bottom line is, if you plan a doing a lot of business online, free Web servers probably are not a good idea for you. Yes, you can save some money, but the amount of revenue you will lose out in the long run is simply not worth it.

For tips on finding free web page hosting, visit http://www.websitehostingsuccess.com, and learn about ADSL web hosting and much more.

The Apple MacBook Air (Nvidia 9400M GT), the world's thinnest laptop, gets a graphics makeover, but is it enough to kuala lumpur sightseeing an upgrade?



Sunday, April 12, 2009

Malaysians advised to stay away from Bangkok for a while

BANGKOK, April 12 ?Malaysians have been advised to consider cancelling any plan to visit Bangkok, in view of maps escalating tension between the government and supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The broadband or streamyx Embassy here said internet provider they should stay away from the capital and five other provinces which are under a cheap broadband packages of emergency, unless really necessary.

The advice comes as deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban announced that police and soldiers, deployed to more than 50 areas, have been given the go-ahead to use force to bring peace and normalcy to the capital.



If you need to use email and the internet on your computer then you are probably in the market for an internet service provider (ISP). But, particularly if you are new to computers or getting connected to the internet, it can be bewildering trying to wade through all the techno-speak. Make sure you choose the business broadband provider ISP by first educating yourself about the key features offered.

Connection Options

Connectivity Basics: You can choose dial-up using a modem and telephone line (narrowband) or a broadband connection that gives you access to high speed connections such as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), cable, satellite and wireless.

Dial-up: Dial-up is often slower but it's also cheaper. Some dial-up ISPs require their own software to be downloaded on your computer - find out if the ISP you're considering internet provider requisite software and, if so, how you can find it. One major advantage of dial-up is that it gives you the flexibility of connecting to the internet anywhere there is a phone line. Although you still need to be careful that the number your modem dials is still local. Otherwise you will be paying long distance phone rates.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): Also known as ADSL or cyberjaya this option will provide you with a fast, secure internet connection. This service frees your phone line for calls. You'll need a DSL modem, which the DSL provider may supply, either for free or for a fee (ask so you know). One thing to keep in mind with DSL is that it is linked to a specific telephone number and line, so if you move, the service will also need to be moved by your DSL provider.

Cable: Most cable providers offer their own high-speed internet service. As with DSL, you'll need a special cable modem, which most cable providers will supply. You can generally install the equipment yourself, or if necessary, cable providers can send a technician to your house to install it for you. Ask if there is a charge for the latter option.Your computer will automatically be connected to the internet when you start it and as the cable is separate to your telephone line your internet access won't disrupt your telephone usage.

Satellite: Many remote locations do not have the infrastructure to support high speed internet access via a land connection. In this case your only option to access broadband may be via satellite. The upload speed via satellite is much slower than the download speed and although the download speed is slower than either DSL or cable, it is still considerably better than dial-up. The other main issue with satellite is that it requires a clear line of sight to the satellite and if this is blocked by trees or heavy rain your access can be interrupted.

Wi-fi: Wi-fi, which is short for wireless fidelity, has plenty of popular so-called hot spots where computer users can gain access to the internet for free. If your computer already has a wi-fi card built into it, you'll simply need to find a hotspot (if you live in a large city, you may find this particularly easy) to which you can connect. You can also create a hotspot in your own home with your modem and a wireless access point router. The downside to wi-fi, especially free wi-fi, is that it doesn't offer a high level of security or protection.

Tip: Take the time to call each of the ISPs, so you know what to expect, especially from customer service.

For everything you need to know about choosing the right Internet Service Provider (ISP) go to Buyz123.com: ISP Buying Guide

Richard Block is the webmaster for Buyz123.com and has written and edited hundreds of their buying guides.

BT announce first 29 exchanges for fibre deployment

BT have announced the first 29 exchanges where fibre will be deployed to their new VDSL based fibre broadband services which will go live in 2010.

The days of 56kb internet dial up ipoh malaysia rapidly disappearing, If you have not yet joined in with most of the world and had broadband installed you really are missing out!

I feel sorry for renaissance hotel kuala lumpur who are still spending tedious hours waiting for downloads to complete and pages to load! Broadband is ground-breaking, most people are put off because they feel the cost of broadband is too high however you will find that the cost involved is not much different to dial up.

The installation of broadband is simple and streamyx linksys involves one visit from an Internet Service Provider. The existing line can more often than not be used, the only addition you will need to purchase is utorrent streamyx cable modem these are normally supplied by the internet service provider upon installation if not they are cheap and easy to purchase online or from your local electrical store

Broadband is essential for people who work from home, when sending documents and downloading files your work time will decrease substantially if the files and documents are sent and received over broadband

If you decide to have broadband installed you need to firstly check that it is available in your area. Once you streamyx 60 the answer to this you are only a phone call away from installation.

Most companies offer an online check where you enter your postcode and they will tell you if the service is available in your area, if it is new to your area you may find a waiting list.

Once you have made your call you will need to consider which broadband speed you would like obviously the faster the speed the more expensive it becomes. Broadband speed will persist to rise as technology moves forward.

If you are unsure what speed you require or if you are ready for broadband streamyx activate check to see if your service provider offers any sort of free trial, they will, they know once you have tried it you simply can not go back!

Speak to friends and family about broadband they will not have a bad word to say, the only real problem is you get used to it and forget how slow dial up was, and as the speeds increase you just have to flow with it and get faster too

Even if you opt for the minimum package with the lower speed you will still be impressed with what broadband has to offer.

Having broadband can save you so much money, think of all the times you have left the house to look at something in a shop because it just takes too long to load up the pages via the internet, not any more!

Broadband will change how you shop and how you spend your recreational time.

Vicki Churchill writes for http://www.internet-logic.com, a site that tm net hotspot in Broadband Working from home, Affiliates, Internet Business & Optimization.

Friday, March 20, 2009

What Is An SDSL Line?

SDSL Broadband (known as; Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line) can provide you with high speed internet access broadband internet connection ordinary high speed internet providers telephone wires. It is primarily used by small streamyx price medium businesses. These broadband connections allow an equal download webmail tmnet streamyx upload schools in malaysia For many small business and at home workers best broadband packages type of broadband offers a convenient, affordable replacement for ADSL and still falls under the price margin of a T1 connection.

Unlike the other DSL connections, an exclusive dedicated copper pair-line is required because with this technology there is no sharing of broadband phone package resources, this then hinders the use of other phone and fax line services. Although a SDSL Broadband line is dedicated, there is no actual special wiring involved; the broadband line uses the same type of copper wiring as voice phone lines. Therefore connection speeds are similar to other DSL connections, ranging from 512k to 2MB. kuala lampur malaysia the inclusive nature of this broadband service eliminates the need for the use of a Microfilter.A SDSL Broadband line runs from the Central Office Hub to a standalone DSL modem at the users end. The length of the line is directly inversed cable internet provider concern with the connection speed; internet speed is the further away from the Central Office, the longer the broadband line wire and the less speed available for use. Thus the netgear streamyx speed you can get all depends on the distance between Central Office and the DSL modem; this distance is the length of the copper pair, streamyx international is probably more than the direct, straight line distance.

The central office hub is usually located in the city centre or in the business district of a community. If the Central Office is too far, providers sometimes may consider putting in a "remote central office", also called a Remote DSLAM. If a remote DSLAM is installed, the copper distance starts from the remote Central Office seremban malaysia of the main Central Office. These are usually installed where there is a high concentration of potential customers.

In some very rare instances, very few clients might not be holidays in kuala lumpur to get SDSL Broadband connection because of their location. This may be due to them being is too far away from the Central Office and the installation of a remote DSLAM is impractical. Also, sometimes the penang malasia have impairments that prevent having a suitable all copper connection, which oppose the purpose of a SDSL Broadband connection which aims to utilise the whole bandwidth of the copper pair-line. In such cases, other DSL Broadband connections should be sought after.

SDSL Broadband line consumption usually requires users to install separate or even second phone lines. Installation of such a line is pretty basic and not very complicated because of the similarities between regular phone and fax services lines and the SDSL Broadband line. Because this broadband has a higher monthly cost than a residential DSL, the providers will tend to work harder to make sure the installation is successful and glitch free for the duration of the line usage.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For Business Internet Services he recommends Iconnyx, a leading SDSL provider.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Parochial ways of the hornbill

FEB 26 ?People in Sarawak are getting excited. For the past few months, Anwar has been visiting Sarawak on an almost weekly basis. He has taken over as Sarawak PKR liaison person, i.e. Brother No. 1. He had a nice tea with Sarawak DAP leaders and kind words were exchanged. Previously Sarawak PKR and Sarawak DAP were unable to talk because the previous PKR head, a Sarawak state assemblyman, had bad blood with the Sarawak DAP leaders.

On the ground, things are looking adsl for PKR. Its series of dinners/speeches have attracted thousands of Dayaks and the Chinese crowd. Sarawak PKR also picked up one addition assemblyman when Gabriel Adit, one of the two independents in the state, joined the party last November. Hence on the surface, PKR is the most multi-racial opposition in Sarawak with Dominic Ng (Chinese) and Adit streamyx network as its assemblymen.

Choosing Between DSL and Cable For High-Speed Internet Service

You timidly suggested to your nephew that streamyx news were considering a move to a faster form of Internet service. Perhaps you have heard the term "broadband connection." He probably heaved a huge sigh of relief. "Finally!" he said. But when you asked for guidance on which service to choose, you soon were sorry you asked. In two or jaring my short sentences, he left you behind, babbling in technical gobblydegook that you couldn't possibly follow -- when all you really wanted to know was, "What should I get?"

Breathe easy. We'll explain what the options are for faster Internet connections (which is what's meant by "broadband" or "high-speed Internet"), with just a teeny bit of "how it works" so you have some sense of what you're choosing and why.

In doing so, we don't expect that you want to become a computer wizard. All you want, we assume, is the ability to get the advantages of fast Internet access: a computer that is always connected to the Internet, that permits you to zip around Web pages faster than you imagined streamyx tweak and that opens up a whole new set of ways to waste time online. Oh, we mean, a whole new set of ways to be productive. Whatever.

Let's start out with the tmnet streamyx password question, and then work our way back to the your internet connection speed issues.

Q: What should I get? DSL or Cable Service?

Most technical people will give you all sorts of "this is how it works" answers, and they'll talk about performance (that is, is DSL or cable service faster?) and setup (that is, how will you get your computer hooked into the modem?). There are differences between the technologies, and we'll get to those in a moment.

But for someone who's simply trying to find a simple and credible answer, the truth is that "fastest" is not really the most important issue. It's just like choosing a car. Yes, auto enthusiasts discuss performance and 0-to-60 speeds and other things that matter primarily to other car aficionados. But if all you want is a car to commute to work, then what matters most is reliability, gas mileage, and the phone number of a mechanic whose work you trust. And affordable. It should be affordable.

In terms of high-speed Internet connections, that means:

  • Find out if you have a choice at all. In many places, you can get one kind of service but not another. (We'll explain the reasons why in a little while.)
  • Choose a provider you trust. If you hate your phone company or if you are already irked with the cable TV provider, why add agony to your life? Choose the provider whose service you trust the most (or whom you hate the least, which may be closer to the mark).
  • When you check into pricing, be sure to find out about installation options. Many cable and DSL providers will come to your house or business to set up the network and Internet connection. If one provider does so and the other does not, your decision is easier. As with many things in life -- such as garage door openers -- it's important to get your high-speed Internet service installed right in the first place, or it'll never quite work correctly. It can be worth the expense to pay a professional.
  • If company-supplied installation is not an option, then ask your "local techie" -- that same nephew who's sure he knows everything -- which type of service to get, and follow his advice. If you rely on family-provided technical support, then it makes sense to choose an option with which that family member is comfortable. Doing so avoids those nasty "I told you so" conversations over the Thanksgiving table.
  • Consider price as just one element of the equation. In most cases, the difference in cost is negligible. But your existing phone and cable company may be able to sweeten the deal; for example, some cable companies may offer a reduced price if you get Internet access, telephone services, and TV stations from them.

What -- none of those things are about technology! Isn't that the key issue? Shouldn't I choose the one that's better?

Yes, there are technical differences between the two kinds of service. There can be major speed differences. But in the real world, "convenience" is often much more important.

Q: What do DSL and cable services have in common?

Both types of service provide an "always-on" connection. That is, they're automatically connected to the Internet as long as the computer is turned on. You need not worry about busy signals or any connection/disconnection process.

Both are billed on a monthly basis, often on the same invoice with your phone or cable TV service.

Both work with your Windows or Macintosh computers without fiddling. They'll also work with other operating systems, too. However, the typical high-speed Internet service technical support representative may be unfamiliar with the details of getting everything to work with your "alternative choice." It may take extra expertise, and you may need additional tmnet streamyx bill (that is, expect to buy the nephew a nice dinner).

In most places, DSL and cable access cost about the same.

Q: How is Internet speed measured ... and to what degree does it matter?

When computer techies talk about Internet connection speed, it's generally in mbps: millions of bits per second. This can be confusing since everything else in the world of computers is measured in bytes. Bits and bytes aren't the same thing. But to put it in context: to send a photo that's 2.2 megabytes (MB) when stored on your hard disk, it'll take about 3 minutes for the transfer if you have a 5 Mbps Internet connection.

If we were to get technical, we'd quibble with the reliability of those numbers and whether they're useful for more than a general comparison. So would your helpful nephew. If you later decide to explore the underlying technology, you'll learn the reasons for this. But for now, simply assume that 6 Mpbs is faster than 5 Mpbs, as a useful oversimplification.

Obviously, most people prefer faster speed to slower. Many providers price their services accordingly.

Realistically, if you've been using a dial-up modem to access the Internet, it will all seem blazingly fast. If you're planning to use the Internet for relatively ordinary purposes, such as e-mail, Web browsing, and instant messaging, then your provider's "basic" speed is probably enough whether you choose cable or DSL. Speed matters a lot more if you expect to work with large files, such as broadband internet phone photos, music, games, and any other application that caused the computer salesperson to say, "Hmm, you probably should get a bigger hard disk."

Q: Why do Internet providers list upload and download speeds separately? Should I care?

One aspect of connection speed that is important is the difference between upload speed and download speed. Download speed measures how quickly the information on the Internet is sent to you, such as the email you receive or the Web pages that appear in your browser. Upload speed indicates how fast the information is sent from your computer to...well, to anywhere else.

In many cases, especially with cable service, the upload speed is much slower than the download speed. That sounds like a bad thing, but in most cases the upload speed isn't a key issue. Think about how you got to this article. You probably typed something into a browser window (such as "compare dsl and cable service" in a search engine). You clicked on a couple of links. And that was about it. A few words of typing, and the clicks. Those didn't need to speed up the line at warp speeds; you could manage it even if your typing skills are generously described as "hunt and peck."

But the computer where this page is stored is sending you several pages of information -- so you want the download speed to be fast. (This is a very simple example. Your "just a few clicks" could also have shown you a movie, which would have a lot of data to download!)

In some circumstances, the upload speed matters. But for ordinary home use it's fine for the upload speed to be much lower than the download speed.

Q: How do cable modems work?

A cable modem connects a single computer to the Internet using the cable TV network. If you have cable TV service in your neighborhood, you can almost certainly get cable service.

Specifically, the cable modem is a black box with blinking lights. It connects to the computer with a network cable, which may be Ethernet, USB, or some other kind of plug. No matter how old your computer is, it almost certainly has one of these plug-connections available.

Q: Do you need cable television to use a cable modem?

No. You do need to be in an area to which the cable company provides service, and the cable company needs to physically get the cable to your location if it hasn't done so already.

Also, expect a sales pitch on choosing cable TV service to accompany your new Internet access, perhaps with price encouragement ("do you want fries with that?"), but technically speaking there's no need for you to sign up for HBO just so you can send e-mail faster.

Q: How does DSL work?

DSL (digital subscriber line) connects a computer to the Internet using the same wires as a regular telephone line. Although it sounds like it will make your phone line "busy," DSL doesn't work that way; the phone service isn't affected by the Internet connection. In most cases in the U.S., the DSL connection is a phone socket, and your existing house wiring carries both phone and data. It, too, may use a black (or white) box with blinking lights.

Q: Why is distance an issue with DSL? And distance to what?

A key difference with DSL is that its speed relies on the distance to the "central office" or CO. That term sounds as though there are office workers slaving away doing paperwork, but in most cases the CO is a large building with a huge number of wires -- no humans at all. The farther your computer is from the CO, the worse the signal quality, and thus the connection speed is decreased.

Don't take out a tape measure. When the phone company judges your distance to the CO, they measure the wires installed between your home and their equipment, which is probably not a straight line.

While it isn't a technically accurate analogy, imagine shouting to someone across a field. At some point, the other person won't be able to hear you. If you're within 5,000 feet of the CO, your Internet access speed will be faster than if you're 15,000 feet away. And if you're 22,000 feet from the CO, you probably can't even get DSL service because the provider knows you'd never be happy with the performance.

There are different kinds of DSL service, and you may be able to use one of them even if you're (relatively speaking) far from the CO; but you won't be able to expect top connection speeds.

Q: Why are there different flavors of DSL? Do they matter?

When people talk about DSL, they generally mean ADSL (Asymmetric DSL). It would be easy to get extremely technical here, but the simplified explanation is that ADSL is intended primarily for low use, with download speeds many times faster than upload speeds. That's fine for most residential purposes.

In contrast, the upload speeds on Symmetric DSL (SDSL) are almost the same as its download speeds. That matters if you plan to do a lot of online gaming or to run any kind of Internet server (the latter is unlikely for home use, but the former is quite common if you have children at home). However, SDSL is more expensive than ADSL, and you usually have to be fairly close to the CO to be able to get the service.

There are a few other kinds of DSL connections. You're unlikely to choose these, but you may want to be familiar with the names when you see them on price lists. Very high bit-rate DSL (VDSL) and Rate-adaptive DSL (RADSL) are of use primarily for businesses. IDSL is based on ISDN technology, and can connect from as far away as 50,000 feet with the currently used versions; it's a lot more expensive because it's based on another telecom technology.

Q: I've been told that one is slower than the other...?

It depends on whom you talk to. Cable service detractors point out that you are sharing the connection with all the other Internet users in your neighborhood. Thus, one person playing an interactive game can hog all the resources and reduce your connection speed, particularly during peak hours (such as when the neighbor's kid ought to be doing her homework).

Those descriptions make it seem as though you're on a telephone party line (if you're old enough to remember those...), with a neighbor listening in on your conversations. It's not like that; the situation is much closer to waiting in a long line at the bank at lunchtime. They never seem to have enough tellers to deal with the sudden up-tick in customer demand.

On the other hand, the people who criticize DSL point out that residential DSL is also over-subscribed, and the Internet access speed suffers -- another example of the missing bank tellers.

So the summary is: yes, one is slower than the other. But which is faster will depend on the area in which you live, and which service is more popular!

Q: What if I have more than one computer?

This essay was written assuming that you have only one computer at home. But many families (and many individuals) use more than one computer, in which case you want them all to use the same fast Internet connection. To do so, you'll need to set up a small home network, in which one computer (connected directly to the cable modem or DSL connection) acts as a referee for all the other computers in the house.

The setup for such a network is outside the scope of this article, but be reassured that it isn't difficult to get one working. You should be able to find a local computer consultant (or brilliant nephew) to assist you if you don't want to take on the challenge yourself. In addition, some providers will sell you networking setup at an additional price.

Q: Does it matter if I'm running a business, versus connecting to the Internet from home?

Maybe. It depends on the nature of the software you're running at your business, and how many people need to use the Internet at the same time.

For most small businesses, with only a few employees, there won't be any difference between residential and business service, without regard to DSL or cable. A business in which several (say, ten or more) employees are concurrently using the Internet should probably examine the business services branch of the DSL or cable provider. These cost more than the residential versions but they also give you additional services, such as more e-mail accounts.

Another reason you'd need business-class DSL or cable services, even in a solo home office, is if you choose to run certain kinds of Internet software, such as an e-mail server or a Web server. Those applications require something called a "dedicated IP address," which we'll get to in a moment. Should you plan to add Internet servers to your business, you'll probably need professional help. It's more likely that you'll arrange with another company to manage your Web site and e-mail, which makes the DSL versus cable issue much simpler.

Q: What's all this stuff about "IP addresses" and why should I care?

Under most circumstances, you won't need to know what an IP address is. However, you're sure to come across discussions about them while you're shopping for broadband services, so you might as well have a basic understanding of the term.

Most simply: think of the IP address as the "telephone number" of your tm net Just as you need to know his phone number to call your nephew for help, the computers with which your computer interacts online need an address to reach it, at least for the duration of the current conversation.

With both DSL and cable connections, the standard type of IP address is called a "dynamic IP." That is, the Internet service provider can change the IP address of your computer at any time. That's never a problem when, so to speak, your computer is the one calling out. Just as it doesn't matter to your nephew from what phone number you called him, the only thing you both care about is that you dialed the right number so he could pick up the phone.

However, Internet servers (such as the computers that manage and send out e-mail or host all the pretty Web pages you look at) must have an unchanging address, called a "static IP address." It's one option when you look at business-class DSL or cable modem service, and it does cost more.

Q: Do I need to buy extra hardware?

Usually, you don't need to buy anything more than the cable or DSL provider includes with the service. If your computer is an older one, you may need to buy a network card (the techie nephew might call this a "NIC"), which should cost about $10. If you decide to network together your home computers you'll probably buy additional equipment. But in general, you don't need to spend additional money.

Q: What about security?

This is a bit of a tangent from DSL-versus-cable, but it's an important item to mention for anyone who is considering moving from a dial-up connection to an always-on Internet.

In most ways, a faster Internet connection will be a wonderful broadband internet radio It will change the way you work online and give you more freedom to explore the world.

But there's one disadvantage that someone needs to warn you about. You've probably heard about computer viruses, spyware, spambots, and other "malware" (malicious software). You'll now be more vulnerable to it. One side effect of your faster connection is that it's easier for Bad Guys to exploit your computer because the computer is more regularly accessible.

The result is that you'll need to acquire anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and probably a software firewall -- particularly if you use a Windows-based computer. (Other types of computers aren't immune but they are much less at risk.)

You deserve to get the most out of your services, whether it's high-speed Internet, phone, cable, or HDTV. Digital Landing is here to help, making it easy to find out everything you need to know about digital services for your home.

At this point, the world needs another pico projector like it needs another glacier to suddenly and spontaneously melt, but we suppose the competition ain't bad for those actually in the market for one. A relative unknown to the pocket PJ market, Syndiant has emerged from out of nowhere to showcase its very own engineering prototype. It's so beta that it doesn't even boast a codename, but you can hit play above to check out what it's got going on. Maybe we're just jaded, but we'd love for the quantity of these to slow and the native resolutions to grow -- please, tell us we aren't alone.

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Video: Syndiant demonstrates its own prototype pico projector originally streamyx internet on Engadget on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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