Networking

Writen by John Gibb

Wiring up a LAN (local area network) can be very easy, or it can be very difficult – it all depends on the size of your network, and how you're trying to go about it.

For a very small home network, you can get by without using any special equipment except the wires. If you want to use a network to share Internet access or a printer, just plug an Ethernet cable into the computers you want to network, and then use the simple networking features that are built into Windows, such as Internet Connection Sharing. This approach has many downsides, though – you'll need an extra Ethernet card in each computer for every extra computer you connect to the network, for one.

Instead of connecting each computer to the next, it is better to simply connect all the computers to a central router. This is a very efficient way of connecting computers together, as the data you send will be quickly and easily routed to its destination: the data goes to the router, which knows which wire to send it down for it to reach the destination address, and simply sends it that way. This also allows you to turn on and off computers as you please with no ill effects, as the router is always-on.

If you want to connect more devices to the network than the four or five ports on a router will allow, then you need to get a network switch. This allows you to create a separate sector of your network especially for one group of devices. For example, you might have your computer and your printer both plugged into a switch. The computer and the printer can then communicate between themselves without the data needing to travel out onto the wider network – but if they want to send to or receive from the wider network, they can do that too.

John Gibb is the owner of ethernet resources For more information on ethernet check out http://www.ethernet-intelligence.info

Outdoor Atomic Clocks

Writen by Richard Romando

An atomic clock is an extremely accurate clock available for both indoor and outdoor use. An atomic clock differs from a standard clock in that the oscillation in an atomic clock is between the nucleus of an atom and the surrounding electrons.

Outdoor atomic clocks are made to be hung on the side of a house or garage or on the patio. Beautifully crafted outdoor atomic clocks are a valuable addition to your yard. Outdoor clocks are made with more durable material than indoor clocks since they have to be weather resistant. Some outdoor atomic clocks are set on poles. Atomic clocks provide the accurate time in hours, minutes, and seconds. Outdoor atomic clocks can also record temperature and humidity.

An outdoor atomic clock updates itself around six times daily for perfect accuracy, even changing itself from standard to daylight savings time and back. Outdoor atomic clocks can be set to any time zone according to your need. Most of the outdoor atomic clocks operate on batteries. Popular atomic clocks have their times automatically set with their radio-controlled sensor-pickups from the U.S. Atomic Clock.

Radio-controlled atomic clocks are ultimate in convenience and accuracy. These can be used for both outdoor and indoor purposes. Special features of radio-controlled atomic clocks are self-setting radio-controlled movement, manual set option, and automatic adjustment for daylight savings.

Outdoor atomic clocks include almost all the functions in the indoor atomic clocks, including battery operation and number style selection. Outdoor atomic clocks are made of durable metal or acrylic. Some of these clocks have bronze, pewter, and other attractive frames. They are also provided with an analog thermometer and hygrometer on the lower half.

Among the outdoor atomic clocks, garden clocks are made for both function and artistic appeal. These clocks are made with materials that mingle with the garden scenario. In outdoor garden clocks, the main focus is often the craftsmanship rather than accuracy of time.

Atomic Clocks provides detailed information on Atomic Clocks, Atomic Clock Times, Atomic Alarm Clocks, Atomic Wall Clocks and more. Atomic Clocks is affiliated with Printable Calendars.

Google Offers Free Spreadsheet On The Web

Writen by Ugur Akinci

The clash of ideas that started over a decade ago between Microsoft, on the one hand, and other hi-tech giants like Oracle and Sun Microsystems about the relative merits of desk-top-based vs. web-based services is coming to a head with Google's new web-based and free spreadsheet application.

Just like the free web editor and hosting that is now available from Google, if you've got a Gmail account, you can now also get an innovative spreadsheet program.

The "light client" idea championed by Oracle, Sun and Google has made impressive inroads with an ever-increasing number of applications which were previously bought out in boxes and then installed on PCs.

Now a lot of such out-of-the-box applications are shifting onto the web in an amazing variety of "web services." The spread of fiber optic networks and the dropping price of broadband are factors that favor the increase of such web service in the future.

Enter Google Spreadsheets...

The service is still in its Beta phase and so you have to register for it. I did and a day later I got my invitation to test drive the Google Spreadsheets.

As usual, Google engineers did their homework well. This is a very easy-to-understand interface, with a disarmingly clean and simple approach to the main tasks that many people end up doing with spreadsheets.

The three main tabs FORMAT, SORT and FORMULAS cover 99% of all the things that I'll ever do with a spreadsheet.

All three tabs have their own dynamically-constructed mini-menus.

For example, in the main FORMAT tab, the menu offers different ways to format your text and numbers, with great drop-down menus to ALIGN, INSERT and DELETE anything and everything. Wrapping text and merging cells is a breeze though the well-marked menu check-box and button.

The SORT tab has the very useful FREEZE ROWS drop-down list to work efficiently with those spreadsheets with hundreds of rows. Two buttons make ascending and descending SORTING by columns a straight forward operation.

The FORMULAS tab provides an easy one-click way to calculate sums, averages, counts, etc..

And here is the most REVOLUTIONARY feature of all:

By clicking a link you can actually open a CHAT WINDOW and share the spreadsheet with your friends or co-workers. You can literally collaborate in real time as you are working on your spreadsheet. You can people to EDIT or just VIEW the spreadsheet. Try doing that with Excel.

Overall I'm very impressed with this new effort by Google to drive yet another nail into the coffin of the "heavy client" PC idea. The future looks more intriguing by the day.

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Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced and award-winning Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases, movie reviews and hi-tech documentation.

He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 companies for the last 7 years.

In addition to being an Ezine Articles Expert Author, he is also a Senior Member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), and a Member of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI).

You can reach him at writer111@gmail.com for a FREE consultation on all your copywriting needs.

You are most welcomed to visit his official web site http://www.writer111.com for more information on his multidisciplinary background, writing career, and client testimonials.

While at it, you might also want to check the latest book he has edited:http://www.lulu.com/content/263630