InformationWeek
Defining The Business Value Of Technology
Fred Langa, in his Langa Letter, examines the end-user side of corporate computing. While checking out the products, practices, tools and technologies that affect us all, he also tries to remember that this stuff was originally intended to make our lives easier. Imagine that! Fred Langa, a former Chief Editor of Byte and Windows Magazine, has been covering computers since the days when 640K was more RAM than anyone could possibly need. Besides writing this column, Fred also publishes an E-newsletter with over 170,000 subscribers, and runs several popular Web sites. See http://www.langa.com for more info.
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Langa Letter: Cool and Quiet, Part II
InformationWeek, March 08, 2004 Fred Langa continues his exploration of the causes--and cures--of noisy PCs. His solutions include some measures that you may consider counterintuitive but he proves why they'll work with your PC. Langa Letter: Cool And Quiet, Part 1 InformationWeek, February 23, 2004 Fred Langa finds ways to silence his PC's noisy fans while still keeping the PC well cooled. Langa Letter: Successful Updates Despite Very Slow Connections InformationWeek, February 16, 2004 Fred Langa shows how some simple workarounds let you bypass bottlenecks when keeping your PCs up to date. Langa Letter: Ten More Ways To Make Windows XP Run Better InformationWeek, January 26, 2004 Fred Langa examines free add-ons and utilities that further refine and improve your operating system. Langa Letter: E-Mail--Hideously Unreliable InformationWeek, January 12, 2004 A recent test by InformationWeek columnist Fred Langa shows that up to 40% of valid E-mails never reach the recipient. Here's what it all means to you. Langa Letter: Three Important End-Of-Year Tasks InformationWeek, December 15, 2003 Fred Langa recommends taking advantage of the slower pace of the holidays to perform three essential tasks. Langa Letter: Web-Host Outsourcing InformationWeek, December 01, 2003 Fred Langa explores the pros and cons of outsourcing Web sites and spotlights reader recommendations for finding the perfect Web host. Langa Letter: Solving Automatic Maintenance Problems InformationWeek, November 17, 2003 Fred Langa explains how to address problems with Windows XP automation, looking at XP's self-maintenance tools and techniques. Langa Letter: Time To Check Your CDRs InformationWeek, November 03, 2003 Fred Langa explains how to ensure that your recordable CDs remain archived for a decade or longer. Langa Letter: Make Windows XP Self-Maintaining InformationWeek, October 27, 2003 Fred Langa explains how to automate Windows XP tools and tasks that normally require manual intervention. Langa Letter: Enough Already: Microsoft Must Change InformationWeek, September 29, 2003 Fred Langa wonders if Microsoft will do what it takes to greatly improve its software development processes and improve its product security Langa Letter: The Danger In Auto-Reply Messages InformationWeek, September 15, 2003 Don't let your ''I'm away'' and other automatic messages come back to haunt you. Fred Langa has a solution. Langa Letter: Three Technologies Worth Watching InformationWeek, September 01, 2003 After months of hands-on use, Fred Langa updates his experiences with powerline networking, GPS, and white-box PCs. Langa Letter: System Setup Secrets For Windows XP InformationWeek, July 28, 2003 Fred's real-world, step-by-step advice for setting up a Windows XP-based PC in ways better than the defaults. Langa Letter: The Perfect Rescue Tool, Part II InformationWeek, July 07, 2003 Fred Langa wraps up the explanation of how to make a custom, bootable CD containing the right tools to fix just about any system trouble. Langa Letter: The Perfect Rescue Tool InformationWeek, June 23, 2003 Fred Langa explains how to make a custom, bootable CD containing the right tools to fix just about any system trouble Langa Letter: Easy Encryption InformationWeek, June 02, 2003 Fred Langa looks at the universe of products that help you protect sensitive files and data from prying eyes and hackers. Langa Letter: Microsoft's Problematic Updates InformationWeek, May 19, 2003 Windows Updates sometimes cause more harm than good. What's the best way to handle them? Langa Letter: Getting the Right Linux Footprint InformationWeek, May 05, 2003 It's never been easy to install Linux, but Fred Langa explores the best available tools and finds reason for hope. Langa Letter: 10 Great, Free Tools InformationWeek, April 21, 2003 Fred Langa evaluates 10 valuable, commercial-quality software tools that are available just for the asking. It's not the same old freeware. Langa Letter: Your Next PC: Legacy Free? InformationWeek, April 07, 2003 IBM's PC AT has cast a shadow over PC system architecture for more than two decades. Thanks to advances such as Intel's EFI, PC vendors are on the verge of breaking the legacy bottlenecks. Kiss your BIOS goodbye. Langa Letter: XP Professional's "Remote Control" Option InformationWeek, February 24, 2003 Fred Langa explains how this little-known feature of Windows can be a life-saver if used cautiously. Langa Letter: White-Box PCs Revisited InformationWeek, February 10, 2003 In Fred Langa's view, some generic PCs are now good enough for use as full-bore production desktops. Langa Letter: Linux Has Bugs: Get Over It InformationWeek, January 27, 2003 Fred Langa contends that some Linux proponents harm their cause by hiding from the facts--it's just as buggy as Windows XP. Langa Letter: Powerline Networking Comes Of Age InformationWeek, January 13, 2003 Fred Langa explains how to use your existing electrical wiring to network the PCs in your small business, workgroup, or home office. Langa Letter: It's Curtains For Windows 95 InformationWeek, December 16, 2002 Fred Langa bids farewell to Win95 and Win 3x, two operating systems that literally changed the world but will no longer be supported by Microsoft. Langa Letter: Lindows: Beyond Windows, Before Linux InformationWeek, December 02, 2002 Fred Langa test-drives the latest version of this Linux-based Windows work-alike operating system to see if it's ready for prime time. Langa Letter: Real-Life Spam Solutions InformationWeek, November 18, 2002 A new generation of anti-spam tools is just around the corner. But until then, these spam blockers and handlers may be the next best thing. Langa Letter: Wireless Poachers, Wireless Guests InformationWeek, November 04, 2002 Sharing your wireless connection should be a conscious choice, Fred Langa says. Too often, it's accidental. Langa Letter: Solving Word's Hidden ''Phone-Home Fields'' Problem InformationWeek, October 21, 2002 Microsoft's "hidden field" patch still leaves a back door open. Here's Fred's free two-click solution to close it. Langa Letter: USB-To-Whatever InformationWeek, October 07, 2002 Fred Langa illuminates the pervasive but little-understood world of USB, explaining how to hook it up to non-USB systems and peripherals--even in DOS! Langa Letter: To Sleep, Perchance To Hibernate... InformationWeek, September 30, 2002 Fred Langa sorts out your PC's sleep, standby, suspend, and hibernate modes, and also explains how choosing the right power state saves you money. Langa Letter: Traveling With Laptops In The Post-9/11 World InformationWeek, September 09, 2002 Fred Langa offers 10 tips for speeding your electronic gear safely through even the most rigorous security searches. Langa Letter: Microsoft's Controversial New EULA Terms InformationWeek, August 19, 2002 Fred Langa looks at the new language in Microsoft's End User License Agreement, and shows how you can protect yourself against unwanted software updates. Langa Letter: A Real-Life GPS Road Test InformationWeek, August 05, 2002 Fred Langa recently spent two weeks navigating through Europe using a GPS and a laptop. Here's how you can use this emerging technology for your next road trip. Langa Letter: Maximizing ''System Restore'' In WinME and WinXP InformationWeek, July 15, 2002 Depending on how you use it, this component can be a help--or a hog! Langa Letter: What's Bugging You? InformationWeek, June 17, 2002 An InformationWeek survey shines a bright light on software bugs and other quality issues. Langa Letter: 'Magic' Fixes InformationWeek, June 03, 2002 When all else fails, an offbeat or nonstandard technique just might get things working right, Fred Langa says. Langa Letter: Error-Free Business Travel InformationWeek, April 29, 2002 With today's affordable GPS units, Fred Langa says, you'll never again miss a turn--or a meeting. Langa Letter: Firewall Feedback InformationWeek, April 15, 2002 Fred Langa tests the new crop of desktop firewalls, makes his recommendations--and wants to hear about your experiences. Langa Letter: Silent Censorship InformationWeek, April 01, 2002 Beware this column! No, there's nothing scandalous in Fred Langa's advice, although some poorly-made E-mail and content filters would think so. Langa Letter: That's The <I>Company's</I> PC InformationWeek, March 04, 2002 To what degree can an employee modify or add software to a company-supplied computer? Fred Langa examines the ethics and issues. Langa Letter: In Praise Of White-Box PCs InformationWeek, February 18, 2002 Sometimes, Fred Langa says, an ultracheap, generic PC is just the right tool for the job. Langa Letter: January's XP Surprise: The Giant Paperweight InformationWeek, January 21, 2002 Fred Langa warns new Windows XP users of the consequences of failing to "activate" the operating system with Microsoft. Be afraid. Be very afraid. Langa Letter: Ten Resolutions For Better Computing In 2002 InformationWeek, January 07, 2002 Fred Langa details several proactive steps to take to keep your PC running smoothly all year long. Langa Letter: Rethinking 'Software Bloat' InformationWeek, December 17, 2001 Fred Langa takes a trip into his software archives and finds some surprises--at two orders of magnitude. Langa Letter: Ten Ways To Make Windows XP Run Better InformationWeek, December 10, 2001 Fred Langa offers tips on how to optimize Windows XP for your own work style so you don't have to live with its default settings. Langa Letter: The 10 Best And Worst Things About Windows XP InformationWeek, November 19, 2001 Fred Langa provides his personal likes and dislikes about Microsoft's newest operating system. Check them out, then add your picks to the list. Langa Letter: The End Of Anonymous Surfing? InformationWeek, November 05, 2001 Microsoft's Passport and its competitors are making it harder than ever for computer users to keep a low profile, Fred Langa says. Langa Letter: Fine-Print Follies InformationWeek, October 15, 2001 The current flap over FrontPage is just part of the story, Fred Langa says. The fine print is far more damaging in other companies' end-user license and terms-of-service agreements. |
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