SEAMLESS INTERNET IS KEY TO COMPUTING

Imagine being connected to anything and everything all at once without even being aware of that condition. Did I just sound like a Buddhist monk describing some kind of Zen-like state of being? No, I'm talking about how your computer can and should be connected to the Internet. Anyone accessing the Internet these days with a 56k dial-up modem isn't experiencing the true power of the Internet. As one who has been using a high speed (broadband) connection for nearly two years, it was literally painful having to sit and wait for web pages to slowly fizzle onto the screen of a friend's computer and his 56k ball and chain. But having a broadband connection isn't just about faster surfing anymore. Ok, so it may not be a religious experience watching my software automatically update when it detects a newer version of itself but it comes awfully close. Maybe that's because I remember how things used to be on my computer. You had to first discover that something newer was available and that was hit or miss at best. Then the software's publisher actually MAILED you a floppy disk or CD in a few weeks. It was horrible and I have still have no idea how we survived.

Visiting my friend with his 56k boat anchor really drove home how broadband has and will continue to change the face of computing as we know it. Turns out that I wanted to show my friend a QuickTime video I brought over on a CD but we discovered he had an older version of QuickTime on his computer and couldn't run my video. With broadband, QuickTime would have simply upgraded itself without our even being aware. At his place, it was going to take over an hour to download the upgraded QuickTime so I decided to go home. In fact I drove home, downloaded the newer QuickTime, drove back to his house and installed it on his computer. And I did it all more quickly than If I had stayed in his 56k quagmire.

Many of today's applications and utilities such as those being offered by Adobe and Symantec will automatically check and update to their latest versions. But most still require you to be ever vigilant for something newer. Fortunately, there's an Internet service that can automatically detect older versions on your computer and alert you to their availability. Depending on the service to which you subscribe, the update can be a completely automated process or you can elect to have it send an email informing you that a newer version has been released. TechTracker's basic service is free and lets you peruse what's new via operating system, date or keyword search. The Pro option lets you maintain a database of applications, utilities, drivers and the like and will make sure you have their latest versions installed. TechTracker offers a free trial time period so you can try before you buy. Check their web site for more details.

Put your cards on the table

Most road warriors have their trusty laptops on their laptops. But if you find that to be somewhat uncomfortable and even unwieldy, how about bringing along your own little desk. Your knee jerk reaction may be to think that lugging around a table may be too ponderous but in fact it may offer a practical solution. The Table Tote is an amazingly small package that expands into a nice sized table for your laptop computer with room to spare for a mouse. Remove the light weight (2.6 pounds) Table Tote from its included case and its four telescoping legs slide out from within the table and screw into each corner in a matter of moments. The legs adjust from 13 to 29 inches in height and will support up to 18 pounds. The table size is 10.5 inches wide, 13 inches long and a little over one inch thick. There's even a slide in and out mouse tray, and a document holder. Now you can play Solitaire on a steady surface. $49.99.