Logitech Wireless DJ Music System lets you stream music from your PC to your stereo

If you want to play music without being tied to your PC, Logitech’s Wireless DJ Music System could be the answer. The system features an intuitive remote control that works with a USB transmitter that plugs into your PC. The transmitter sends the tunes to a receiver plugged into your home stereo, so you don’t have to be at your computer or your stereo to access your digital music library.

A wizard walks you through an easy setup, and then you can stream music from your PC to your stereo, including content from iTunes, Rhapsody, and Yahoo! Music Unlimited. The system can also be set to pick up internet radio stations.

With a powerful Bluetooth profile, the system supports up to 4 wireless receivers and has a rated range of 165 feet, so you can play music in most rooms in a typical home.

The remote control features a mechanical scroll wheel and large, intuitive displays and controls. The battery will typically last for a few days, and it recharges in about 3 hours. The only drawback is an occasional delay of a few seconds after you select your music, and a slight lag time when you’re scrolling through a long list of music.

Still, the sound quality is good for Bluetooth, and users report very little interference or noise, thanks to the adaptive frequency-hopping technology.

The Logitech Wireless DJ Music System retails for $249.99 It only works with Windows, but we’re hoping they’ll create a version for Mac OS X in the near future.

Faster Browsing and Time-Saving Printer Profiles

Your Domain Name Server (DNS) is the service that allows your computer to communicate with other computers on the internet. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) usually determines your default DNS, and chances are it’s slower than others that are readily available. To speed up your internet access, try using Open DNS.

OpenDNS makes your Internet connection blazing fast, blocks phishing sites, and corrects your typos on the fly. You choose only the features you want and it requires no software to install. And best of all, it's free.


Hassle-free printing

If you frequently have to reset the Properties when you print, there’s a way to create a printer profile, a “virtual printer” that will save your settings for a specific kind of job. Go to the Control Panel and click on Printers and Faxes. Select Add a printer, and you’ll activate the Add Printer Wizard. Select the printer you wish to use, and in the right pane click on Select printer properties. Give your virtual printer a relevant name, such as Letterhead Draft or Top Quality Envelope. Click Printing Preferences | Advanced and set the properties you want to save for that particular printer. The next time you print, you’ll see the icon for a “Printer” with the appropriate name in the drop-down menu. Select this as your printer, and it will print according to your settings.

How can I change the settings of an application, so that it opens in a maximized window, instead of only filling part of the screen? Also, are there any keyboard shortcuts to maximize a window?

In answer to the first part, all you have to do is right click on the icon of the application. You’ll see a pop- up menu, and you should choose Properties from this menu. On the box that opens, you’ll see a drop-down list labeled Run. Choose Maximized from the drop down list, and click OK.

After all this, the application might still not open a maximized window. This trick is just a way of “asking it nicely,” and it may or may not cooperate, depending on the program.

Once you have a window open, you can maximize it from your keyboard by pressing Alt-Spacebar, then pressing X.

Which version of VISTA is right for you?

Microsoft’s long-awaited Windows VISTA was released on January 30th. If you’re thinking of upgrading to VISTA, you have four choices. (There are actually five versions of VISTA, but VISTA Enterprise is only available to volume customers— typically large organizations with a global reach.) Here’s our take on each one, and our recommendations:

VISTA Home Basic. This is the no-frills, stripped down version of VISTA. It lacks most of the features that make VISTA worth getting, and with a $199 price tag (or $99 for an upgrade from XP), it’s not worth the bother. You can already get a lot of good features by downloading Internet Explorer 7 for free. VISTA resolves many chronic Windows security issues, but if you have good security software such as Norton Internet Security 2007, you’ll be fine with XP and Internet Explorer 7.

VISTA Home Premium. If you’re going to spend money on VISTA, this is the minimum level you should consider. For $239 or a $159 upgrade, you’ll get all the security and other features of Vista Home Basic, plus the Windows Media Center, a treasure trove of graphic, gaming, and media-related goodies. This version includes the slick Aero 3D interface, and allows you to play, author, and burn DVDs. This is a good choice for your home computer, but be sure you have at least 2GB of RAM in order to get the most out of it.

VISTA Business was created for the small to medium sized business. It has strong security features and a lot of business tools such as backups, fax and scan programs, and Windows Meeting Space. Although it lacks the Windows Media Center found in the Home Premium edition, Dependable Computer Guys recommends this version of VISTA to our business customers. VISTA Business costs $199 for an upgrade or $299 for the complete package, and while it’s a bit stingy on entertainment features, it’s a good buy for business owners. Just be sure you allow time to test and learn all of the features.

VISTA Ultimate. If you’re a professional who relies on a PC for business and pleasure, you’re involved in design or gaming, or if you happen to love high-powered tech tools, this is by far your best option. It comes with all the features of both VISTA Home Premium and VISTA Business, plus a lot of extras. In addition, Microsoft promises a wealth of downloadable “goodies” exclusively for VISTA Ultimate users, although they haven’t announced what any of these are. You’ll want a high end DX10- compatible graphics card, and at least 2GB of RAM for VISTA Ultimate to really shine. At an affordable $399 for the full package, or $259 for an upgrade, this is the version you won’t want to miss.

4 Steps to Password Security

If you use a common word for your password, your data is vulnerable. Passwords that are in the dictionary can be guessed in seconds by modern code-breaking software. Random letters aren’t much better—they can be cracked within 2 days.

For better password security, you should consider all of the following:

1. Use mixed-case alphanumeric passwords (random capital and lower-case letters mixed with numbers) that are at least 12 characters in length.



2. Use a second form of authentication such as number generators and smart cards, whenever this option is available. Consider switching to a bank that offers this feature, if your current bank does not.



3. Use a different password for each of your most critical accounts. That way, if someone breaks into your bank account, for example, your email will still be safe.



4. Store your passwords in a trustworthy vault. Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari all have secure password managers.