Use SFTP Rather Than FTP

FTP uses unencrypted userids and passwords for file transfers, whereas SFTP uses an encrypted userid and password and encrypts the data as well. Many may have also experienced problems with getting FTP to work through a firewall. Steven Frank provides a list of other reasons at http://stevenf.com/archive/dont-use-ftp.php as to why one should avoid FTP when possible.

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Requiem for Windows XP

InfoWorld published an artcile A requiem for Windows XP on July 1, 2008 stating that Microsoft has held firm on discontinuing sales of Windows XP, though enterprises, small businesses, and some consumers will still be able to install XP as a "downgrade" to Windows Vista Business or Ultimate. System builders will still be able to build PCs with Windows XP until February 1, 2009, so if you purchase a PC at a computer show, such as those run by MarketPro, which I attend when they are held in my area, you will still be able to get Windows XP on such a system.

There is also a link in the article to a Windows 7 compatibility checker, if you are interested in determing whether a system will be able to support the next version of Windows.

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Alternatives to Microsoft Office

InfoWorld has an article published July 15, 2008 titled Can you really live without Microsoft Office? that discusses open source and cloud computing alternatives to Microsoft Office.

One of the alternatives is OpenOffice. Though I use Microsoft Office on my Windows laptop, I use OpenOffice on other systems, such as Linux or Solaris systems and even on one Windows system. I've found it quite useable and, for most of the documents I work with, able to handle documents created in Microsoft Office's applications fairly well.

I also use Google Docs, though just the spreadsheet capability. I use Google Docs spreadsheets for personal use, such as tracking my mileage and gas consumption. It works fine for that and could also suffice for others with uncomplicated spreadsheet requirements, but it definitely isn't on a par with Microsoft Excel's capabilities.

I haven't tried the other alternative discussed in the article yet, Zoho. Zoho is a suite of online applications (services) that you access from the Zoho website. The applications are free for individuals and some have a subscription fee for organizations. In their FAQ, Zoho states that "We assure you that the contents of your Account will not be disclosed to anyone and will not be accessible to employees of AdventNet. Neither do we process the contents of your Account for serving targeted advertisements."

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