Mailbag #2

(1) Lyle: How do I share an external drive over wireless?    Sean recommands getting a USB Network Hub that allows any USB device connected to it to be shared over the network. Another advantage with plugging into the router is the other computer doesn't have to be turned on to access the files. For example, the Linksys WRT600N router or the Apple Airport Extreme router both have this ability. Andy says check these two issues and try again, (1) Disable any firewall software presently running, and (2) create a user ID to log into Windows machine that is identical to the user account on the other Windows machines on your network. Vista's Network and Sharing Center makes these situations much easier.

(2) Joel: What do I look for when buying a Digital SLR camera?    Sean recommands either Canon or Nikon, both are excellent choices. If your upgrading your Digital SLR you may want to stick with the same brand so that your older lens may be used. For example, on old lens might fit your new camera, but you might have to focus manually. CMOS = Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor. For more information check episode 117 for manual settings on Digital SLR's, and episode 50 for a general Digital SLR overview. For editing your digital photographs use Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 or the professional version Adobe Photoshop CS3.

(3) Ben: How do I assign a static IP address?    On Windows XP, go to the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_address, double-click Network Connections, right-click on the Local Area Connection then select Properties, scroll through the list of protocols and select TCP, check the bubble stating "Use the following IP address", enter your desired IP address, and select OK. On Windows Vista, go to Control Panel, select Network and Sharing Center, select from the list of tasks Manage Network Connections, right-click on your desired network connection then select Properties, select TCP/IPv4 then click Properties, check the bubble stating "Use the following IP address", enter your desired IP address, and select OK. To find out your router's IP address, go to Run then type cmd and click OK, type ipconfig/all which will show the router's IP address. To exit the DOS window, type exit and enter.

(4) Kush: How do I hide/change my IP address?    Your solution would be a proxy server. A proxy server receives all the traffic inbound for you and passes it on to you. Therefore the source of the traffic never knows your location. You can get lots of different proxy server's through proxy.org. A paid product that makes you truely anonymous online is Anonymizer.