Mailbag #9

Peter: Should I be concerned about wireless networks showing up on my Mac? No, the wireless networks that appear are all available networks that you could possibly connect to within the WiFi range. These networks cannot be removed because they are active. A concern is that your wireless network is named "default" which is unsecured. See episode 167 of LabRats for more information.

Sankalp: Can I re-flash my BIOS to a older version prior to having the operating system issues? The simple answer is no. For more information check out an older episode labratsonline.com/ep38. Learn more about the BIOS, explained at labratsonline.com/ep36. Mac uses something called an Extensible Firmware Interface or EFI: labratsonline.com/efi.

Alex: Will a multiple monitor setup work utilizing a VGA splitter? Most likely no, because the VGA port on your computer only outputs to a single controller, so only a single monitor is supported. Matrox also makes one that will work with VGA: labratsonline.com/dualhead2go.

Liz: How will Skype perform from North America to a third world country? Certainly purchase a new computer for running Skype and determine what the upload/download speeds are available. Get the Microsoft LifeCam Cinema: labratsonline.com/lifecam.

Tariq: What cable do I need for the Sony Bloggie digital camera? You will need a cable that has a mini-HDMI on one end and a standard HDMI connector on the other end. Here's one option you can buy: labratsonline.com/mini-hdmi.

Problems connecting multiple individuals to play a PC game over the Internet through a router. Any suggestions...? Check your computer security software that may restrict access to the Internet. Check the UPNP protocol within the router. More information on Universal Plug and Play: labratsonline.com/upnp.