Computer Spot dot Net

Cisco has launched a writing contest called Lifestyles of the Tech Frustrated, running now until August 16, 2009, that asks customers of home networking products to submit a 500 word story of their experiences in setting up and managing a home network.

Cisco is asking users to share their networking nightmare stories and how they solved their problems using Network Magic software or other networking solutions. The top 10 entries as deemed by a panel of judges will win a Flip Mino HD Camcorder valued at $229.99*.

Cisco is inviting entries to tell their stories that depict the challenges and advantages of home networking. Cisco wants to hear about what customers are using home networking for and what they accomplish in their lives through technology.

To enter the Contest, participants can log on to the Lifestyles of the Tech Frustrated home page and fill out the registration form, ensuring they have reviewed the official rules and checked the box indicating acceptance of the rules.

The contest is open from July 2 to August 16, 2009 to legal residents of the United States and the District of Columbia who are at least 18 years of age.

Cisco Network Magic is a home and home office network management software solution that provides software tools to help users set up a home network without the associated hassles of the task.

The software programme helps enable users to connect their connected devices such as routers, PCs, printers, media hubs, media adapters and internet cameras.

Users can also control access to the internet and track online activity to ensure no users are abusing their privileges.

Network Magic also protects networks with enhanced WPA security capabilities and status alerts to block intruders and warn of any attempts from unauthorised sources.

Network Magic can also help to repair network and Internet connections to keep everything running smoothly and optimize productivity.

Notes to editors:
* MSRP at time of going to press. Actual prices may vary.

About Cisco Systems:
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate.

Cisco’s vision for the consumer is to enable people to live a connected life that is more personal, more social, and more visual.

More information about Cisco and its line of consumer products can be found at www.linksysbycisco.com and www.cisco.com/consumer.

Press Contact
Karen Sohl
Cisco Consumer Business Group
131 Theory
Irvine, CA 92617
949 823-1578
ksohl@cisco.com
www.networkmagic.com

Laptop owners are facing a great challenge today in protecting their laptops and the data stored in the device.

One in 15 laptops are stolen or lost according to Gartner Group. A laptop theft costs the owner a far greater amount than the price of the hardware itself.

The threats are not only coming from the outside but also from the inside. HDD (Hard disk drive) failure is a common laptop problem.

When HDD is damaged or encounters errors, the data in the HDD may be lost permanently. Read the rest of this entry →

Computer error messages have an uncanny ability to annoy you and make you feel helpless at the same time.

The reason they are so annoying is that they may pop up when you are doing an important task.

They make you feel helpless because they use confusing error codes which they expect you to remember or decipher and are not helpful in communicating what has gone wrong.

The coders who devise these carelessly written error messages forget that ideally an error message must meet 3 important criteria:

1. A message should explain clearly “what the problem is”.

2. It should identify potential causes of the problem.

3. It should suggest possible solutions to the problem.

In order to deal with the computer errors on your own, you need to spend some time to understand a few common causes of error messages and how you can deal with them. Read the rest of this entry →