The Netgear GA311 boosts network speed tenfold compared Fast Ethernet. The Netgear Gigabit Ethernet adapter puts your local network on steroids, and only using a standard PCI connector. The Netgear GA311 Gigabit Ethernet adapter enables higher speeds and faster transfers over local networks, allowing videos to be played almost as though they were on the same computer.

Networking is the lifeblood of the everyday computer. 10 years ago an isolated computer was just the norm, but now modern computers rely heavily on networks, usually the Internet, for almost all aspects of computing.

For computers on a local network, where information is often stored on separate storage media like Network Attached Storage devices, the speed of the local network makes a big difference when it comes to watching videos over the network, or listening to music, or just about anything that moves a lot (or a little) data over the network.

Older computers typically utilized a Fast Ethernet adapter, meaning it could handle up to 100Mb/s of data transfer. This is still the standard, but faster is better, and the Netgear GA311 helps with that.

The Netgear Gigabit Ethernet adapter transfers data at up to 1000Mb/s, or around 1GB in 10 seconds. The Netgear GA311 is perfect for older computer that attach to faster networks. It does need to be combined with other components that also handle Gigabit speeds, so the routers and other components also need this.

For $25 this is an easy way to make a home network that much more seemless.

The WRT54G is well known for its linux based software. When hackers found that the core was just a slight variation on linux and could be reprogrammed to offer a whole array of functions, the days of the multi-functional wireless router began.

Besides being a router for up to four computers with a wired connection the wireless connection allows users to connect via their wireless cards.

The router can be setup to do DHCP, automatically assigning IP addresses to computers that connect to it. There is auto-negotiation of connection speed, depending on the capabilities of the computer connecting to it.

Most unnoticed, but probably the most important is wireless encryption and security. Make sure to set it up with the highest security possible using a shared key, otherwise it could be hijacked by someone in the neighborhood. And also change the admin password that allows you to access the router.

For the adventurous, go to DD-WRT and try out some of their options to spice up your router with some really cool functions.

VoIP has become popular because of its cheap prices, but the main limitation, according to the article is that people are not sure what its all about. And if a consumer is not sure, they’re likely to go elsewhere.

There are a few variations on VoIP.

There is computer to computer, where both parties need software like Yahoo! messenger with voice of Skype and they call each other using their usernames. This kind is completely free, and the quality is quite good.

The other option is computer to landline. This will usually cost and you will have to use a computer to phone them, the cost however is cheaper than a local call in the area you are phoning to.

Little gadgets like the phone pictured here make things easier. This one attaches to the computer and then you can use it around the house like a normal phone. Other options are standalone phones that perform the same function, but without the need for a computer to be on.

Go check out all the details at Tomshardware.

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