Those #$%^&%$# Pop-ups

Q. What is SystemSoap and why does it bombard me with pop-up ads? Their pop-up ads claim that their software can clean up my system and stop the pop-ups.

A. More annoying than political ads, pop-ups can drive you crazy. I use two different web browsers: Internet Explorer ("IE" - comes with Windows) and Firefox.

Firefox automatically block pop-ups. IE needs some help. With Internet Explorer, I use the Google Toolbar. It's a free download that makes it easy to search using Google... and it stops pop-ups dead in their tracks.

To remove spyware, install one or more programs that detect and remove spyware. I use two products which are free, and are supported by free updates:
- AdAware; there are more expensive, more powerful products available at that website
- Spybot

Word of the Day: nonpareil

nonpareil \non-puh-REL
adjective:
Having no equal; peerless.

noun:
1. Something of unequaled excellence; a peerless thing or person.
2. A flat disk of chocolate covered with beads of colored sugar.

Wait a minute! By this definition, isn't ALL chocolate "nonpareil" ?

Does USB 2.0 Need New Cables?

Q. My computer has USB 2.0 ports. I have several "older" USB cables. Can I use those older cables?

A. Yes. No. Maybe.
Nowadays we have the older USB 1.1 and the newer USB 2.0
- USB 1.1 allows data transfer at 12 megabits per second
- USB 2.0 allows data transfer at 480 megabits per second
- yes, that's a 40:1 ratio
- a mix of 1.1 and 2.0 components in a system will limit data transfer speeds to the slower 12 megabits per second.

However, some cables marked "USB 1.1" might allow the faster transfer rate... or not.

You can't hurt anything by mixing USB 1.1 and 2.0 components, so it won't hurt to try using those cables. If you're happy with the speed you get using 1.1 cables, then use them. As an unapologetic tinkerer, I would get 1 top-notch USB 2.0 cable, and set up a test in which I move very large files between a USB 2.0 device and the built-in USB 2.0 port on the computer, using the 2.0 cable and then the "old" cable.