Letters for PC World, June 2006

Security: Wireless Nets

Regarding Becky Waring's article "Get More Out of Your Wireless Network" [April]: It was nice to see some mention of the encryption levels that the products can support, as security is becoming ever more important.

My home wireless network has WPA encryption. I chose an iPaq hx4700 Pocket PC unit mainly for that reason--it was then one of the few handheld models to support WPA security.

Reviews for any wireless product should include mention of the types of security it supports. This will help readers choose a secure and compatible product, and will show vendors that encryption levels are gaining consumers' attention (and perhaps it will push vendors to include more than just the weak WEP).

Alan Barrington-Hughes, Tega Cay, South Carolina

Security: Laptops

April's Answer Line ["Stop Would-Be Notebook Thieves in Their Tracks"] suggests putting your laptop between your legs for security--but this should not be an option unless you keep the machine visible. One of my coworkers had his laptop stolen when he put it underneath a table between his legs. He was wearing heavy winter boots and didn't feel a thing.

Kathryn J. Rosen, New Hope, Minnesota

I was pleased that the column mentions tracking software for laptop recovery, specifically Computrace from Absolute Software.

Our son's laptop and those of his two roommates were stolen from their University of Maryland dorm room late last year. Our son's notebook was recovered a few weeks later, thanks to this program. Unfortunately, his two roommates were not so lucky, as their portables lacked Any tracking application.

Janet Maalouf, via e-mail

Protect Your Domain Name

The article "Find a Good Home for Your Home Page" [Consumer Watch, April] left out one important point: You should always register your site's domain name yourself. Do not rely on the Web hosting company to register it for you, even if it offers to do so for free.

I received a domain name for my personal Web site as a bonus for signing up with my hosting company. I was very pleased with both my site's availability and the quality of technical support. However, the company failed to renew my domain name in a timely manner, and the name was snatched up by a third party that demanded $1888 to return it. While admitting its error, my hosting company would not meet this demand--so I had a Web site without a domain name, rendering it inaccessible.

J. Trent Corbett, Chesterfield, Virginia

Warranty Law Is Limited

The article "Lemon-Law Rights for PC Owners" [On Your Side, April] states, "the federal Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act says that a company that doesn't provide successful warranty repair for any product must provide a new replacement or a full refund." However, only the provider of a full warranty must provide a lemon-law-style replacement or refund. Virtually all warranties for consumer goods are limited and do not include replacement.

Still, the recommendation to maintain careful records reflecting all problems and interactions with the vendor is sound advice for any warranty-related dispute.

Jeffrey M. Yeatman, Baltimore

Spam Story's Irony

Thanks for your article in the April issue about the changing face of spam ["Spam Mutates," News and Trends]. Besides giving a lot of useful information, you also provided my laugh for the day. The irony of a public relations executive decrying the obtrusiveness and ubiquity of advertising was not lost on me.

Brian Mark, via e-mail

Blu-ray vs. HD DVD

April's Gadget Freak column ["High-Def Discs Battle for Your Bucks"] includes the claim [from a Toshiba spokesperson] that "HD DVD players will be cheaper [than Blu-ray ones], and so will the discs." Although that claim is often repeated, its basis seems to be that replicators can use their existing molds for the 0.6mm-thick HD DVD half discs, while Blu-ray requires a 1.1mm-thick substrate with a 0.1mm cover layer. However, this distinction will become insignificant with high-volume production. (CD and DVD require different molds, yet prices are becoming comparable.)

Jerry Hartke, President, Media Sciences, Inc.

A Tip for Small Businesses

In April's Letters, Skip Schwarz writes about "QuickBooks' Hidden Cost": the expense of the payroll module.

Like him, I was put off by this cost (I'm a one-person company). I discovered Medlin Accounting, which supplies payroll computation and other accounting modules. You have to transfer Medlin's computations into QuickBooks, but at a per-annum cost of $45, it's worth it to me--it's a savings of over $150 per year.

Gregory Andracke, New York

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PCWorld Staff

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