Final Words

First off, I want to say I learned a lot of in IT 101 – X. I came into the class with a good background working on computers, I was amazed at how much I learned in a 101 class. The one thing I believe that we learned that we can’t be tested on is making a program. There are so many little intricacies involved with programming that it will be hard to be tested on something with programming for the 2 hour allotted time. If we had more time, then maybe it would be more reasonable. We also have it is a final project to do and having programming on two “finals” would be a lot to be tested on one subject. The biggest thing I got from taking the IT 101 class is that technology is always evolving. There are sweet toys out there that can be bought and make your life easier, more specifically a PocketPc. Also, the programs we used really helped evolved my knowledge of computers. I think the more diverse your program usability is, the more marketable you are for a job.

My most memorable moment in IT was making the webpage. I had always known a little about making webpage’s, but IT really broadened my capabilities with websites. I really liked learning to use Text Pad and it’s disappointing that other IT classes do not use it as well. I feel got was pretty darn good at making sites because many of my friends asked for help with their sites. Being able to make webpage’s will help in the future as I like to be active with clubs. I can offer help with making simple sites and trying new things. I can not wait to take my second level IT class next semester.

Cis Presents: Privacy and copyright

This was the first of the CIS presents I went to. Let me first say, it was quite hard to pay attention, the guy who lead it was very boring to listen to. I really did not learn much during this CIS presents. He talked about internet piracy, but it was all the same stuff we've been here for years. That it is bad to use limewire, etc and it hurts the industry. He also said that pretty much everything written on the internet is copywrited in someway or another.

CIS Presents: Microsoft

This CIS presents was very interesting. One for the fact that it introduced Microsoft Vista and two for the fact that the guy told me I am something I never thought I was, a technologist. That's basically someone who uses a bunch of sweet tech toys, o how I looovee my toys. Anyway, the best part about Microsoft is their introduction for Windows Vista. I actually was able to obtain a Beta version of Vista over the summer. I played around with it, but did not realize all the cool features of it. When I first had it, I just loved the new design, it was graphically cool and smooth. But the new features of thumbnails of things such as PowerPoint's and Word were just too cool. In the past if I didn't name a file very good so I wouldn't remember it, I would have to open up like 5 different documents. Now I can view them easily without opening them, just like with pictures. Anyway, I also thought it was really cool because for our Website project my Technology video was on Vista. Can't wait for it to come out and hopefully our lappy's (laptops) for Junior year will have vista on them!

Linux

http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2860180,00.html

This is not about a company using Linux, but a local company. The City of Largo, in Peninsula, Florida has chosen to go with Linux rather than Windows or Apple. The biggest reason, money. The system administrator in Largo realized that is hard and very expensive to keep up with modern technology. It now solely runs thin clients with a Linux base, it saves the city approximately $1 million a year. The system administrator made a very smart move by moving to Linux. It seems from the article that the City is very pleased with the thin clients and that there are no big problems with running Linux. With the Linux, the employees are able to access Office, Netscape, etc. They are pretty much able to do what a regular computer can do, but at a much lower costs. This not only benefits the local government, but also the people of the city. Lower costs for the government mean lower costs for the people. It will be interesting in the future if more and more companies go towards using Linux.

Using Google Documents

Excel Screenshot
Originally uploaded by jaredjwestfall.

I believe Google docs is a pretty sick program. First off it is great in the fact that it works almost exactly as Excel and contains almost all the functions of excel. I loved being able to chat wit Steve and us be able to work on the assignment at the same time. We were able to split up the work evenly and check each other's work instantaneously.

The Google docs is very similar to excel in the way you can format the cells and also the formula functions.

The biggest difference I feel between Google docs and Excel is that google is free. The only downside is there a few functions that excel can do that Google docs doesn't, such as graphing. Another difference that makes Google docs more appealing is the fact that it is able to be manipulated by different people at the same time and be viewed. Also the chatting feature is very nice.

This would be great to use in a Business situation if someone is off site. They will be able to chat and show there spreadsheet live to any executives of a company. They can also show what one change of a number can do, that way many reports are not needed to print, there can be many scenarios shown.

LAN - Local Area Network

Today I went to learn how to set-up a wireless network. I went there not knowing what I was going to do. But quickly learned that I was going to be setting this network. I was quite excited to be doing this, as I had set-up one wireless network before, but had lots of trouble setting it up. One thing I wish would have happened is that I didn't have to use a linksys router. The network I had set-up before was a linksys router. It would have been nice to get familiar with another brand name. Some things I learned that I did not know before was how to hide the SSID. This will come in handy when I try to convince my parents to let me set-up a wireless network at home. They are worried someone is going to hack in. I also learned that it is possible to limit only specific mac addresses to be able to connect to a certain network. This workshop really reinforced my desire to minor in CIS, as I really enjoyed what we did. One last thing I learned that I had no clue what it was before was the different channels. It especially good to know that most routers are default set-up on channel 6. You can use net stumbler to see the least used channel. I would highly recommend this workshop to anyone if they do it again.

Peace Jared

orb streaming

orb streaming
Originally uploaded by jaredjwestfall.

This is Orb streaming my music

PPC Software

The PPC is a great thing to have as you can put many different kinds of software on it. One software program that was shown to me in class is Orb. Orb is great if you don't want to put music on your PPC. What it does is loads all your multimedia onto the web and you can stream it from your PPC. I use it mainly to listen to music when walking around campus, especially when my I-Pod is dead. There really is not a bad thing about the program, except it runs a little slow at times and you need to have a Wi-Fi connection and the host computer has to be on to use it. Other than that it's a very useful program, especially if you do not have a memory chip for your PPC. I would highly suggest it to anyone that owns a PPC.

Andy and I went war driving together. We went war driving in Waltham and found an office building that had free wireless. The SSID of the network was room 124 and there was no WEP involved with the network. This was an office and it was probably free because they do not know how to set up a WEP key. I know a lot of homes don’t have a WEP key simply because they do not know how to set one up, and this is probably the same situation. The instructions on the routers usually do tell you how to set up a WEP key, but people simply do not read instructions these days, leaving their network vulnerable. Now that I know how to find free WIFI, I can pretty much get it anywhere, if people have it. It is useful if you need to check your e-mail really quick, check something online, or if you don’t have your cell phone, use skype to call someone.

Net Neutrality

Net neutrality seems to be a hot topic these days with consumers and large companies. Huge companies such as Corning, Tyco and Motrolola are pressing the issue of net neutrality with the government. The net neutrality would make it illegal for a internet provider from “blocking or interfering with the date they (the consumer) send and receive.” Most large companies are for this, but companies such as Amazon.com and Google feel the FCC needs more authority over the internet. The whole idea of the net neutrality is to create a “consumer bill of rights.”
I think this is a very interesting article about net neutrality. I feel it is more bias toward net neutrality, it did not make it seem as a bad thing at all. It helped me better understand what net neutrality is. I really liked how it is being called a “consumer bill of rights.” Why would a company block legal information in the first place? This is America and we should have freedom to all information.

Article located at:

http://news.com.com/Tech+manufacturers+rally+against+Net+neutrality/2100-1028_3-6117241.html?tag=nl

Spyware/Protecting my PC

The program I posted screens for was with Spybot Search and Destroy. I actually use two spyware detectors, I also use Lavasoft's Adware. Both programs have very friendly user interfaces, anyone with a little amount of computer knowledge could run them. Both usually find different things so it's good to have multiple spyware programs.

As with keeping my computer safe and protected. I try to run the spyware checks at least once a week, usually they are run when I am extremely bored. Also, I never visit suspicious sites, as a lot of sites these days contain tons of spyware. I really don't do anything else special to be a "careful computer." I feel as long as I don't download anything that I know I don't need than I should be fine.

found spyware

found spyware
Originally uploaded by jaredjwestfall.

This is what the screen looks like when spyware is found, you can x out boxes if you know it's stuff you do not want to delete. The interface for getting rid of spyware is very easy.

update

update
Originally uploaded by jaredjwestfall.

This is what the update screen looks like, it's essential to update before each scan in case there is new spyware, when I tried to update this time there were no new updates.

My PPC

First off, I love having the pocket pc. Before college I was never the most organized person, but know with the pocket pc in pocket I can write down any homework/meetings/important stuff that is needed. The first thing I did with it was add my schedule to the calender, the reason is because I could never remember the rooms of my classes.

I really have not messed around with it too much, I have been too busy to sit down and try and find cool programs/see what's up with it. I really enjoy learning about the sweet programs and options in class. I think the pocket pc is 100X better than having a textbook for this class.

I can't wait to find out there sweet things to do with it.

I'm out

Longer Intro

My name is Jared Westfall, from Buffalo, New York (as stated before). I just moved there this summer from Rochester, New York. I live there with my mom Mona, step-dad Jeff, and sister Danielle.

My interests include football, computers, laCrosse, skiing and movies. Here at Bentley I plan on majoring in Accounting and a possible minor in Marketing and/or Computer Science. I also live in the tree dorms, Elm to be exact.

If there's anything else you want to know, just ask.

Intro

I am Jared Westfall from Buffalo, New York.