Stories by: Scott Dunn

BeInSync does four particular tasks -- synchronising, sharing, providing remote data access, and backing up -- and it does them very well.

As its name implies, Syncplicity is a file-synching service that requires very little maintenance, or even any interaction, once you've set the program to do what you want.

Microsoft has sacrificed usability to provide a pretty interface in Microsoft Live Mesh -- a powerful but unnecessarily clumsy file-sync service.

Dropbox is a new file-synching service, still in beta testing, that has some welcome features despite its simplicity.

Desktop calendar applications are great if you're always at your desk or if you're diligent about syncing with your PDA or phone. But if you like to travel light, it may be time for you to switch to a calendar that you can access from any Internet terminal. Google's free Google Calendar is one of the most robust online calendars available. And I have the goods on how to get the most from Gcal's advanced features.

SP1 may not give your system much more oomph, but there are other ways to speed Vista up.

Whether your PC is truly ailing or has a classic case of hypochondria, we have 18 simple, free ways to ensure your Windows XP or Vista system is raring to go.

With a USB keychain drive and a little forethought, you can carry a personalized computer everywhere and leave your laptop at home.