Stories by Scott Spanbauer

How to set up a cross-platform network

One great reason to network your business PCs is to share printers. Printers that connect directly to the network via ethernet constitute one of the most brilliant innovations ever. Simply plug a printer in and turn it on, and soon it is available to...

Get started with virtual machines

It's great to have multiple computers. On the first of them, you can install a database or crunch spreadsheets. On another, you can simply browse the Web, listen to music, and check your e-mail. Yet another can have a supercharged configuration for p...

Move your business from Windows to Linux

Windows Vista debuted to muffled applause, followed by lackluster sales. Up until June 30, cash-strapped businesses looking to avoid the cost of upgrading to new Vista-compatible hardware could still purchase trusty Windows XP. Now, however, Windows ...

Social-networking sites: the complete guide

Whether you're looking for a job, a party or long-lost friends, your ideal online meeting place is out there. We uncover the best social-networking sites on the web.

14 Classic Tech Rivalries

The greatest rivalries are fascinating to observe -- and they invite everyone to choose sides and argue the merits of their favorite.

The top 10 social networking annoyances

The same question people used to ask about PCs can be asked of social networks: Were our lives easier or harder, better or worse, simpler or more complex, before they came around? The answer is yes. For some folks, social networking sites such as Fac...

Linux replacements for your favorite Windows apps

For many users, getting started with Linux is surprisingly easy. New, friendlier versions of the free operating system, such as Fedora and Ubuntu, feature straightforward menus and automated installations that make switching from Windows to Linux a r...

Give Your Facebook Page a Much-Needed Lift

Transform your network to enhance your personal and professional life

Hands On: Microsoft Office Live Workspace

Microsoft is synonymous with the ubiquitous Windows operating system. But its Microsoft Office productivity suite pulls in more revenue than any version of Windows. Competition from Web-hosted productivity applications like Google Docs, and Zoho Offi...

The Right Social Network for You

Whether you're looking for a job, a party, or long-lost friends, your ideal online meeting place is out there. We'll help you find it.

Top 10 April Fools' Day joke Web sites

What is it about April Fools' Day jokes that we love so much? Perhaps it's that, in the midst of the crushing influx of information that many of us cope with daily, a well-constructed prank provides a welcome break. For a moment, we smile, even when ...

Secrets to Running Multiple Operating Systems

Why limit yourself to one operating system when you can have two (or three) on the same PC (or Mac)?

Flock 0.9.0.1 for Windows

Addicted to the Brave New Web's feeds, streams, tags, pics and flicks? For a simple, consolidated window to the interactive Web, try the free Flock browser, which comes preconfigured for creating and consuming RSS feeds, shared photos, and other Web ...