Medfield's own, Computer Mom, Julie Marto, shares some of her Tech Tips...
The following found in her recent newsletter. www.thecomputermom.com
Wow, summer more than halfway over! Here's to a few more weeks of picnics and beach days and beating the heat!
Find out what's happening in Medfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
I'm often asked what antivirus to buy, so my first article reflects my current recommendations about antivirus software. Next, a brief overview of mesh WiFi networks - an upgrade many of you should consider, especially if you have a good sized home. And finally, with back to
school season almost here, some ideas to save you money on your next tech purchase.
Find out what's happening in Medfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Stay cool, and enjoy the rest of the summer!
Julie Marto
Back to School Bargains
As my regular readers will know, I'm an inveterate bargain hunter. If you need to buy your student some new tech for school, but are looking to save a few bucks, here are my favorite places to shop online for tech bargains. Oh, and don't forget to search the web for additional coupon
savings, and to make your purchase with a credit card that will double the manufacturer's warranty!
Apple sells certified refurbished products at their online outlet
Dell has an online outlet that I purchase from extensively. I prefer their business products, but I also shop at the home outlet. All products are sold with the same warranty as new.
And let's not forget HP, which has a business outlet stocked with quality products as well.
If you missed the tax holiday in Massachusetts, you can always order tech tax free from BH Photo & Video
And, if you are willing to dig deep into the inventory, Amazon Warehouse Deals has great prices on returned and gently used technology.
Mesh WiFi
With the advent of home digital assistants and smart devices, and the popularity of streaming TV content via Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, there's been an increase in the demands placed on home WiFi in the last few years. People need their wireless networks to provide a fast, strong, and reliable signal to all corners of their house. The industry has responded by creating the Mesh WiFi Network.
Basically, a Mesh WiFi network consists of multiple access points that can be placed strategically throughout your house, creating a seamless internal"cloud" of coverage. You move from device to device within the house, but you don't notice any change - as far as you're concerned, it's all the same network. This is in contrast to the standard single router setup, which sends out a signal that gets weaker as you get further from the router. It's also far superior to a setup with WiFi range extenders, which can be unreliable, require you to sign into a different device in a
different part of the house, and decrease network speed by 50%.
The main players in mesh networking are Google WiFi, Eero, and Netgear Orbi. These systems are typically set up and controlled through an app on your phone or tablet, and offer lots of great features, such as the ability to add additional satellites if needed, guest network access,
and parental controls which can let you turn the internet on and off for individual devices. The
biggest obstacle to installing a mesh WiFi system is the expense - they cost between $250 and $400 for a 2-3 satellite setup.
I've installed multiple mesh systems in the last year or so, and have to save everybody who has bought one has been very happy with the results. If you'd like to upgrade your home wireless system.
