(V) Value: In seventies aforementioned IBM 5100 would have set you back a staggering 20,000 dollars. Today a top of range IBM Thinkpad can be bought for around 3000 dollars. Cheaper Thinkpads can often be obtained for well under a thousand dollars, especially if you don't mind purchasing a used or refurbished model.

(P) Performance: Many laptops today come fitted with Centrino processors which offer superb performance and improved battery life. What is Centrino I hear you ask? Well this is Intel's name for their new notebook technology that combines their Pentium M processor, 855 chipset and Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 WiFi 802.11 network interface. Laptops fitted with these processors are usually lighter because of smaller components used.

Couple this attractive feature with wireless networking technology and you have a powerful technological package. Wi-Fi is short for "Wireless Fidelity" and it's usage is growing quickly amongst home users, office workers, even coffee shops. If you enter Wi-Fi areas with a properly equipped notebook, you can access Internet at broadband speeds.

* HELPFUL RESOURCES

As my primary (but not only) protection, I use "Spybot Search & Destroy (v1.3)" which is a very popular, very effective and FREE anti-spyware application (donations are 'welcome' says program's author). This tool is easy-to-use and can be configured to run silently on your system, preventing download of known spyware and other such malicious code via Internet Explorer.

As with all such tools, however, it's only effective when it is kept up-to-date! Use at your own risk and be sure to read carefully instructions for downloading and setting up application.

For more information, visit http://www.spybot.info/

A great informational resource can be found at http://www.majorgeeks.com/. This Web site is a forum for discussion, downloads, advice, and information related to all sorts of computer problems and technical issues, with an entire thread dedicated to topic of spyware. Simply use "Google" search utility on "Majorgeeks.com" home page (mid-way down left-side column) to search site for information you want. But be forewarned--much of this site is for technically inclined!

* PROTECT YOURSELF

There are countless other anti-spyware and anti-parasite tools available out there, some for free, some at a cost. Some are fairly automated, some a bit more hands-on. My advice, if you're not comfortable navigating spyware landscape yourself, is to contact a trusted technical resource and have him or her set-up protection on your computer and/or network.

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Copyright (c) 2004 by Matt McGovern--All rights reserved.