Mixing Macs and PCs On Wireless Networks
February 9, 2006; Page B4
There's no other major item most of us own that is as confusing, unpredictable and unreliable as our personal computers. Everybody has questions about them, and we aim to help.
Here are a few questions about computers I've received recently from people like you, and my answers. I have edited and restated the questions a bit, for readability. This week my mailbox contained questions about mixing Macs and Windows computers on the same wireless network, setting up video-conferencing and switching email addresses.
If you have a question, send it to me at
mossberg@wsj.com, and I may select it to be answered here in Mossberg's Mailbox.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: We have two Windows PCs on a wireless network controlled by a Netgear router. We are thinking of buying an Apple Mac laptop. Can the Mac connect to this wireless PC network?
A: Yes, you can easily mix Macs and Windows computers on the same wireless network, even if the router isn't made by Apple, and even if the router maker says it doesn't "support" Macs -- which merely means the maker won't help you connect them. Apple uses the same Wi-Fi wireless standard the Windows guys do, so it can recognize and connect to any standard wireless router, right alongside your Windows machines. In fact, connections are generally easier to establish on the Mac, which had Wi-Fi before Windows computers did.
You can also do this in reverse. You can add a Windows PC to a mostly Mac wireless network being run off an Apple router. I have done it both ways. In my home, I have a mixture of Windows and Mac computers running on a Belkin wireless router. In my office, I have an Apple router that is mainly used with Windows machines that visitors bring in. No special knowledge, special equipment, or special software is required for such mixed networks.
Q: I want to be able to see and hear my grandchildren on my computer. What equipment do I need to accomplish this?
A: Assuming both you and your grandchildren have Windows computers, you would need to buy and install Web cameras on each. I recommend Logitech cameras, which are decent and inexpensive. Then, you would have to join an instant-messaging service that has video, like AOL, Yahoo or MSN. Then, you just initiate a video session with the grandchildren, and you're in business. (If you have trouble doing any of this, the grandchildren can probably set it up for you on their next visit.)
Another interesting video-conferencing service for Windows users is Paltalk, at paltalk.com. Skype, at skype.com, also now has a video-conferencing service, for Windows users. If you and your grandchildren have the latest Macintosh desktop computers, both the cameras and the video service are built in, and the video experience is vastly better than with AOL or Yahoo or MSN.
Q: I want to quit AOL, where I've been for years, but I need an easy way to move over my address book, forward my email for awhile, and notify everyone of my new address. Does such a thing exist?
A: Yes. To notify everyone of your new address, move over your address book, and generally to help with the switch, try a service called TrueSwitch, at trueswitch.com. It costs $20, unless you're switching to MSN, AT&T or SBC/Yahoo, in which case it is free. TrueSwitch will even copy your saved emails, Web bookmarks and calendar entries. I have tested it, and it works, though only with Windows computers.
接入Mac和Windows电脑的无线网络
在我们大多数人拥有的大件电器中，再没有什么比个人电脑更令人费解、更变幻莫测的了。每个人或许都有些关于电脑的问题，而《莫博士信箱》将为您提供帮助。
本周我将回答读者有关Mac电脑和Windows电脑能否使用同一个无线网络、如何进行视频聊天以及改换电子邮箱的问题。
问：我们有一个由Netgear路由器控制的无线网络，里面连接了两台Windows电脑。我们正考虑购买一台苹果电脑公司(Apple Computer Inc.)生产的Mac笔记本电脑。我们能将它连入这个无线网络中吗？
答：可以。将Mac电脑和Windows电脑连入同一个无线网络中非常容易，即使其中的路由器不是由苹果生产的，甚至这个路由器的生产商称它不“支持”Mac也没有问题，因为这只是表明生产厂商不会帮你进行网络的连接。苹果使用的Wi-Fi无线标准与Windows使用的相同，因此它能够识别、并且连入任一标准的无线路由器上，就像你的Windows电脑一样。实际上，在Mac电脑上建立无线连接往往更加容易，因为它比Windows电脑更早地使用了Wi-Fi。
反过来也一样。你可以把一台Windows电脑接入一个由苹果的路由器控制、网络中多为Mac电脑的无线网络中。上述两种情况我都经历过。我家里无线网络使用的是Belkin无线路由器，网络中既有Windows电脑也有Mac电脑；而我办公室网络使用的是一个苹果的路由器，接入网络的多为Windows电脑。对于这种两类电脑混用的无线网络，不需要什么特殊的知识、特殊的设备或者是特殊的软件。
问：我希望能通过电脑看见我的孙子孙女，听到他们说话。我需要为此安装什么样的设备呢？
答：如果你和你的孙子孙女使用的都是Windows电脑，就需要在你们双方的电脑上都安装摄像头。我推荐Logitech的摄像头，美观而且不贵。然后，还需要使用一个有视频功能的即时通信服务，如美国在线(America Online (AOL))、雅虎(Yahoo)或MSN。这样你们只要开启一个视频聊天窗口，就可以看见对方并听到对方的声音了。（如果你觉得这些操作很难，你可以让孙子孙女们在来看望你的时候帮你进行设置。）
Windows用户还可以使用另外一个有趣的视频聊天服务：Paltalk，在paltalk.com上可以找到。skype.com上的Skype现在也为Windows用户提供视频聊天服务。如果你和孙子孙女们使用的是最新的Macintosh台式电脑，那些摄像头和视频服务都是内置的，视频效果要比AOL、雅虎和MSN好得多。
问：我使用AOL已经好几年了，现在想退出。我需要转移我的通讯录、并在一段时间内将邮件转发到新的邮箱中、同时通知每个人我的新邮箱地址。有没有一种简单的方法能让我完成这些工作？
答：有。你可以试试trueswitch.com上提供的一种名为TrueSwitch的服务，它可以帮助你通知每个人你的新邮箱、转移你的通讯录、以及其他与换邮箱有关的工作。它的收费是20美元。但如果你转而使用的是MSN、AT&T、或雅虎的邮箱，就无需交费。TrueSwitch甚至还可以复制你保存下来的邮件、网页书签和工作日志。我测试过这项服务，虽然只适用于Windows电脑，但效果不错。
