Keeping Computers in Sync
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 keeping multiple computers in sync, waiting for Microsoft Vista and installing multiple security programs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: I travel among three locations and I currently lug an eight-pound Dell laptop. I would like to change this to having "permanent" PCs (either Windows or Mac) at each of the three locations. What software can I use to keep them in sync?
A: I recommend a product called FolderShare (
www.foldershare.com), which is now owned by Microsoft, or a competing product called BeInSync (
www.beinsync.com). Both do the job, though they differ. FolderShare can synchronize selected folders among groups of computers, including mixed groups of Windows and Macintosh computers. For instance, all the files in your My Documents folder on a Dell can be synchronized with all the files in the My Documents folder on an HP, or with all the files in the Documents folder on a Mac. But it doesn't synchronize contacts and calendar items in Microsoft Outlook. BeInSync doesn't work with Macs, but it does synchronize Outlook items, in a limited fashion.
Q: I was considering buying a new PC now but was wondering if I need to wait until Microsoft Vista is released. I understand Vista only works on certain PCs. What is your advice?
A: My advice depends on your needs. PCs preloaded with Vista won't be available until January, 2007, and possibly later, if Vista's release date slips again. So if your current machine is essential in your life or work, and is on its last legs, or is seriously failing to meet your needs, you shouldn't wait. But if you can go another six to nine months with your PC, I'd suggest waiting until you can buy a machine with Vista preloaded.
It is certainly possible to get a computer now that can be upgraded to Vista. But with any major new Windows release, there can be surprises and quirks in the upgrade process. Preloaded factory machines can also exhibit problems with a brand-new operating system, but they are likely to be fewer than what an upgraded PC would experience. A factory-loaded Vista PC may also be cheaper, because you will very likely have to add more memory to a current PC in order to run Vista well.
Q: I have just installed a new security program that has both antivirus and firewall protection. To install it, I had to remove AdAware, Spybot and Microsoft Firewall. My question: Is one program enough, or should you install multiple programs to insure safety?
A: First of all, two of the programs you removed, AdAware and Spybot, perform a function your new software probably doesn't -- they detect and remove spyware and adware. Antivirus and firewall programs don't typically do this. So I would re-install them and use them.
However, I don't recommend using multiple antivirus or firewall programs, and neither does Microsoft or the major security-software vendors. Redundant programs can get in each other's way and cause conflicts and confusion. The result may be that some malicious software sneaks through or that some innocent files are blocked. So pick one antivirus package and one software firewall and stick with them.
* * *
Because of the volume of email I receive, I can't routinely answer individual questions by email, or consult on individual problems or purchasing decisions. I read all questions I receive and select three each week to answer in the column.
让多台电脑同步更新
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。
本周我将回答读者如何让联网的多台电脑保持同步更新等问题。
问：我经常抱著一个重达8磅的戴尔笔记本电脑往返于三个地方，现在我想在这三地各安装一台台式机（还没确定是用Windows还是Mac操作系统）。有什么软件能让这三台机器保持同步更新么？
答：我向你推荐两款软件：一款软件叫做FolderShare（可从
www.foldershare.com下载），这款软件的版权所有人是微软；另一款软件叫BeInSync（可从
www.beinsync.com下载）。两款软件都可实现同步更新，但在细微之处还有一定的差别。FolderShare可以对联网电脑中选定的文件夹进行同步更新，联网电脑既可采用Windows也可采用Mac操作系统。具体来说，戴尔台式机“我的文件夹”下面的所有文件可以与惠普台式机“我的文件夹”下面的所有文件以及采用Mac操作系统的苹果台式机“文件”目录下面的所有文件保持同步更新。不过，该软件对Microsoft Outlook里面的通讯录和日程表不起作用。而BeInSync与采用了Mac操作系统的苹果电脑不兼容，但它可以对Microsoft Outlook里面的某些功能进行同步更新。
问：我准备买一台新电脑，但是否应该等到微软推出了最新的Vista操作系统之后再出手呢？我知道，Vista只能在一部分电脑上运行，对此，你有何建议么？
答：我的建议是依据你的需要而定。预装Vista操作系统的个人电脑要到2007年1月才能上市，如果微软再次推迟发布Vista，那么预装该系统的电脑也要相应地推迟上市。如果在你的生活和工作中电脑必不可少，或者电脑的使用寿命已经所剩无几，或者已远远无法满足你的需求，那你就别再等了。但是，如果你可以再等6-9个月，那我建议你不妨等到预装Vista操作系统的个人电脑之后再出手。
到时候肯定也有办法把电脑原先的操作系统升级到最新的Vista。但从过往的经验来看，每次微软推出重要的Windows版本之后，在升级过程中总是有一些意外和奇怪的情况发生。出厂时预装了新操作系统的电脑使用中操作系统也会出现一些问题，但问题应该比在原有操作系统上进行升级的电脑少一些。购买一台预装Vista操作系统的电脑可能也划算一些，原因是为了让现有的电脑顺利运行Vista，你需要增加一些内存。
问：我安装了一个兼具防病毒和防火墙功能的新款安全软件。为了安装该软件，我卸载了AdAware, Spybot和微软的防火墙。我想知道：安装一个安全软件是否已经足够了？或者，为确保安全我需要安装多个安全软件？
答：首先，你卸载的两个程序AdAware和Spybot具备的一个功能或许是你最新安装的安全软件所没有的。它们可以发现并移除间谍软件和广告软件。防病毒和防火墙程序通常不具备这个功能。因此，我建议你重新安装并使用它们。
但是，我建议读者不要同时安装多款防病毒或防火墙程序，不论它们是由微软还是其他安全软件巨头出品的。不同的程序之间可能发生冲突，这样反倒可能给一些恶意软件以可乘之机，或者，还有可能造成一些没有危害的文件被屏蔽。因此，最好只选用一款防病毒套装软件和一个防火墙程序，别再安装其他的防病毒和防火墙软件了。
Walter S. Mossberg
