| Tools To Best Use the Internet
English | Español
Updated: 17 August 2004
INMA is well aware of how many employees at companies, including newspapers, operate when it
comes to computers, software, browsers, and other tools. They are often reliant on information
technology departments or other specialists to make sure their tools are functional and up-to-date.
Below, we hope to take some of the mystery out of your Internet experience. We want to empower you
to know where the constantly evolving "cutting edge" is. You don't need the latest software to operate
online, yet if you have a version of certain software that is too old, you can't expect to enjoy the
same benefits as your peers.
Check with your information technology (IT) experts first, but there are several web-based models
that will check your computer and provide you a layman's operating report. One such web site is
PitStop, which can be accessed by clicking here. Follow the instructions,
conduct the test, and print out the results for the experts that look after your work computer. The
results may surprise you (and the IT expert).
The cost of computers is going down and the speed of computers is going up. To give you a flavour
of costs in 2004, here are some online retailers that offer what we consider the minimum requirements
for an office computer are: Intel Pentium 4 chip, 2.5 GHz, 80 GB hard drive, 512 MB of RAM, with DVD/CD
and a 17-inch screen, with a price range of US$1,000 to US$1,500 depending on other gadgets you may choose to incorporate.
Don't let "experts" tell you that you can do with less -- to work seamlessly online today
and be prepared for the coming applications, this is what we recommend. You don't want a computer that will be obsolete soon.
The vast majority of computer operating systems run on Windows. Windows XP is the latest version, yet
many companies have chosen to stay with Windows 2000 for a variety of technical and licensing reasons.
Anything prior to Windows 2000 is unable to interact with the new software.
Click here to scan your
computer for the latest Windows updates and patches.
If you are with a company that requires a dial-up connection to the Internet from your primary work
station, then your company is far behind the technology curve. At minimum, broadband access can be had
through DSL or cable television modems, which have constant connections to the Internet at speeds in
the 250MB-500MB (megabits per second) range. Most major companies have a constant T1 connectivity (1,200MB-1,500MB).
Be aware, though, that there are speeds becoming popular beyond T1 connectivity --
T3 and satellite, to be specific. To test your computer's connection speed to the Internet,
click here.
The latest web browsers are:
The latest e-mail software are:
More and more executives are using what teenagers have known about for several years: Using multiple e-mail accounts can be your friend when you travel, to cut down on spam, and have specific communications go to specific accounts. For example, a significant number of subscribers to The Newspaper Industry E-Newsletter choose to have the weekly e-newsletter go to one of their "backup" e-mail accounts because they display HTML e-mails in a more readable fashion. Here are the major systems:
- Hotmail -- We strongly recommend this for its user-friendliness and ability to block out messages.
-
Yahoo! -- Similar high recommendation for user-friendliness especially.
Some companies are banning the use of instant messaging on work computers, with the argument being that it siphons away productivity. We believe it depends on the individual and thus recommend the following:
Once you have signed up for these free instant messaging services, they are good about alerting you
when there are updates (which are quick and painless).
Unfortunately, the various messenger systems don't work well together, so the decision to instant
message may depend with whom you plan to interact on a regular basis.
So, why would INMA put together a page like this? The core reason is that INMA has become the market leader
in digital learning and digital networking within the newspaper industry. We find that the overwhelming
hindrance to this new digital future is that many companies, especially newspapers, are woefully behind
the times in terms of something as simple as the computer on an executive's desk, connectivity speed,
and up-to-date web and e-mail software.
We don't expect you to download everything outlined above. But a little knowledge about one's own
operating system -- and not having to rely on experts to tell you what you need --
can go a long way to empowering you in this new digital universe. The information above
represents excellent benchmarks for you and your system.
|
