Synergy is one of the best open source utilities I have used in a long time. It allows you to share a single keyboard and mouse with multiple computer, including between Windows, Mac and Linux.

What you do is set it up and a “master” computer with the keyboard and mouse then set it up on your other computers. I set it up on my Tablet PC, I placed my Tablet PC with the screen swiveled around so it looked like the Tablet PC was just another screen. See the pic below.

What I really like is I can put the Tablet PC to sleep and it does not effect the master computer and when it wakes up I don’t even have to reconnect, it just works. Oh yeah, it allows copy, copy and paste between computers!

Tablet PC Spun Around

It sounds like an old country song, but getting an easy backup strategy on a home network can be difficult. I find the backup software that comes with Vista and Windows 2008 server junk. My home network consists of Windows desktops, Windows servers, OS X and one Linux box. This weekend I messed up my main Vista computer and found the backup strategy I was using was flawed. What I was using is Windows Backup and making an image of the computer to an external hard drive. My backup routine consisted of taking the external hard drive from computer to computer and making backup images when the feeling hits me. As all the data from all the computers is saved to the network drive (which is also backed up), computer images only need to be made periodically.

What happened is I used the same external hard drive to backup my Vista machines and my Windows 2008 Server. When I went to restore my Vista machine, the restore software only could see that I had backuped the Windows 2008 Server and would not pickup my Vista computer backup, even though it was still there on the hard disk. Unlike the backup software in Windows XP, the Vista/Windows 2008 Server backup will not backup to a network share, so I decided to find an alternative solution. BTW: Tried the backup in Microsoft OneCare as well (which I use for AV and other features) but it does not make computer images but does allow to backup to a network share. If Microsoft would combine the features of Windows Backup and backup in OneCare it would be actually pretty good for home users.

What I found was Acronis TrueImage 11 Home. It is $49 per computer and well worth it. Even if you only have one computer at home I would pay the money. The installation is painless. After I installed Acronis I quickly made a full system backup to a network share. When Acronis backs up you can set the size of the backup files, so I selected 4.7 GIG so I could then burn a copy of the backup from the network drive to DVDs. After you make a full system backup you can then schedule incremental backups of the image, plus you can set it to backup just Application Setting and/or just data a few times a week. Acronis also makes a boot disk so if you computer dies and you need to re-install you boot from the CD/DVD and then feed it the backup discs.

I recommend after a fresh OS install and installing any programs purchased that needs activation (MS Office for example), make a base backup image. This way when you restore you don’t have to worry about Vista or Office needing to be activated as it already is already in the backup.

Having various computer at home backing up systems is very important. So no data on the desktops so I can re-image them quickly if I need to, all systems backup to a central spot on the network and I and offload the backups to DVD when I need to.

In summary, after anti-virus software I would recommend a good backup software, and for me that is Acronis, it will save your data and many hours of frustration.

[I do not work for or know anyone at Acronis, they just make good stuff.]

When traveling in New Hampshire this summer I was pleasantly surprised at how many places offered free Wi-Fi. Even the KOA campground I stayed at had excellent reception to my campsite even though my mobile phone service was very poor (as it should be being in the middle of the White Mountains).

I know many people say leave your laptop and phone behind on vacation but it was more relaxing being able to check email before breakfast and before supper (yes only twice a day) and make sure things were running smoothly back home.

As I drove though New Hampshire I found all the outlet malls, the “bed and breakfast”s, small and large motels/hotels all had free wireless Internet. I hope Maine, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia tourist destinations follow suit. I bet it is because New Hampshire has a large influx of people of Massachusetts and free wireless Internet is a requirement.

Here are some pics of the Lost River in New Hampshire.