Just in case-I may need your help 6/22/08

Writing this blog is the last thing I want to do-but it looks like I don't have a choice.

Most of you know that I spend a lot of time on the road for my job-that's why my work computer is a laptop and not a desktop. I use this laptop as my only machine, both at home and on the road. Mark has a laptop that I use sometimes when I'm home, but it's built for super-graphics and is a bit slow, even with the Verizon wireless card he finally sprang for. Plus he's very leery about viruses etc, even though he has some good protection installed.

So-why I am telling you all this? Well, a couple weeks ago, I found out that our IT people were implementing new security to protect the network from threats from the outside. At the time I was afraid that Myspace would be blocked as a security threat with no redeeming value to employees (other than keeping me sane LOL).

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But at the last minute the update was suspended; I guess they decided to fine-tune it.

Well, the word is out that starting tomorrow June 22, access to much of the internet will be restricted. I've already noticed that some pop-up ads are blocked, I get many more Active X errors than previously, and I know that certain content is already blocked (for instance, I can't see Richard's cows on his background.) This weekend I have been subjected to many errors when trying to access Myspace; I couldn't see the sign-in boxes, lots of Active X errors, and sometimes the machine will just not let me get to the home page at all-I've had to trick it by going through Yahoo mail notifications, etc etc etc).

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So, what can YOU do about this? Well, since it seems that I will have to buy myself a very expensive birthday present this summer in the form of a new laptop, I need your help in choosing one. I need something pretty fast, and not too big but big enough, to access the Internet easily and quickly. The ability to download and edit pictures and video is also important, and maybe a word processing program, but that's it.

If anyone has any ideas, please get back to me here. I'm back in Allentown this week and I know the Holiday Inn has a communal machine, so if worst comes to worst and I am blocked on my work machine I'll be able to get into Myspace at the hotel.

I certainly hope that I will boot up tomorrow in the office (leaving for Allentown in the afternoon after AM meetings) and be able to get in here, but even if I'm safe for now, I fear that at some point I'll need to get my own private machine, so any suggestions are welcomed and encouraged.

Thanks, my friends!

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