Q:What is the difference between a hub and a router?
A: From jsr138...

A hub is for connecting networking components together, like two computers and a network print server, etc. A hub will have at least two ports, typically more. Hubs are not intelligent. When one device is sending data to the network, it [hub] sends the data to each and every other port on the hub. Thus, when computer A is transmitting to computer B, everyone else not only can see the transmission, but they must wait until the hub is clear before they can communicate. Hubs are not considered secure. And, as pointed out earlier, hubs cannot cross 'networks'. You can use any protocol you like on a hub.

A switch is like a hub, but it has two important differences. A switch learns which computer is on which port. So, when computer A is transmitting to computer B, the switch will only put the signal on the port for computer B. This is more secure than a hub. Also, while computer A is talking to computer B, computer C can also be talking to computer D at the same time. This allows for more throughput under the right circumstances. Note that while computer A is talking to computer B, if computer C also wants to talk to computer A, he still must wait for computer A to finish. Switches cannot cross 'networks' either. You can use any protocol you like on a switch.

A router is a networking device that allows traffic to pass from one network to another. 'Network' being defined here as a group of devices that share address space as defined by the protocol. You can think of a router as a sort of traffic cop at the opening of a tunnel that leads out of the city. When the traffic that is going by is headed for other destinations within the city (network), the traffic cop forces that traffic to stay within the city limits. When traffic comes along for some other city, the cop lets that traffic go out the tunnel. In this manner, data that is traveling on your LAN stays on your LAN, but data that is headed somewhere else (i.e., the Internet, or another office division) is allowed to exit the LAN for the other network. Routers typically employ some sort of network address translation (NAT) to make the outbound traffic compatible with the outside network. For a protocol to be able to go out a router, it must be 'routable', like TCP/IP. NetBEUI cannot be used to go out a router.

When most people around here say the word 'router', they are talking about a specific device known as a Cable/DSL router. A Cable/DSL router actually combines four different functions into one device. 1st, it is a true router in that it keeps LAN traffic on the LAN, but allows outbound traffic to travel to the WAN (wide area network). 2nd, it typically (but not necessarily) has a multi-port switch or hub to allow you to tie multiple computers to it. 3rd, it has a DHCP client built in to the WAN port, so that if your ISP offers dynamic IP addresses, the router will get that info from your ISP (your external address). 4th, it has a DHCP server built into it so that it can assign IP addresses and feed DNS and gateway info to your computers (your internal addresses). By combining these four functions into one device, it allows you to more easily establish an internal network and share your broadband cable or dsl Internet connection with all of your computers. Cable/DSL routers employ NAT so that it appears to your ISP (and the rest of the Internet) that you only have one device, and they create an effective (and configurable) firewall. Again, any protocol may be used on the internal ports, but only 'routable' protocols can go out to the WAN like TCP/IP.

One note: Most Cable/DSL router also includes some sort of firewall protection to block against port probing and such.

Q: Is there a way to "roll back" an install of DirectX? I don't want the latest version...
A: Try DirectBuster here. Not tested, so not guaranteed to work, but it should.

Q: What image processing program do you recommend, as Photoshop is too pricey for me?
A: For zero-budget, try GIMP, which is a GPL clone of Photoshop. It's completely free, but as with GPL software, there is no "support" for it.
For the budget minded, there are three choices, Photoshop Elements 2.0 by Adobe (as low as $60 after rebates), Paint Shop Pro by Jasc (as low as $60 after rebates), or PhotoImpact by Ulead (older versions as be as low as $10, latest about $70).

Q: What is sideband addressing?
A: If you are talking about AGP Sideband, it's basically using the "idle cycles" of AGP bus to transfer even MORE information. However, not all mainboards or video cards support the sideband option. It also seem to make some PCs less stable. Enable it at your own risk.

Q: How do I convert QuickTime movies (.MOV) to other formats?
A: Easiest way is with QuickTime 6 Pro. When you downloaded all the plug-ins, you get an "Export to AVI" option. For other methods, see vcdhelp.com, look under "convert".

Q: You said to watch my PC on a TV I need a scan converter or a TV-out port on my video card. However, my PC's "here" and my TV is "there". How can I get a signal over without running a very long video wire?
A: Try this product: http://www.x10.com/products/x10_vk53a.htm Which is a 2.4 GHz wireless link between sender and receiver station.

Q: I know there are VDI to VGA adapters. Are there VGA to VDI adapters?
A: Try here: Cables-n-More

More fuel to the fire: ATI's new product line, and NV35

Yes, I've seen the info on ATI's new product line... 9800's, 9600's, and 9200's. The truth is... They're really NOT that interesting. They are basically a pumped-up and tweaked versions of their respective cousins (9700's, 9500's, and 9100's respectively). The performance is definitely there... as pure bit-blasters with impressive anti-aliasing solutions, according to Tomshardware. Both Tomshardware and Anandtech liked it well enough, as this erases the slight lead GeForce FX enjoys over the 9700's and puts ATI back over the top.

NVIDIA's interim solution, NV31 (for your info, GeForce FX is NV30), and its lower speed cousin, the NV34 (NOT NV28 as previously posted), are not doing that well in initial benchmarks. So the question now is... what is NVIDIA doing, as there is virtually NO NV30's on the market?

What NVIDIA is doing is damage control. There are signs that NV30 video cards will NEVER reach retail. If you preordered, you'll get one, but no NV30 cards will reach retail shelves. Instead, NVIDIA will rush out NV31/34 based cards to retail as soon as the drivers are stablized and hardware optimized. A second team is feverishly working on the next generation product... NV35.

What does this mean for the consumer? Expect prices to drop on the entire GeForce 4 Ti-line as time wears on and announcements of the NV31/28 based products are made. GeForce 4 Ti 4200 64-meg can sometimes be had for under $100. Expect it to drop another $20 or so in 60 days. Cards higher up the foodchain would see even more price drops as soon as the NV31/34 products hit retail, and corresponding larger drops.

Similarily, the first-gen super Radeons (9700's, 9500's, and 9000's) will see price drops as well as the vendors switch to the newer faster model. The 9000's should see particularly big price drops as it will be dropped altogether, being supplanted by the 9100 / 9200 series (which is based on the OLDER Radeon core!) You can already find 9100's in stores for just under $100 (for 64 meg models). Expect that price to drop another $20 or so in the near future.

The NV31 and NV34 GPUs will be the basis of a full line of DX9 compliant video cards, along with NV30. Not even ATI can claim that as their entry card, the 9000/9100/9200 is based on the older Radeon core, and is thus only DX8.1 compliant.

So what are my recommendations?

If you have less than $100 to spend, your current choices are 64 meg cards, like GeForce 4 MX 440 / SE, or if you're lucky, a GeForce 4 Ti 4200 64 meg. You can also find Radeon 9100's (formerly known as 8500's) for just under $100 for the 64 meg model. The Ti 4200 and the Radeon 9100 are about neck to neck, with Ti4200 taking a slight lead in most races. Expect the 4xxx series prices to keep dropping, as the NV31/NV34 hit the market. The lowest priced version of NV34 is expected to be $99, which means all the Ti4200's will be BELOW that, and the GF4 MX 440 will be even CHEAPER than that...

For under $150, you should be able to find Ti4400's and Radeon 9500's soon for that price. Both are excellent cards. The mid-ranged GFFX card will also be in this range as well.

For under $200, you may be able to find a 9700 or TI4600 in the near future.

Times are good for upgrades... If you have the money.

Q: Can you suggest a free WAV to MP3 program?
A: That is called an "encoder", because MP3 is a "codec". Try Ostrich Encoder, based on the LAME codec. (Trust me, it's anything but.)

http://www.overclockers.com/tips1028/

Q: What is "thermal grease", what does it do, and do I need it?
A: Thermal grease is used to give better conduction between the item being cooled and the heatsink. Basically, nothing is completely flat, so even in a very smooth surface, conduction is limited to the area actually physically touching. Thermal grease can seem into those crevices and let those conduct as well, improving cooling efficiency.

Thermal grease is usually used by overclockers, who will apply a slight bit (about grain of rice) on the item applied. Then the heatsink is applied with pressure, spreading out the grease.

Do you need it? If your heatsink/fan is pre-attached, leave it alone. If you have a separate heatsink/fan, it may help, but not by much. At most you'll get 1 degree Fahrenheit difference. I doubt you'll get even a 2 degree difference.