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Previous Columns by Barb Bowman

Barb Bowman

Expert Zone columnist Barb Bowman has been a teacher of Philosophy 101, worked in ski area design in Aspen, Colorado, and served as a production director for U.S. and U.K. wallpaper sample photography. In 1990, she partnered with a French DOS shareware writer and entered the brave new world of online services. Over the next several years, as a consultant for Prodigy Services, Barb wrote user documentation and conducted testing for Prodigy's first Windows applications. She was part of the Internet product development team for MediaOne and later AT&T Broadband, and is currently a product development manager for Comcast High Speed Internet. Barb relaxes by shooting naturescapes with her digital camera and playing guitar and piano. She lives in New Hampshire with her Sony robot Aibo dog named Toto.

•My Connected Home: An Ecosystem of Certified, Smart, Vista-Compatible Hardware

Columnist Barb Bowman showcases devices from the large number of Microsoft Partners that are designed to work with Windows Vista.
(October 4, 2007)

•Windows Media Center

Columnist Barb Bowman previews the new navigation and enhanced features of the Windows Media Center in Windows Vista Ultimate.
(June 6, 2006)

•Windows Vista Home Networking

Columnist Barb Bowman previews the new networking features and helpful wizards in Windows Vista that make setting up a network easier than ever before.
(July 31, 2006)

•Windows Media Center

Columnist Barb Bowman previews the new navigation and enhanced features of the Windows Media Center in Windows Vista Ultimate.
(June 6, 2006)

•Digital Imaging in Windows Vista Photo Gallery

Columnist Barb Bowman explains how easy it is to use Windows Vista Photo Gallery to import, edit, and share your digital images.
(June 6, 2006)

•Previewing the Windows Vista interface and user experience

Barb Bowman has been beta testing Windows Vista and shares a preview of what's new and visually exciting in the upcoming operating system.
(January 31, 2006)

•Previewing future technology at CES 2006

Barb Bowman visited CES 2006 in Las Vegas and highlights new product announcements and explains what was on display.
(January 31, 2006)

•Optimizing Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, Xbox 360, and Media Center Extender Networks

Columnist Barb Bowman explains how to enjoy digital and gaming entertainment throughout your home by setting up a wireless Media Center Extender network.
(November 22, 2005)

•Upgrading a Laptop to Dual Boot with Windows XP x64 Edition

Barb Bowman has found a perfect mobile computing environment after upgrading a new Acer Ferrari 4000 AMD Turion 64 notebook to dual boot Windows XP x64 Edition.
(November 7, 2005)

•Implement WPA2-Personal wireless security on a Windows XP SP2-based computer

Columnist Barb Bowman introduces you to WPA2 and explains how to implement WPA2-Personal wireless security on your Windows XP SP2–based computers.
(August 29, 2005)

•Set up a secure wireless network using Windows Connect Now

Columnist Barb Bowman explains how to use Windows Connect Now to set up a secure wireless network without worrying about complicated network configuration issues.
(June 13, 2005)

•Photo editing with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

Columnist Barb Bowman explains how to use the built-in photo-editing tools in Media Center to make your photos look great on a big screen.
(June 6, 2005)

•Expert Support Zone Webcast: How to set up WPA-based wireless security on a home network

In this Support WebCast, MVP Barb Bowman explains how to help secure a wireless network using the latest wireless security standards. The session explains how to set up WPA-based wireless security and how to use other techniques to help keep a wireless network as secure as you can.
(April 21, 2005)

•How to Secure Your Wireless Home Network with Windows XP

Columnist Barb Bowman explains how to set up WPA-based wireless security and use other techniques to help keep a wireless network as secure as possible
(February 14, 2005)

•Optimizing Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 and Media Center Extender Networks

Columnist Barb Bowman explains how to enjoy digital entertainment throughout your home by setting up a wireless Media Center Extender network.
(November 18, 2004)

•How to secure your wireless home network with Windows XP

(October 12, 2004)

•Introduction to Windows XP Service Pack 2

Expert Zone Columnist Barb Bowman explains how to get and install Windows XP Service Pack 2, describes some of the new features, and tells you where to ask questions if you have them.
(August 2004)

•Segmenting and securing networks with Microsoft wireless base stations

Columnist Barb Bowman covers how to segment a network using a Microsoft MN-500 802.11b router with the newer MN-700 that supports 802.11g and WPA.
(January 26, 2004)

•Raising the speed limit with 80211g wireless networking and Windows XP

Columnist Barb Bowman sets up a high-speed wireless network and streams recorded TV shows over it.
(October 13, 2003)

•WPA wireless security for home networks

Follow Barb's step-by-step guide to implementing WPA to keep your home wireless network secure.
(July 28, 2003)

•Wireless networking made simple

Columnist Barb Bowman shows how the Setup Wizard in the Microsoft Wireless Broadband Networking products takes the pain out of creating a wireless network from scratch.
(December 16, 2002)

•Windows XP Media Center Edition

Home entertainment hub and powerful computing all on one PC. Columnist Barb Bowman tries out a Media Center PC, powered by Windows XP Media Center Edition.
(October 29, 2002)

•Wireless choices: Networking technologies and Windows XP

Tips on which version of the wireless 802.11 standard to choose for a small network from Barb, the Expert Zone wireless expert.
(September 3, 2002)

•802.11a Wireless networking with Windows XP

Barb compares the 802.11a and 802.11b wireless standards. She's saving time and increasing her productivity as the result of the faster 802.11a technology.
(July 29, 2002)

•Cordless desktop: Using a wireless mouse and keyboard with Windows XP

Move to a cordless desktop. Plug and Play support in Windows XP means you can easily free your desktop from cable clutter.
(July 8, 2002)

•Online safety: Internet content and kids with Windows XP

Rules of the road for safely browsing the Internet from Expert Zone Columnist Barb Bowman. Tips on blocking SPAM, guarding your Social Security number, and more.
(June 3, 2002)

•Adding a wireless Internet camera

Expert Zone Columnist Barb Bowman adds a home automation component to her network and anticipates adding more interconnected devices in the future, including a Mira-enabled one to control the output of her wireless camera.
(April 22, 2002)

•Making the wireless home network connection in Windows XP without a router

Expert Zone Columnist Barb Bowman shows how to wirelessly network a second or third computer without the expense of a wireless router or a router and a stand-alone wireless access point.
(April 8, 2002)

•Publishing Web site content with Windows XP

Expert Zone Columnist Barb Bowman shows how to build a personal Web site and upload it to a Web server using FTP or the Web Publishing Wizard in Windows XP.
(March 18, 2002)

•On the road again: Internet access away from home with a Windows XP-based laptop

Expert Zone Columnist Barb Bowman discusses how to use Windows XP tools for wireless, Ethernet, and dial-up connectivity to maintain Internet access while traveling.
(March 4, 2002)

•On the road: Windows XP and wireless hot spots

Barb Bowman travels with her laptop. Find out what critical peripherals she always packs and her tips for locating Internet access.
(February 11, 2002)

•Windows Messenger Alerts

Expert Zone Columnist Barb Bowman shows how Windows Messenger is so much more than just another instant messaging application.
(January 28, 2002)

•Using Windows Messenger voice and video

Expert Zone Columnist Barb Bowman demos UPnP developmental firmware that makes Windows Messenger voice and video work behind a residential home gateway.
(January 7, 2002)

•Don't let the defense rest: Securing home networks with Windows XP

If your computer connects directly to the Internet, you need firewall protection. Expert Zone Columnist Barb Bowman explains how to enable Internet Connection Firewall.
(November 12, 2001)

•Finding help in the Windows XP newsgroups: The best things in life are free

Find help fast in newsgroup threads after reading how Expert Zone Columnist Barb Bowman sets up Outlook Express as a news reader.
(October 15, 2001)

•Have I got connections! Using Pocket PC ActiveSync and Windows XP

Expert Zone Columnist Barb Bowman explains how to install ActiveSync 3.5 and configure wireless networking for her Pocket PC.
(September 24, 2001)

•The family connection: Building a Windows XP-based home network

Expert Zone Columnist Barb Bowman proves that setting up Internet Connection Sharing on a home network is a better solution than a second phone line.
(September 10, 2001)

•The ultimate warp speed upgrade: Installing Windows XP

Upgrading a computer to Windows XP in record time, Expert Zone Columnist Barb Bowman finds that everything just works.
(August 20, 2001)

•Application sharing in Windows Messenger for Windows XP: My 2000 mile wide conference room

Expert Zone Columnist Barb Bowman demonstrates the power of application sharing when working as an online team.
(August 06, 2001)

•How to use Windows Messenger in Windows XP: I'm retiring my telephone

Associate Expert Barb Bowman explains how getting started with your first Windows Messenger audio/video session is as easy as double clicking the contact name and clicking the Start camera button.
(July 09, 2001)

•Internet Explorer 6: It's all in there

Barb tries out Internet Explorer 6.0, the newest version of the browser, in Windows XP.
(June 25, 2001)

•Unplugged and unwired: Wireless networking with Windows XP

Barb discusses the evolution of wireless networking technology since she started using it in 1999. She describes how easy it is to get started with wireless networking in Windows XP.
(June 11, 2001)

•Windows XP wireless networking: Addicted to the wonders of 802.11b

Windows XP Professional supports the leading broadband wireless technology, known as 802.11b. Read how Barb used this networking technology to connect neighbors in her condo complex.
(May 18, 2001)