Open source or low-cost project management; Getting on the Internet with AOL and a WRT54G router

* Dr. Internet columnist Steve Blass offers advice on finding open source or low-cost project management and collaboration groupware tools * Help Desk columnist Ron Nutter offers advice on getting on the Internet with AOL and a WRT54G router

* Open source or low-cost project management

By Steve Blass,

Q: We’re looking for an open source or low-cost Web-based project management tool. The most important feature we need is a decent calendaring system that will work with users from distributed groups that don’t share an e-mail platform. We would like the kind of functionality Outlook provides for calendars and tasks in an Exchange environment, but without requiring that everyone use Outlook and Exchange.

A: There are several free and low-cost project management and collaboration groupware tools, ranging from full-featured project management portals to simple task trackers, or software tool kits that interchange information and data files between open formats and Microsoft Project.

To read Steve’s response in its entirety, please click here.

* Getting on the Internet with AOL and a WRT54G router

By Ron Nutter

Q: I am trying to connect to the Internet (AOL) using my laptop. My router is a Linksys WRT54G, the card I am using is a “Dell True Mobile.” My laptop is connected to the Linksys, says I have an excellent connection, but when I try to go on line using AOL, it does not find the connection. AOL is no help, Linksys is not either, the card and router are fine – I use the same card on another laptop that has Win XP on it – the one I’m having the problem has Win 2000.

A: Most of the time, AOL software installs and works as designed. When a problem like this pops up, it becomes a process of elimination.

To read Ron’s response in its entirety, please click here.