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When you have your own domain, one of the things that you inevitably need to deal with is managing the files on it. At some point you are going to need to upload, download, rename, or delete something. Unfortunately, the web based tools (such as cpanel) provided by web hosts are generally clunky and annoying to use. Fortunately, there is a better way and that way is FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

One way to use FTP is to install an FTP client, but an easier way is to just use Windows Explorer.  Start by opening Windows Explorer (you can use Window key + E as a shortcut).  In the address bar, type “ftp://[your domain logon ID]@[your domain name]” and hit enter.  For example, if my domain logon id was “user”, I would type “ftp://user@17of26.com”.  Note that if you just type “ftp://[your domain name]” then you will wind up in the publicly accessible FTP directory on your domain, which is generally not what you want.

Using FTP with Windows Explorer in Vista

After hitting enter, you will be prompted for your password.  Type in your password and hit enter or click the “Log On” button.

Log On Dialog Box

Once you’ve logged in successfully, you’ll be able to access the files on your domain the same way as you would files on your local hard drive:

Much Better – Using Windows Explorer to Manage Files on Your Domain

The Fisher-Price Kid Tough Portable DVD Player is a great concept – an easy to operate portable DVD player designed to handle being dropped. Sounds like a perfect way for young kids to watch their favorite DVDs.

My family has two of these, one of each color, and our kids love them (my two year old refers to hers as “my pink TV”). The DVD players look and feel sturdy and the buttons are all large and easy to press. At two and four years old, my kids can easily hold the players in their laps and they have no problems operating the controls. My four year old can open the player and swap the DVD out for another one without a hitch.

There’s just one problem – neither one of them work any more. Both units were manufactured in September of 2008. The blue one was put into use just after that, and the pink one started getting use back in the spring. Both players have been treated very well, the kids tend to sit in one place with them and about the only physical action the players have seen is the opening of the lid to swap DVDs. I’m not even sure that either one has ever been dropped. The volume control on the blue player won’t work at all (and of course, it’s stuck on off) and the pink player just flat out doesn’t work at all. Very disappointing considering what they were designed for and how expensive they were.

I need to call Fisher-Price and find out if they can do anything for me, but the product has been discontinued so I may be out of luck.