Ok, so not really an attack, per se, bt more a clarification.
If what you want is steady, reliable computing
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Searching MY Blog...Whadya GOT here, anyway?
You can search my blog for articles on stuff you may be seeking...did you know that? See the seach blog window towards the upper left of the Window? no, NOT THERE! Scroll to the very top of the posts and look at the left...YEAH....THERE!
Just type in the things that interest you relating to computers and see if I've written anything about it. Given enough time, I'll have one or more articles on ALL subjects relating to Mac's and PC's. After your search, just articles with the keywords you've typed in should appear.
Want to see ALL the posts again? Just search again with the window empty and it'll bring 'em all back. Just like magic.
Just type in the things that interest you relating to computers and see if I've written anything about it. Given enough time, I'll have one or more articles on ALL subjects relating to Mac's and PC's. After your search, just articles with the keywords you've typed in should appear.
Want to see ALL the posts again? Just search again with the window empty and it'll bring 'em all back. Just like magic.
Why Blog?
Friday, August 22, 2008
Fancy a Lap Dance?
I often get asked what my favorite laptop is. What? Nobody ever asks you?
Lenovo has been getting the nod for several years now. Never heard of 'em? Where have you been? Lenovo was once upon a time IBM's laptop, before they sold the division to the company that has always made them. IBM is STILL who answers the phone when you call for service. Like just about ALL service centers the person saying 'IBM' may say it with an accent, but hey..so what?
Lenovo is the choice of PC Magazine's readers, too (right after Apple's notebook line). Lenovo consistently scores high for reliability, technical support and low incidence of repairs, when weighted against other PC type laptops.
What do I look for in a Laptop? Way at the top is low weight. I ACTUALLY carry mine from place to place. So, there goes the gorgeous 17" screen, in favor of a very acceptable 14" one. I'd rather squint then lug, and those big screens are outrageously heavy...not to mention more susceptible to damage. Size DOES matter and small is better/lighter.
Additionally I look for long battery life. I have often selected a battery upgrade at purchase, taking a 9 cell or better. And RAM? Only a chump buys less than 2 gigebytes anymore...3 would be 'mo' bedda'. The size of your hard drive depends on your needs. Storing lots of music, photos and/or programs? Then go 160 GB or bigger. And yes, buying a 7,200 RPM hard disk WILL make things run faster.
Want to save money? Save it on software. You can get open source office suite software for free that will read and write Microsoft Office formatted files. Checkout www.openoffice.org. There is no substitute for Microsoft's OUTLOOK if you want a great e-mail handler, scheduler, calendar program. I buy it separate and save several hundred.
Hey, listen...if you don't agree with my picks or have favorites of your own then leave me a comment.
.
Lenovo has been getting the nod for several years now. Never heard of 'em? Where have you been? Lenovo was once upon a time IBM's laptop, before they sold the division to the company that has always made them. IBM is STILL who answers the phone when you call for service. Like just about ALL service centers the person saying 'IBM' may say it with an accent, but hey..so what?
Lenovo is the choice of PC Magazine's readers, too (right after Apple's notebook line). Lenovo consistently scores high for reliability, technical support and low incidence of repairs, when weighted against other PC type laptops.
What do I look for in a Laptop? Way at the top is low weight. I ACTUALLY carry mine from place to place. So, there goes the gorgeous 17" screen, in favor of a very acceptable 14" one. I'd rather squint then lug, and those big screens are outrageously heavy...not to mention more susceptible to damage. Size DOES matter and small is better/lighter.
Additionally I look for long battery life. I have often selected a battery upgrade at purchase, taking a 9 cell or better. And RAM? Only a chump buys less than 2 gigebytes anymore...3 would be 'mo' bedda'. The size of your hard drive depends on your needs. Storing lots of music, photos and/or programs? Then go 160 GB or bigger. And yes, buying a 7,200 RPM hard disk WILL make things run faster.
Want to save money? Save it on software. You can get open source office suite software for free that will read and write Microsoft Office formatted files. Checkout www.openoffice.org. There is no substitute for Microsoft's OUTLOOK if you want a great e-mail handler, scheduler, calendar program. I buy it separate and save several hundred.
Hey, listen...if you don't agree with my picks or have favorites of your own then leave me a comment.
.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
...Get the Picture?
Staying with the theme of getting pictures from a digital camera ON to your Computer, and then organizing and editing the images...Picasa comes to mind.
Picasa is a free program (from the people who bring you Google). It downloads on to your computer and facilitates the picture handling process. There are some EXCELLENT online videos that walk you thru the process and I'll post them really soon.
There are MANY ways to handle pictures, but Picasa is pretty cool. Additionally, if you have a google/gmail account (also free) Google gives you space to store pictures online and share them with friends and family. How cool is THAT?
Want a short course on how to use PICASA? Just play the video below. For those of us with weak eyesight there is a small box to the right of the speaker icon at the lower right of the Video window that will let you 'blow it up' to full size. Enjoy!
Picasa is a free program (from the people who bring you Google). It downloads on to your computer and facilitates the picture handling process. There are some EXCELLENT online videos that walk you thru the process and I'll post them really soon.
There are MANY ways to handle pictures, but Picasa is pretty cool. Additionally, if you have a google/gmail account (also free) Google gives you space to store pictures online and share them with friends and family. How cool is THAT?
Want a short course on how to use PICASA? Just play the video below. For those of us with weak eyesight there is a small box to the right of the speaker icon at the lower right of the Video window that will let you 'blow it up' to full size. Enjoy!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Morning at the Oasis - Digital Cams
I think I've mentioned before how the Oasis Center, Macy's Bldg. 4th Floor, Downtown PDX, is a great resource for folks over 50 who wish to hone computer skills. For very little bread you can take a class, or just float in and use the 9 Windows XP or 9 Windows Vista computers available in the lab. Pretty neat.
But what ALSO seems to be pretty neat is the number of ladies and gents who line up to learn how to use digital cameras with their PC's. This is perhaps the most popular class I've offered there and it just gets better each time we offer it.
Folks have these cameras but little to NO idea how to take pictures (or even know that they can take movies, too, with the same camera); and once they DO take one, how to edit it and attach it to an email of make a slide show of photos.
Call me, or Oasis (503) 241-3059 and ask how you can get on the list for this fun class.
But what ALSO seems to be pretty neat is the number of ladies and gents who line up to learn how to use digital cameras with their PC's. This is perhaps the most popular class I've offered there and it just gets better each time we offer it.
Folks have these cameras but little to NO idea how to take pictures (or even know that they can take movies, too, with the same camera); and once they DO take one, how to edit it and attach it to an email of make a slide show of photos.
Call me, or Oasis (503) 241-3059 and ask how you can get on the list for this fun class.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Feeling a little Green around the....?
So these days it seems folks are upgrading to newer computer gear and the question becomes "That do I do with my 'old' one (your old one being that machine you bought 5 short years ago!).
Well, there are going to be fewer and fewer choices soon, as Portland shifts it's recycling attention to deal with the mountains of old computer gear building up at landfills.
Thank god for FREE GEEKS, and others like them that handle hi tech waste and reduce it to its lowest common denominator, or better yet, recondition it and find it a new home. The Free Geeks folks (1731 SE 10th Ave, Portland, OR) ask only a small donation and that you drop your equipment of during normal working hours, M-Sat.
You MAY wish to remove certain components you could be using with your NEW computer, such as hard drive, CD/DVD drive and the like...but either way, isn't it nice to know your old gear will be handled in an environmentally sensitive manner? We think it is.
So...need help removing components to save? What? You thought we were going to pass up a chance to pitch our services? Call US and ask for a free estimate for decommissioning your old machine. After all, at the very least you don't want those pictures of the kids out there for some new user of your old stuff to be gawking at...I mean, I know they're cute, but.....
Well, there are going to be fewer and fewer choices soon, as Portland shifts it's recycling attention to deal with the mountains of old computer gear building up at landfills.
Thank god for FREE GEEKS, and others like them that handle hi tech waste and reduce it to its lowest common denominator, or better yet, recondition it and find it a new home. The Free Geeks folks (1731 SE 10th Ave, Portland, OR) ask only a small donation and that you drop your equipment of during normal working hours, M-Sat.
You MAY wish to remove certain components you could be using with your NEW computer, such as hard drive, CD/DVD drive and the like...but either way, isn't it nice to know your old gear will be handled in an environmentally sensitive manner? We think it is.
So...need help removing components to save? What? You thought we were going to pass up a chance to pitch our services? Call US and ask for a free estimate for decommissioning your old machine. After all, at the very least you don't want those pictures of the kids out there for some new user of your old stuff to be gawking at...I mean, I know they're cute, but.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)