by Tina Gasperson
The key to finding the information you need on the Internet is knowing how to use search engines effectively. There are ways to format your search in order to bring the most relevant results quickly.
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April 2, 2009
How to Tailor Your Search Queries for Better Results
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April 1, 2009
Two OS X Apps Every Mac User Needs
by Dee-Ann LeBlanc
There’s two programs that once Mac users have them, they just can’t live without them. These programs are 1Password and Quicksilver. In both cases, these apps make your computing life a whole lot easier. In the case of 1Password it also makes you safer.
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How to Use Speech-to-Text Software
by David Hakala
Q: I think I have trained my Dell Vostro/Vista to recognise my voice, but how do I actually put it into practice? I will shortly be having to type a quite lengthy report and it would be really useful to merely speak to my laptop since my typing speed is bit tortoise-like! – Nigel
Speech-to-text, or speech recognition, is a feature built into the Vista operating system. Like all the many components of a general-purpose operating system, Vista’s speech recognition is not the best of its breed. Third-party speech recognition software such as Nuance’s Dragon NaturallySpeaking are more reliable than Vista’s built-in stuff. For a “quite lengthy report” and regular use, I would highly recommend investing in top-quality speech recognition software.
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How to Turn Windows Automatic Updates Off or On in XP
by Tina Gasperson
It seems that almost every day there are new bugs and viruses being uncovered and apprehended. Microsoft issues security updates and fixes almost as frequently. Windows can automatically download and install these updates in the background if you prefer, or you can set the computer to check with you first before downloading or installing anything. You can also “roll back” any updates that cause problems with your system.
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March 31, 2009
How Can I Safely Start Using a Previously Owned PC?
by Gabe Goldberg
Whoever advised against looking a gift horse in the mouth (to avoid discovering cavities or the need for braces, I suppose) surely didn’t mean you shouldn’t look inside a “new” used computer you receive.
In fact, setting up a used computer generally takes more effort and precautions than unboxing and plugging in shiny new equipment. But it’s not overwhelming, and the savings — whether the used PC came as a family hand-me-down, was purchased, or was received from a refurbisher such as a computer user group — can make it worthwhile.
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How to Disable Outlook 2007 Synchronizing Folders
by David Hakala
Q: I use Windows Outlook 2007 on my Vista Ultimate machine. Can you tell me how to turn off the “synchronizing folders” option in Outlook 2007? Whenever this runs, it really hogs the resources, and I don’t know that this needs to be done as frequently as it is being done. Thanks! – Bill
“Synchronizing folders” simply means that Outlook 2007 is sending and receiving email and RSS messages, updating Internet-based calendars, and other tasks that require communication with other computers on the Internet. Many users complain that Outlook 2007 takes far too long and uses far too many resources for this task. But synchronization is not an “option,” it’s an essential feature. You can’t turn it off permanently or you won’t have any email, RSS feeds, etc. You might as well uninstall Outlook, a solution quite a few people choose in favor of Mozilla Thunderbird or another email client, including an earlier version of Outlook.
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How to Make Your Laptop Last as Long as Possible
by Tina Gasperson
If you’re fortunate enough to have a laptop computer, you know it’s an expensive piece of equipment. Laptop computers are just as powerful as desktop systems, but come in a specially engineered portable package so you can take your data with you wherever you go. Because they’re easy to carry, laptops are also more susceptible to damage – and they’re more difficult and expensive to fix if something goes wrong. Here are some tips for keeping your portable laptop computer working well past its warranty expiration.
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March 30, 2009
How Can I Protect My Home But Avoid Paying a Steep Monthly Security Fee?
by Gabe Goldberg
Though “crime-ridden cities” is a cliche, the sad fact is that no area is 100 percent safe. And besides crime, fire, water, and power outages can strike anywhere, causing immense damage and expense. So no matter where you live, it’s worth thinking about home security. And on a more positive note, some insurance companies give discounts for using alarm systems.
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Should I Upgrade to IE8?
by David Hakala
Q: Should I upgrade to IE8? – “Grampa”
Such a commendably uncluttered question deserves an equally elegant answer:
Definitely not yet, and maybe never.
Internet Explorer 8 was released on March 19, 2009. Millions of users downloaded and installed it. Many of those users have complained bitterly of a variety of problems, and switched back to earlier versions of IE or an alternative browser such as Mozilla Firefox. By March 22, 2.59 percent of Web browsers were using IE8. The very next day, IE8’s market share plummeted to 1.86 per cent. As Eddie Murphy once said, “That’s a hint and a half for your a__!”
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Change Your Default Mail Client in OS X
by Dee-Ann LeBlanc
There’s nothing wrong with using the default email program in OS X: Apple Mail. However, sometimes you want to use something different, like Thunderbird or Entourage.
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March 29, 2009
How Can I Safely Give Away or Donate a PC?
by Gabe Goldberg
Nothing lasts forever, including — or especially — computers. And with prices as low as they are, it’s sometimes tempting to replace them for improvements in reliability, speed, and disk capacity (especially if you’re into activities such as serious gaming or photo/video editing). But if a computer works and isn’t too old, it can probably serve someone else quite well for several more years.
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