Tiplet expert tips & tech support

May 1, 2009

Commercial Antivirus Software Versus Freeware

Filed under: privacy & security — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 1:00 pm

by David Hakala

Q: Norton wants me to renew my subscription for another year at $55. Can I pass it up and rely on free antivirus software? — Becky

Yes. Next question, please.

OK, long reassuring answer: yes, if you are a typical user who is not being specifically targeted by Russian Mafia hackers or a crazy ex-spouse. You’re safe enough with a $30 deadbolt lock on your front door, right? You’re not Britney Spears; you don’t need eight bodyguards and a $20,000 home alarm system. Likewise, you don’t need to pay anyone for perfectly adequate antivirus protection.
(more…)

April 30, 2009

How Much RAM Memory Do I Really Need And What Kind?

Filed under: computer memory,computer performance — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 5:00 pm

by David Hakala

When you buy a new computer the sales person will undoubtedly try to upsell you a RAM upgrade. It may seem that a whole gigabyte or two or RAM is plenty, but you could be in for surprises. Modern software is complex and uses lots of RAM. Software developers pitch their wares’ minimum RAM requirements to make them look lean and efficient, but in truth the software often needs much more RAM to run optimally. Having plenty of RAM means that software is not swapped out to disk as often, saving wear and tear on your hard drives. More RAM is usually a good investment. But how much RAM do you really need, and what kind of RAM should you buy?
(more…)

Which Firefox and Thunderbird Extensions Should I Install?

Filed under: Internet — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 2:00 pm

by Gabe Goldberg

One reason the Firefox Web browser and Thunderbird email software applications are so popular is the facility for users to enhance and tailor their behavior to satisfy individual needs and preferences. But their many hundred add-ons can be a bit intimidating, leaving people wondering what areas to consider tweaking and which add-ons to install.
(more…)

File Extension pps

Filed under: file extensions — Tags: , , , — admin @ 11:00 am

Extension: pps

What is it? PowerPoint Slideshow

Where’s it from? Microsoft PowerPoint graphics presentation program. Many entertaining (?) PowerPoint files are passed around via email.

How do I use it? Windows: Microsoft Office; Windows (free): OpenOffice; Web-based: Zoho

Can I safely delete or move it? Yes.

Can it be dangerous? Yes. Use antivirus software, especially on email attachments.

–David Hakala

How to Clean and Care for Your LCD Monitor

Filed under: computer hardware — Tags: , , , — admin @ 8:00 am

by Tina Gasperson

The old-fashioned cathode ray tube (CRT) computer monitors were easy to take care of. A damp cloth or even a squirt or two of window cleaner and you were back in business. If there was something really stubborn on the screen, you could take the scratchy side of a sponge and scrub it off. Now, you probably have an LCD monitor. If you’ve ever touched the screen, you know it’s a bit like a layer of jelly under a flexible plastic cover. Not something that lends itself well to window cleaner and fingernails. It still gets dirty, though, so what’s the best way to clean your monitor without damaging it?
(more…)

April 29, 2009

What Is a Netbook and What is It Good For?

Filed under: computer hardware,computer performance — Tags: , — admin @ 5:00 pm

by David Hakala

A netbook is a physically small portable computer that relies on wireless Internet connectivity to access Web-based services that provide much of the functionality found in more powerful desktop machines. Netbooks typically run Windows XP or some flavor of the Linux operating system rather than the more resource-hungry Vista. Netbooks are significantly cheaper than desktop or notebook computers. But are they worth buying at all?
(more…)

How Can I Diagnose and Fix Weird Browser Problems?

Filed under: Internet — Tags: , , — admin @ 2:00 pm

by Gabe Goldberg

All too often, just when you think your computer, your ISP, and your favorite Web sites are all behaving themselves — Zap! — you’re plagued by strange and alarming messages which don’t offer clues about what’s wrong, let alone tell what you might do to fix the problem.
(more…)

File Extension dat

Filed under: file extensions — Tags: , , , — admin @ 11:00 am

Extension: dat

What is it? Data File

Where’s it from? Many programs create dat files. The location of a dat file may give you a clue as to which program created it. A dat file in a subfolder under a program’s folder was probably created by that program. INDEX.DAT is a special file created by Windows. It contains data on the Web sites you visit and the email you send. If you want to look at what Windows is tracking in the INDEX.DAT file, and possibly delete such files, try the free Index.dat Suite utility.

How do I use it? Let the program that created the dat file use it.

Can I safely delete or move it? Doing so may confuse the creating program, but won’t damage your computer.

Can it be dangerous? Not by itself, but a dat file may be used by malicious software.

–David Hakala

How to Rip and Burn Music CDs

Filed under: digital media — Tags: , , , — admin @ 8:00 am

by Tina Gasperson

When it comes to handling your digital music collection, things can start to sound a bit violent, what with all the ripping and burning going on. Many people know what burning a CD means, but what is “ripping” and how do you do it?
(more…)

April 28, 2009

What Do I Need to Know About Buying A Smartphone?

Filed under: communication,mobile computing — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 5:00 pm

by David Hakala

A smartphone is a cell phone with many of a computer’s features. A smartphone can store and run applications such as a calendar, contact manager, games, Web browsers and email clients, even a stripped-down version of Microsoft Office if you have the Windows Mobile operating system. Here are some things you should know when shopping for a smartphone.
(more…)

Making an Offsite Backup Using Time Machine

Filed under: computer hardware,data storage and recovery,Macintosh — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 2:00 pm

by James Turner

Let’s face it, bad things happen. Houses burn down. Rivers overflow into basements. Viruses wipe your hard drive. In any case, losing your data can be a painful, costly, time consuming nightmare. Luckily, if you own a Mac, there’s a fairly inexpensive way to get your data out of your house before something bad erases it from the face of the earth.
(more…)

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress