Tiplet expert tips & tech support

March 31, 2009

How Can I Safely Start Using a Previously Owned PC?

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

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.
(more…)

How to Disable Outlook 2007 Synchronizing Folders

Filed under: computer performance,e-mail,Vista — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 1:00 pm

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.
(more…)

How to Make Your Laptop Last as Long as Possible

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

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.
(more…)

March 30, 2009

How Can I Protect My Home But Avoid Paying a Steep Monthly Security Fee?

Filed under: home electronics,privacy & security — Tags: , — admin @ 5:00 pm

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.
(more…)

Should I Upgrade to IE8?

Filed under: Internet — Tags: , , , — admin @ 1:00 pm

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__!”
(more…)

Change Your Default Mail Client in OS X

Filed under: e-mail,Macintosh — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 8:00 am

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.
(more…)

March 29, 2009

How Can I Safely Give Away or Donate a PC?

Filed under: computer hardware,privacy & security,Windows — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 5:00 pm

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.
(more…)

Deleting Persistent Hidden Internet Files or Cookies

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

by David Hakala

Q: “Is it possible to delete persistent Internet files (hidden files) from Windows and if so how can I do this without much cost?” — Ahmed

I am going to assume that Ahmed is referring to persistent cookies. Other types of files hidden by Windows are hidden for a reason: Deleting them can play havoc with your computer. But cookies can be deleted safely, easily, and with no cost at all. Cookies are “hidden” only in the sense that they are buried in obscure subfolders and named cryptically.
(more…)

Ordering Prints with Apple’s iPhoto

Filed under: Macintosh,photos and video — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 8:00 am

by Nathaniel Poor

Apple’s iPhoto is pretty great for organizing your digital photos, but how does it perform when you ask it to handle the creation of some actual photographs – you remember, as in, on paper? Having iPhoto transfer photos from your iPhone or digital camera to your computer is a no-brainer, and it turns out that ordering actual photos through iPhoto is pretty easy as well, and the results are great and should last longer than your hard drive. You can always print photos on your color printer, but color-matching is often a problem, and unless you have special paper the images fade over time. iPhoto allows you to easily order actual photographic prints through Kodak’s Print Service.
(more…)

March 28, 2009

How Can I Make Sure Only Certain People See My Twitter and Facebook Information?

Filed under: Internet,privacy & security,social networking — Tags: , , , — admin @ 5:00 pm

by Tina Gasperson

Social networking is fun, but you have to be careful about monitoring your privacy in online communities and behaving accordingly. Otherwise the whole world might see you with the cyber-equivalent of a lampshade on your head at the company Christmas party. Either watch what you type, or make sure your privacy settings are set to prevent anyone you don’t want nosing in your personal business from doing so.
(more…)

How to Minimize Spam and Avoid Falling Victim to It

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

by David Hakala

Spam is “unsolicited commercial email” by most people’s definitions. There is debate over whether non-commercial unsolicited mail should be called spam, but it’s of concern mainly to the nonprofits and political organizations who don’t want to be tarred with the “spam” brush. Unrequested mail from anyone who wants your money or time is spam.

Spam is a huge problem on the Internet. Long ago, spam email passed the 50 percent mark as the largest category of traffic on email servers. Spam imposes heavy costs on ISPs as well as end users. How can you protect yourself from spam and avoid contributing to its traffic congestion?
(more…)

Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress