JAB Computer

 Right-Clicking Your Desktop (XP)

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:02:00 +0000

Ever wonder what happens when you right-click your desktop (or your background image)? If you are afraid of the unknown, then you probably haven't used the right mouse-button too often. But doing so can bring pleasant discoveries. Below is a guide to right-clicking on the desktop.

Note: When I write 'clicking', I mean for you to use the left mouse button. Otherwise, I will tell you when you need to specifically right-click.

The Main Drop-Down Menu

With your desktop in front of you, right-click (not left-click) anywhere on your background image. A drop-down menu like the one below should appear:

Note that depending on the circumstances and the computer, other options may be available in the drop-down menu, such as extra or fewer video options or things like "Undo Delete." Note that the below information will apply to the standard options that are the most likely to appear in the drop-down menu.

Arrange Icons By- hovering your cursor (mouse pointer) over the first name on the list, Arrange Icons By, a sub-menu will appear with sub-categories on the side, as shown below:

Name, Size, Type, Modified- These are the different ways you can arrange your desktop icons or shortcuts. They are by name, size (of the shortcut file, in bytes), type (of program, such as all Microsoft Word documents), and modified (time when changed). Note that you can check all of these for a very strict order of your icons or none of these for a custom arrangement. Most people have none of these checked and arrange their icons wherever they want across their background.

Show in Groups, Auto Arrange, Align to Grid- This is the second group of categories in the 'Arrange Icons By' heading that deals with the structure of the icons on the desktop. Show in groups allows you to group the icons in the above methods (name, size, type, and modified). Auto Arrange alligns the icons in columns on the left side of the screen, and Allign to Grid snaps the icons into place, keeping all the icons alligned with each other in a military-like fashion.

Show Desktop Icons- When this is checked, your icons are visible. If it is unchecked, the icons disappear (don't worry, you can get them back!)

Lock Web Items on Desktop- some icons may link to web content or pages. When this option is checked, these icons will be locked in place, or frozen, and cannot be moved.

Run Desktop Cleaning Wizard- Clicking this option opens the Desktop Cleaning Wizard, which scans your desktop for icons that have not been used for 60 days or more. It will then enable you to delete those icons from the desktop. A folder entitled Unused Desktop Shortcuts may be created on the desktop, so you can resurrect them if you feel the need.

Refresh- clicking 'Refresh' will reset your desktop. Your desktop will flash quickly, as if blinking. This is useful if your icons are acting strangely, or if they cannot be deleted or moved off the desktop. Clicking 'Refresh' often fixes these kind of problems.

Paste- After you have just copied something using 'edit > copy' or the shortcut 'ctrl-C', you can paste it to the desktop (whether it be a document, a picture, etc.) by clicking 'Paste'.

Paste Shortcut- This does the same thing as 'Paste' above, but the only difference is if you're copying a shortcut, or icon, and want to paste it to the desktop. This option is rarely used, however.

Display (or Video Card reference)- This option is different for every computer, as they all have different video cards and drivers. For example, if your computer has an NVIDIA video card, it may say, "NVIDIA Control Panel", which brings up the, er, NVIDIA Control Panel. The picture displayed at the top of this entry displays "Graphic Properties" and "Graphics Options." In any case, clicking this option will take you to specific video settings.

New- hovering your cursor over 'New', a sub-menu will appear with sub-categories on the side, as shown below:

Folder- Clicking this will create a new folder on your desktop. If you double click the name of the folder, it will become highlighted and you are free to rename the folder. You can then drag files inside the folder. For example, a folder called "Cats" might hold pictures of your cats.

Shortcut- creates a new shortcut on your desktop, bringing up a window that will enable you to specify the location that the shortcut will jump to. You can either manually type the destination path or click 'Browse' to browse for the program or file you are looking for. Once that's all set up, whenever you click the newly-created shortcut, it will take you to whatever you programmed it to do.

Briefcase- buys you a new leather suitcase ... Actually, no, a new 'Briefcase' works like a folder, only it is used "to help you organize and keep your documents up-to-date between two PC's." If you travel a lot and need to keep documents up to date from one computer to another, a briefcase instead of a regular folder might be useful to you. Additionally, a help window will pop up explaining more about the briefcase if you use this feature.

Bitmap Image- Creates a blank bitmap image on the desktop. Some graphics programs use bitmap images, which are digital images that measure the color specifications of each individual pixel.

Text Document- Creates a blank text document on the desktop. Here you are free to type in a document in basic text format, which is text without all the features you would normally get with Microsoft Word, such as Bold, Italics, and Underline. Note that sometimes, you will see an option that reads, 'New Rich Text Document.' Rich Text, unlike Basic Text, includes Bold, Italics, and Underline, as well as other features such as marginal spacing and alignment.

Compressed (Zipped) Folder - Creates a compressed folder. Putting files and folders into a Compressed folder enables you to upload all the information within the Compressed folder successfully. In some circumstances, a folder or a file that's not compressed will not upload properly, and the upload will fail. In addition, some downloaded files will be already Compressed, in which it is necessary to extract the files (a button in the upper left hand corner of the compressed file window) so you can properly access the files within the Compressed folder. We could also compare this to a zipper. A Compressed (or Zipped) folder must be unzipped in order to read the contents inside. Similarly, a file must be zipped up in order for a proper upload. And lastly (as if you're head isn't already spinning), a Compressed folder can actually 'compress' the data within the folder. So, if a file was previously 10 MB, the compressed version might now be 7.8 MB.

Properties- The last option of the Right-Click drop-down menu opens up the Display Properties Window, which is explained in one of my previous blog entries: Time to Get Personal With Your PC.

And that concludes the right-clicking desktop feature. All that, for just right-clicking something. So let this be a message to you: do not be afraid of right-clicking, for it can bring new and undiscovered pleasures...

 Time To Get Personal With Your PC

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:07:00 +0000

Is you current desktop background somewhat lacking your utmost desires? Is your Screensaver so boring that you can't even look at it without falling eyelids? Or maybe you just want to personalize your PC a little bit more? If your answer was yes to any of those questions, then read on for various personalization methods! (If your answer was no to all of those questions, then read anyway; perhaps you'll change your mind about personalization...)

Personalization Method #1: Desktop Background

On most Windows XP machines, the default background is Bliss (that green meadow with the blue sky). Yeah, it's nice. But how about something else for a change?

Follow these easy steps to change your old background to a stunning new one:

1. Go to Start > Control Pannel > Appearence and Themes > Change Desktop Background

-OR- Alternatively, you could right-click the desktop and click on the last option, 'Properties.' Then click on the above 'Desktop' tab. You should see this screen:

2. Here, you can choose from the list on the left of prestored backgrounds, some of which are nice (others are just plain ugly).

-If you want a custom picture, then click 'Browse' on the right to look through your computer for an ideal picture for your background.

-Under the words 'Position' is a drop-down menu that allows you to choose how the picture will look.

-Choose 'Stretch' to cover the whole screen, 'Tile' to divide the picture into small boxes, and 'Center' to center the picture in the middle of the screen, thus having a small border around the picture.

-Under the words 'Color' you can change the color that surrounds the picture.

-When you're done picking a new Desktop, click 'Apply' and then 'OK.

Personalization Method #2: Screensaver

The default screensaver is usually just the Windows logo floating around or a black screen. What excitement! (for snails, that is).

Follow these easy steps to change your old screensaver to an exciting (or boring) new one:

1. Go to Start > Control Pannel > Appearence and Themes > Choose a Screen saver -OR- Alternatively, you could right-click the desktop and click on the last option, 'Properties.' Then click on the 'Screen Saver' tab above. You should see this screen:

2. This window is the same as the desktop window, only with a different tab on the top.

-The Screen Saver drop-down menu allows you to choose from a variety of different screen savers, with previews in the little monitor above.

-The 'Settings' button allows you to further customize the selected screen saver (for instance: with '3D Pipes', you can choose the shape of the pipes).

-The 'Preview' button allows you to see what the screen saver will look like in full screen.

-The 'Wait' option allows you to chose how long the computer should wait (when it is not used by the user) before displaying the screen saver.

-The 'Power' option will open up a new window that allows you to adjust the power and energy settings of the screen. This is useful for laptops in saving battery power.

-When you're done picking a new screen saver, click 'Apply' and then 'OK.'

Personalization Method #3: Themes

Themes are not as commonly known and valued as backgrounds or screen savers, but they make a big impact on the visuals. For instance, do you miss the classic look of Windows 95? Then you can change the Windows XP theme to Windows 95 theme--without having to downgrade the operating system!

Follow these easy steps to change your old theme to a new one:

1. You could follow the same method as the other steps -OR- Right-click the desktop and click on the last option, 'Properties.' Then click on the 'Themes' tab above. You should now see this screen:

2. This window is the same as the desktop and screen saver window, only with a different tab at the top.

-Select from a small selection of themes in the drop down menu or click 'Browse' to search for pre-saved themes. You can also look for more online...

-When you're done picking a new theme, click 'Apply' and then 'OK.'

Personalization Method #4: Appearance

Appearance, like Themes, is not as valued, but also makes a big difference in the visuals. Appearance deals with the Windows themselves, the true heart of the Windows Operating System (so now you know why Microsoft named it Windows!)

Follow these easy steps to change your default appearance to an original new one:

1. You should know this by now, but Right-click the desktop and click on the last option, 'Properties.' Then click on the 'Appearance' tab above. You should now see this screen:

2. This window is the same as the desktop and screen saver window, only with a different tab at the top.

-Selecting from the drop-down menu under the heading 'Windows and Buttons' enables you to switch from the current Windows XP style to the Classic Windows 95 and 98 styles.

-The next drop-down menu, 'Color Scheme,' enables you to choose the scheming of the Start bar and window bar. The default option is blue, but how about silver or olive green?

-The next drop-down menu, 'Font Size,' enables you to choose the size of the lettering in Windows. Find difficulty reading the small print? Try enlarging the font size!

-The 'Advanced' button shows more complicated options, but enables you to really mix & match the color scheme! You can have windows red, and faded green, if you wanted to! Play around with it and see what you like...

-The 'Effects' button shows further options for the Appearances, such as showing shadows under menus or enlarging icons.

-When you're done changing the Appearance, click 'Apply' and then 'OK.'

Personalization Method #5: Settings

Technically, changing the display settings isn't really "personalization" per say, but changing the color quality and screen resolution heavily impacts the visuals, so in this case it is personalizing, by my standards, at least.

Follow these easy steps to change your technical display settings

1. As always, Right-click the desktop and click on the last option, 'Properties.' Then click on the 'Settings' tab above. You should now see this screen:

2. This window looks a bit complicated, but it's not as hard as it looks:

- At the top is a picture of two blue squares with numbers one and two on their fronts. This is to indicate the monitor set up; if your computer is hooked up to another display, such as a TV, then you can click the blue squares (monitors) to switch from display to display. Don't worry about this part if you don't plan on using an external display any time soon...

- Right below this box that held the blue squares is the Display drop-down menu. Here you can select the video card & chipset model and corresponding monitor you wish to use. Leave this menu alone unless you want to hook up another monitor with another video card.

- Below that is an option for adjusting the screen resolution. If you like the sharpness and proportionality of your screen, leave these settings alone. If, however, you feel the screen is fuzzy or too small (or even too big), you can adjust the marker for a greater or lower resolution. The greatest resolution is recommended for the best picture. Note that the lower the resolution, the less sharp the picture will be; however, everything will increase in size. Also note that all resolution settings for different computers are not the same; for example, your ability to reach a higher resolution depends on your video card and monitor.

-To the right of the screen resolution adjuster is the Color Quality area. The color quality should currently be set to the highest (32-bit). You may reduce the quality to the lowest (16-bit), but everything will not look as pretty... This feature is useful if you're running a program (most likely an old one) that only uses the 16-bit color quality, and thus you must set the color quality to this option before launching the program. In most cases, though, the program should automatically switch the color quality to 16-bit when executed.

-When you click the 'Identify' button, a large white number will appear on your screen for a few seconds, showing the monitor that you are actively using (this again corresponds to the blue squares above). Don't worry about this option if you're only using one monitor.

-The 'Advanced' button opens up a new window dealing with advanced settings, such as video card and monitor management.

-When you're done changing the Appearance, click 'Apply' and then 'OK.'

There you go, 5 easy personalization methods! Hopefully, you have personalized your PC with pizazz !

 Email: Info, Help, & Tips

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 17:13:00 +0000

For those of you who know what ‘emails’ are, I advise you to read this!

E-mail (short for electronic mail) is now one of the main ways we communicate with each other, expanding are communication boarders to a whole new level. While extremely useful, email can be dangerous and a pain in the ass to deal with. Below is useful information that is worth knowing or reviewing, as well as questions you might have felt too embarrassed to ask about.

How to email:
To start, you must create an account with one of the many online or internet service providers, such as AOL (aol.com), Yahoo (yahoo.com), or MSN (msn.com). From there, you are free to write emails to all your friends and family. In an email, you can send not only text but media content, which includes pictures, sounds (music), and short video. However, the more media content you include in your email, the longer it will take to actually send the email as oppose to just sending text. Don’t let this hold you back though! Many people send media content via email; depending on how fast your internet speed, media will be sent faster.

Addresses:
Mail and E-mail are similar: when mailing a letter to a friend, you have to specify his/her address so he/she gets your letter; when sending an email to a friend, you have to specify his/her email address so he/she gets your email. Below is an example of this blog's email address:

jabcomputerblog@aol.com

If you wanted to send an email to me, then you would send it to the above address. If you typed in the address wrongly, then obviously it will go to the wrong person or the email won’t go through at all. Note that capitalization of the email address does NOT matter, so you could type JaBComPutERBLog@aol.com if you wanted to. If your friend or family member does not have an email address, then you cannot send an email to that person.

Subject Line:
Every email you send should have a subject. This is what your email is about. For example, if I was emailing a friend about a pie fair, then my subject would be along the lines of, “Pie fair”. Note that emails do not have to have a subject; it is only useful for letting the person know what your email is about before they open it.

Cc and Bcc:
Usually under the subject line or a button on the side, these are for sending the same copy of your email to many other people.

Cc- stands for Carbon Copy. In the Cc line, you must put all the email addresses you want to send your email to. Separate the email addresses by a comma. Note that all the recipients of your email (those that were entered in the Cc field) will see who else you sent the email to. For example:

To: exampleA@aol.com
Cc: exampleB@aol.com, exampleC@aol.com

In this example, I have sent an email to ‘A’. I have also sent the same copy to ‘B’ and ‘C’. Recipient A knows that I sent the email to B and C, while recipient B knows that I sent the email to A and C, and recipient C also knows that I sent the email to A and B. So everyone knows that I sent the email to everyone. If you want to keep it private, then go to Bcc.

Bcc- stands for Blind Carbon Copy. In the Bcc line, you must also put all the email addresses you want to send your email to. Separate the email addresses by a comma. The difference from Cc is that all the recipients cannot see who else you are sending the email to. I will use the same example:

To: exampleA@aol.com
Bcc: exampleB@aol.com, exampleC@aol.com

In this example, I have sent an email to ‘A’. I have also sent the same copy to ‘B’ and ‘C’. Recipient A does not know that I sent the email to B and C, but recipient B and C do know that I sent the email to A. This is because A is in the ‘To’ field. However, B does not know I sent the email to C, and C does not know I sent the email to B.

If you wanted to keep it even more private, then you can put your own email address in the ‘To’ field. The email would also be sent to yourself, but no one would know that you sent the email to multiple people. So all the recipients (A, B, and C) will think that the email was only sent to him. Note that there is no limit to how many email addresses you can put in the Cc and Bcc lines. If this was confusing then carefully read the examples again. Cc and Bcc aren’t used as often as the ‘To’ field, despite the fact that you can put multiple names in the ‘To’ field as well. Note that the email addresses are fully shared by all the recipients.

Forward and Reply:

Reply- If a friend sends you an email asking if you wanted to go to the park this evening, then you would have to reply, right? This is done easily by selecting the email in your inbox and clicking the “Reply” button. It should then open up to a new mail window where you can write back to your friend. The ‘To’ line should already contain your friend’s email address, and the subject line should automatically read, “Re: Park this evening”. When your friend receives the email, he will see his original email below your reply email. If he wants, he can choose to reply to your reply, and the subject should read “Re: re: Park this evening”. When you receive his email in your inbox, then you will see his original email, your reply email, and on top his reply-reply email. Note that this is all in the same email. You can reply to each other an infinite number of times.

Forward- Let’s say you receive an email about pie. You have another friend who happens to love pie, and you think that this friend should see this email. This is where forwarding an email comes in handy. You select the email in your inbox that you want to forward, then you find the “Forward” button, and a new mail window should open up. The ‘To’ line should already contain your pie-loving friend’s email address, and the subject line should automatically read, “Fwd: Pie lovers should read this!” You don’t have to write anything (unless you want to add additional comments, such as ‘This email is for you’). All you do is press “Send” and your friend will get that email and any other additional comments you made. Note that the email address of the person who originally wrote the email about pie will be shown. You can forward a forwarded email; so the subject would read, “Fwd: Fw: Pie Lovers should read this!”.

The Old, the New, the Sent, the Deleted, and last and certainly least—the Spam:
Within your mailbox you will find a section for New mail, Old mail, Sent mail, Recently Deleted mail, and your Spam Folder. I will explain each:

New mail and Old mail- Sometimes combined into one large section, these sections hold all your new mail (mail you haven’t read yet or have read but chose to “Keep as New”) and your old mail (mail you have read and wish to keep). These sections are also referred to as an inbox.

Sent mail- In this section you will find all the emails that you sent to people. Sometimes referred as an outbox.

Recently Deleted mail- When you delete an email, it will move to your Recently Deleted mail section. Over time, your recently deleted emails will automatically be permanently deleted (think of this section as sort of like an incinerator). If you want to permanently delete an email immediately, then you delete it once it is already in the Recently Deleted mail section. If you accidentally delete an email that you wanted to keep, then go to the recently deleted mail section, select the email, and click “Keep as New”, which will move the email to the ‘New Mail’ section.

Spam Folder- the word ‘spam’ is actually a trademark for canned chopped meat that was pressed into a loaf. But in computer terms, spam refers to junk emails. Think of your spam folder as sort of like a prison. Depending on your email provider and your spam filter settings, emails with specific and suspicious subject lines and/or email addresses will be automatically sent to your spam folder. Sometimes, emails that are sent to the spam folder are actually innocent and emails that you want to read. There is usually a “Not Spam” button somewhere in the spam folder, which will send the selected innocent email to the “New Mail” section where it can be read and kept safely. But most of the time, emails in the spam folder are actually that pesky junk mail. Note: just because an email is not in the spam folder doesn’t mean that it isn’t spam! In fact, lots of times spam ends up in your “New Mail” folder, where it is your job to sort through your emails, find the spam, and delete it! Or in the prison analogy I used, find the convict, find the evidence, and sentence it to the death penalty (or to jail)!

But what evidence do you look for to tell whether it’s a spam?

Look at the ‘From’ column. Don’t recognize the email address? Does it look fishy? It’s probably spam, and you should delete it. Do not open it, just delete it.

You could also look at the subject line. “Free Weight Loss Coupon, Register Fast and Easy!” is obviously crap and not worth you viewing. This kind of spam is mostly comprised of scams, some of which are trying to rip you off or steal your personal information. Again, do not open it, just delete it.

IMPORTANT—Dangers of Email:
Usually contained within an attached spam email, some junk emails contain viruses or scams that can screw you up—big time! How to avoid them? Follow these guidelines:

Delete any emails that have an email address that your not familiar with
Emails that have a catchy subject line (such as “Free TV”) are usually scams. Sometimes the subject line is a trick (such as “Osama Captured”), and when you open the email up, bye-bye computer, hello stupidity). So don’t open the email and delete them.
If you open an email (that is from an unknown email address) and see an attachment, DON’T DOWNLOAD IT! You could be downloading a virus onto your computer, which then in turn could corrupt your computer’s hard drive, delete files, slow down your computer, advertise randomly on your computer (which can get quite annoying), and/or even steal your personal information that might be stored on your computer! Downloading an unknown attachment is a huge no-no. Only download an attachment if and only if you know that the person who sent you the email is trustworthy (such as a family member or close friend).
Sometimes emails might contain an invitation to some sort of party, or perhaps a date? And sometimes, if you’re instant-messaging, you might receive an IM (instant message) from some person with a confusing email address “X342GFX24” or a provocative one, such as “hot69girl” (these are examples only, not real addresses as far as I’m concerned). It may be tempting to answer them or reply to the email, but resist that urge! Many of them are scammers, abusers, pedophiles, rapists, murderers, necrophiliacs—you get the idea. Anyway, these sickos are hard to veer away from once you’ve been hooked. They will stalk you (through email) and harass you. Remember that a real human being is talking to you on the other end, which can be quite scary if you think about it. Emails and instant-messaging are very dangerous if you don’t know the guidelines. So be smart, and don’t fall into a trap!

How to Attach a File:

If you want to include a document, picture, music, short video clip, or just any other file, then follow these easy steps:

1. Look for a button within your ‘email composition window’ (the window where you type the emails) that says ‘Attachments’, or perhaps a picture of a paperclip. It will then bring up a browsing window, where you can then search for the file and click ‘open’; or, it might bring up a window with a button called ‘Browse’, to which you will then click that and search for the file.

2. It should then be self explanatory from there. Click ‘send’ to the send the email with the attachment enclosed.

Your email questions have hopefully been answered. If not, feel free to post question in comments. Happy emailing!

 The Uncomplete Unofficial Guide To Internet Explorer 7

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 13:57:00 +0000

We were all used to and adjusted to the old friend: Internet Explorer 6. But now, Microsoft thought it useful to unleash a new and (supposedly) better version of the leading Internet browser. While Internet Explorer 7 (IE 7) has some new and useful features, many people need time to get used to it and fully 'explore' its capabilities and in-workings. Other people that it is over-simplified, meaning that some things that were there in IE 6 just weren't there in IE 7. You may think it has disappeared, but usually it is just hidden within the menu bars and links.

Here is the Uncomplete Unofficial Guide to Internet Explorer 7:

The First and Foremost New Feature: Tabs

Tabs are simply new windows in IE 7, except they aren't pop-up windows. Tabs, while seemingly confusing at first, are quite useful. If you wanted to have 5 websites open at once, you can simply put each website in a tab in just one window of IE 7, instead of opening 5 separate new IE 7 windows.

In the screenshot below, two tabs are currently present: Blogger: JAB Computer... and Welcome to Tabbed Brow... Notice that the tab in light blue (Blogger) is currently selected, meaning that you are currently viewing that page. In order to view the other tab, simply click on it (it should then turn light blue). The little tab to the right of Welcome to Tabbed Brow... is a place for you to create a new tab to which you can type in a new web address and be off to a new website...without closing the current one or opening a new window.

To close a tab simply click the 'X' next to the name of the tab. You see it? Look to the right of Blogger: JAB Computer...X

Okay, hopefully you now understand Tabs. If you are still confused, then I recommend reading the description again, but slower until you understand every sentence. Once you feel confident in your understanding, go ahead and try it. Open a new tab and then come back to this one via switching tabs (without hitting the "Back" button, opening a new window, or relaunching IE 7).

The Bar (no, not a pub)

(some call it a menu bar)

You're lost or want to do something that you can't find how to do elsewhere? Go to this small section of The Bar (the same bar that contains the tabs, just farther right, on the other side of the screen)

The House: Clicking on the arrow next to the house brings up a small drop-down menu on your home page options.

The Feed: The gray (or orange) button that looks like sound waves (next to The House). Click the arrow next to The Feed to have access to the feed integrated on the website. If you don't know what that is don't worry, you don't need it unless you are a subscriber to a website, such as mine...

The Printer: Clicking on the arrow next to the printer brings up a small drop-down menu allowing you to print the page you are currently viewing, view the print preview, or page setup.

The Page: Clicking the Page button allows you to do a bunch of stuff relevant to the page you are currently viewing, some of which are bringing up an entirely new window (not a Tab, a window), cutting, copying, pasting highlighted text, saving the page for later use, zooming in and out, encoding, and other fun stuff...

The Tools: Probably the most useful button in IE 7. You have access here to configure: Pop-up settings, browsing history, phishing filter (prevents fraud websites), view various toolbars that you were searching for and wondered "Where did that go?", and finally, for extensive customization and configuration options, click "Internet Options in the drop down menu (should be on bottom of drop down menu). If you're lost, go to The Tools button. It can save lives.

My Favorites

You may be thinking: Where on the Earth and Universe of Zeus and The God of Insanity are my favorites?

Well, they are all the way of the left of the screen, right next to the Tabs. The buttons looks like golden stars.

The first golden star brings down a list on the left side of the page with all your favorites, folders and all. Now, you may see something else. On the top of that list are 3 buttons: Favorites, Feeds, and History. The Feeds button is a list of all your feeds, while the history button brings down a list (a log) of all the past websites you've visited. Select any of the three buttons to view what you desire.

The second golden star with the green plus sign is simply a button for adding websites to your favorites along with other related options.

That is the general information that will get you through and learning IE 7. But really, explore the browser. There is no harm in taking risks (unless you really screw something up, such as smashing your computer with a baseball bat).

Any questions about IE 7 and its features please post a comment!

 Don't Get Tangled In Those Wires!

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:46:00 +0000

Ah, yes, wires. We all (for the most part) hate them. But of course, not all things can be wireless (not yet, at least). And that is why I have composed a list of different and common wires that are essential to a basic to somewhat intermediate level of understanding.

#1 USB (Universal Serial Bus)

Appearance:

Uses: mainly for connecting external devices, such as hard drives, printers, scanners, cameras etc. Also can be used to connect to Internet (as a substitute for direct Ethernet).

Notes: The picture that you see above is just the standard USB 2.0 rectangle; however, the other end of the wire might complement the device to which you are connecting the wire to.

#2 Firewire (IEEE 1394)

Appearance:

Uses: mainly for connecting external devices (like USB), such as hard drives, cameras, camcorders, iPods, and other devices, most essentially related to performing complicated and fast tasks (which require a fast connection, hence the nickname "firewire").

Notes: Faster than USB but is very similar. Once again, both ends of the Firewire can be the same or different, depending on what you are connecting.

#3 Ethernet

Appearance:

Uses: Most efficient wire for establishing a direct connection to the Internet

Notes: It is possible, but not recommended, to use a special USB wire for connecting to the Internet; it will be slower and not as efficient.

#4 RCA Audio Cable/Stereo Jack

Appearance:

Uses: used for plugging in speakers or headphones to an audio device. The RCA audio cable plugs primarily into your TV.

Notes: There are about four general combinations for an audio cable. You got 1): a stereo to stereo jack; 2): a stereo to headphones or speakers; 3): an RCA to stereo jack; and 4): an RCA to RCA. Huy.

#5 VGA/DVI/SVideo

Appearances:

Uses: VGA (Video Graphics Array) and DVI (Digital Visual Interface) are both different types of video connections from the computer to the monitor. (Check out the entry The Truth About Monitors to learn more about DVI, VGA, and monitors). SVideo is similar but it is used for connecting the computer (or other device, such as a video camera) to a TV.

Notes: DVI generally brings a more precise picture than VGA does; there are DVI to VGA converters; S Video is equivalent to the Red-Yellow-White wires that plug into the TV.

 Save, Save, Save!

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:58:00 +0000

You know the gameshow, The Weakest Link? The object of the game is to try to bank the most money possible each turn for the team. You can do this by saying "Bank!" right before your question is asked. If you banked in time, the money is deposited "in the kitty" and it is permanent.

Why do I bore you with something completely irrelevant to computers? Well, banking in The Weakest Link and saving a file on a computer are very similar to each other.

Let's say you're working on a document. As you're typing, you come up with great words and lines and are quite proud of your work. But, just as you're about to punch in that period, your computer stops you and flashes you with an error message. When you click "ok", the document closes and you're left staring at the blank desktop. You frantically search for the file, and then reality hits you: it's gone. Period.

Let's come back to The Weakest Link for a second. Your team so far has reached the $50,000 mark on the 6th round (out of 8 rounds). It is your turn. You feel confident. The question is asked and it was harder than you expected, and, consequently, you have absolutely no idea what the answer is. It's to late to bank. So, you take a wild guess and hope for the best. To your utter dismay, it is wrong. Thus, your team loses an opportunity for $50,000 and possibly more. Had you have banked, the team would like you and would've had over $50,000 in the kitty.

The moral of the story is: Bank, Bank, Bank--Save, Save, Save!

In other words, whenever working on an important file, always save early and often! You never know when something unexpectedly awful might happen and you lose your work forever. Most of the time, the "save" option is under "File". But an easier and quicker way to save is by using the keyboard shortcut ctrl + S. Check out the entry on Handy Keyboard Shortcuts to learn more about keyboard shortcut combinations that can save you a lot of time!

There is no harm in saving often, so why not do it? Better be safe than sorry!

 Mac vs. Windows: The Battle of the Platforms

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:57:00 +0000

There are quite a few platforms out there, and by "platforms" I mean types of operating systems. Over the past years, Microsoft Windows operating systems have been dominant, although the Macintosh (Apple) operating systems have been catching up lately.

There are many disadvantages and advantages that both operating systems have over one another, so I have put together this here chart below to help you decide which operating system you like best:

Unfortunately, the chart is small, so you might have to zoom in on the page in order to see the words clearly. (Hold down ctrl and roll the mouse wheel up and down to zoom in and out)

 Staying Healthy: Avoiding Those Viruses

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 22:08:00 +0000

A virus infects a living organism and then makes copies of itself, thus spreading throughout the body. Some can be cured easily while others can make you very ill. If not treated properly, some can be quite deadly. You can prevent viruses by avoiding contagious individuals as well as unhealthy or unsanitary conditions. You also have a less likely chance of catching a virus if you have a healthy and strong immune system.

Note that I am not here to give you a health lesson, but biological viruses are very similar to computer viruses.

In short, viruses are a type of software that infects a computer. But how do these viruses arise?

People are the main source. Programming geniuses who use their powers for evil and not good...
They make viruses for:
-Fun (they take pleasure out of corrupting other peoples' computers)
-Money (some people pay others to make and distribute viruses for disruptive or destructive purposes)
-Experiments (some people test viruses to see how infectious they are and which anti-virus programs can stop them)
-Accidents (Whoops! Instead of creating a man you created a monster! Viruses can sometimes be a result of miscalculations and computer-generated errors)

There are many different types of viruses, some more deadly than others. Take a look at my ranking system:

Rank #1. Low Risk - Viruses that are just annoying and potentially harmless, may slow down your computer. Choosing to keep this type of virus on your computer is like choosing to stay with a cold. If you don't mind living with a stuffy and runny nose, an irritated throat, and a headache from time to time, then you'll be fine.

Rank #2. Medium Risk - Viruses that are annoying (although all viruses are annoying) and can be harmful if not treated. Will most likely slow down your computer, decrease efficiency; may corrupt your computer in extreme cases. Choosing to keep this type is like choosing to stay with cancer or perhaps a benign tumor that might develop into something serious. If death (that could've been prevented) don't scare you, then relax.

Rank #3. High Risk - Viruses that are extremely annoying and are harmful to your computer. Might slow down computer, bring certain processes to a halt, decrease efficiency, may erase files, and most likely will corrupt your computer if not treated. Do not choose to keep this type unless you don't mind paying for a new body, if you know what I mean...

Rank #4. Extreme Caution - Viruses that are so malicious that they are more scary than they are annoying. These viruses aim at corrupting your computer and erasing your programs, files, and data. They might come fast and without notice. Some viruses, if not detected early (like cancer), will be spreading so fast that it is virtually impossible to get rid of them. Finding out that you have this type of computer virus may be like finding out that you're going to die in 3 months!

Now that you are familiar will my ranking system, let's take a look at the common types of viruses (rated with my ranking system!):

Resident Virus
Rank: #3 - #4
Location: RAM memory.
Attack Strategy: when you open the infected program or application, the virus is released and burrows into your RAM data. Now, whenever you rename, save, copy, open a file or program, the resident virus will move in, attack and corrupt all these operations.
How To Stop It: Well, sometimes it's permanent and can't be stopped. Other times anti-virus programs will detect it and stop it from spreading. Reformatting the hard drive (erasing ALL the data) will most likely be the cure. Note that backing-up infected files on a separate hard drive will then re-infect your computer when you transfer those infected files back.

Direct-Action Virus
Rank: #3 -#4
Location: Specified program
Attack Strategy: similar to resident viruses, but the difference is that the virus infects one or programs when the original program that contains it was executed.
How To Stop It: Well, sometimes it's permanent and can't be stopped. Other times anti-virus programs will detect it and stop it from spreading. Reformatting the hard drive (erasing ALL the data) will most likely be the cure. Note that backing-up infected files on a separate hard drive will then re-infect your computer when you transfer those infected files back.

Overwrite Virus
Rank: #3
Location: Files
Attack Strategy: infected files are corrupted, deleted, or partially rendered so they are not openable or usable.
How To Stop It: to clean an infected file you must erase it, so when a file is infected it is pretty much gone...

Boot Virus
Rank: #4
Location: Boot sector of a hard drive or floppy disk
Attack Strategy: the virus will infect the boot sector of the disk, which is critical to storing information and thus booting, or starting, the computer
How To Stop It: Once you're infected you must reformat the hard drive (or buy a new one). Boot viruses are most commonly spread through floppy disks! Therefore, never start your computer with an unknown floppy disk in the drive.

Macro Virus
Rank: #2, #3
Location: Macro-containing program
Attack Strategy: A macro is a single instruction that expands automatically when executed. Many programs contain macros, such as the commonly used Microsoft Word and Excel. Macro viruses take advantage of this "expanding" feature by infecting a macro in one program. When the macro is executed, it expands and can reach the "global macro template". When this is infected, then any other file you open will then become infected, thus spreading the virus.
How To Sop It: Anti-virus software may detect it, and don't enable macros unless you're sure that you can trust them!

Directory Virus
Rank: #3, #4
Location: Program File
Attack Strategy: when the infected program is executed (mainly through the .exe extension), the virus changes the path on which the program is set to run. Therefore, you are indirectly running the virus by running the infected program.
How To Stop It: Once a file is infected it is impossible to locate the original program files. Prevent directory viruses by not downloading or somehow obtaining infected program files.

Polymorphic Virus
Rank: #3, #4
Location: Multiple
Attack Strategy: this virus makes varied copies of itself, in which each copy is different from the other, although they all serve the same function. They do this to disguise themselves and prevent virus scanners from detecting all instances of the virus.
How To Stop It: Since this type of virus is very hard to detect, it is very hard to stop completely. Reformatting or replacing the hard drive is recommended (although your computer will probably crash before you even notice it is a complete polymorphic virus, to which you will be forced to reformat or replace).

Virus Hoax
Rank: #1
Location: Emails
Attack Strategy: Virus hoaxes aren't considered to be real viruses. They are not harmful to your computer (they are more harmful to your sanity). A virus hoax is just a pesky email that informs you on a deadly virus that doesn't even exist. Below is an example of what a virus hoax might look like:

Subject: Beware of the LooBaba Virus!
Message: As of February 18, 2007, the dangerous and highly infectious LooBaba virus has been released. Do NOT open any email with subject lines "An Invitation From a Friend!", "Nuclear Missile is Destroyed", or "Mars is Suffering From Momentary and Deadly Collapse".
If you open the email, a picture of a worm eating files will signify him eating your documents!!!

Forward this message to all the people you know!!!!

What a bunch of crap. Sure, viruses are spread through emails, but only through downloaded attachments. Of course, you should never download an unknown attachment. Note that while most virus hoaxes are meant just for aggravating people, they can be potentially dangerous. For example, a virus programmer could be purposely sending the LooBaba hoax. People who know about virus hoaxes will then assume that the LooBaba virus is madeup. However, then the virus programmer will actually create the LooBaba virus, and since people think it doesn't exist, they will not take any caution. This sends a wave of confusion and panic. Is there really such thing as the LooBaba virus or is it just a hoax? Thus brings the annoyance of virus hoaxes!

How To Stop It: How do you determine whether an email is a virus hoax? The things to look for in a virus hoax have been highlighted in light blue in the LooBaba example above.
-The email informs you about the virus very seriously and scares you silly
-The email tells you not to open any emails or download any attachments with gripping subject lines
-The email usually tells you that the virus contains a little graphic image
-The email asks you to forward the message to all people you know (thus the "virus" hoax spreads...)
If you do receive a hoax, then ignore and delete it. Do not forward it to other people!

To find more information on viruses and emails, check out the entry "Email: Info, Help, & Tips"

Worms

Worms are similar to viruses in the sense that they are able to replicate and spread throughout the system and to other computers; the only difference is that they do not need to attach themselves to a host program. Many worms can be detected by anti-virus programs.

Trojan Horse

Remember the siege of Troy? The Greeks presented a hollow wooden horse to the Trojans as a harmless gift. Little did the Trojans know that the horse was filled with Greek soldiers that would the open the city gates at nightfall and let the waiting Greek army storm in. Computer Trojan Horses appear harmless to you and the computer at first, but once it's inside the city gates, your infected. Anti-virus software will usually detect Trojans, although they might not identify them immediately as Trojans. Note that some Trojans can sneak past some Anti-virus software, as they seem might seem "too small" to notice...

It is important to have a strong immune system as it is equally important to have strong virus protection.

Remember these words of inspiration if ever infected by any of these viruses:
"The Virus is strong, but you are stronger. Do not let The Virus conquer you; conquer The Virus!"

 To Buy or Not to Buy...

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:51:00 +0000

You goin' computer or hardware/software shopping?

If you really want to spend all your money on a brand new super computer that you don't need, then that's fine with me. However, for those of us who want to buy only what we need or desire, then take a look at the extensive analysis below:

The People Who Only Use a Computer to Check Their Email, Type, and Read Great Blogs (such as this one):

Operating System : Mac OS X or Windows XP
Hard Drive : 40 GB (at least)
System RAM : 256 MB or 512 MB
CPU : Intel; Pentium 4, Sempron, Celeron, AMD; Athlon XP; Mac G4)
Video Card : PCI or AGP 32MB or 64MB, SVGA adapter (most motherboards have video cards integrated in them already)
Monitor : 15 in, although it really depends on how big you like it...
Optical Drive : 48 x CD-ROM drive, although if you want to burn CD's, then get a CD RW)
Printer : a standard inkjet printer
Modem : for connecting to the internet (DSL or Cable)
Sound Card : (should already be integrated in the motherboard)

Phew! If you have some or absolutely no idea of what any of those things mean, don't worry! These are just details that aren't completely necessary for buying a retail computer (unless you're going to build a PC yourself; note that you can't build Macs, unless you work for Apple Inc, know what you're doing, and have access to Apple's arsenal of equipment).
But to simplify things a little, just pay attention to the things highlighted in light blue.
Note that computers in those regular computer stores (such as Best Buy, for instance) will probably not sell you a computer that has 32 MB of RAM and just a regular CD-ROM drive. In this case, try to buy it from an old computer shop (a computer junkie, or a junk shop that sells computer junk). Perhaps you know a friend who can shop and build something for you. Ordering online is a great way to find old parts and computers.

But, How 'Bout The People Who Use Their Computer to Run Intermediate Applications (such as editing pictures), and Maybe Play Games on The Side, But Do Not Require an Advanced Video Card:

Operating System : Mac OS X, Windows XP or Vista
Hard Drive : 80 GB (at least)
System RAM : 256 MB or 512 MB (512 MB or more for gaming and video editing)
CPU : Intel; Pentium 4. AMD; Athlon XP, Athlon 64; Mac G4 or G5)
Video Card : PCI, PCI Express, AGP 64MB or 128MB (128 MB or more for gaming and video editing), NVIDIA or ATI Chipset
Monitor : 15 - 17 in, although it really depends on how big you like it...
Optical Drive : CD burner, you might also want to get a 16x DVD burner (most drives that can burn DVDs can burn CDs too)
Printer : a standard inkjet or laser printer
Modem : for connecting to the internet (DSL or Cable)
Sound Card : a PCI audio card (some sound cards are already be integrated in the motherboard)

And Now For The Typical Super-Fast-Multimedia-Gaming-Top-o'-The-Line Computer:

Operating System : Mac OS X, Windows XP or Vista
Hard Drive : 140 GB (at least)
System RAM : 1 GB (at least)
CPU : (We're talkin' fast here) Intel; Pentium 4. AMD; Athlon 64 or X2; Mac G5)
Video Card : PCI Express, AGP 256MB or 512 MB, NVIDIA or ATI Chipset
Monitor : 17 in & up, although it really depends on how big you like it...
Optical Drive : 16x DVD burner (most drives that can burn DVDs can burn CDs too)
Printer : a standard inkjet or laser printer
Modem : for connecting to the internet (DSL or Cable)
Sound Card : a PCI audio card (some sound cards are already be integrated in the motherboard)

These requirements can be taken loosely and should not be followed strictly; you may be a person who falls between some of these categories. But whatever it be, buy what you need and desire...

Note: For information and advice on computer shopping what some of this computer gibberish means, research or check out some of these relevent entries: Bits and Bytes, The Scoop About Refurbished Hardware, XP vs. Vista, The Scoop About OEM Software, Some Backup Advice, Ways to Speed Up Your PC, So You Want to Add More RAM, The Truth About Monitors.

 Bits & Bytes

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 14:04:00 +0000

Welcome to the realm of memory!

Bits are the lowest unit of memory. A byte is 8 bits. A kilobyte is 1024 bytes. I could continue on like this, but the chart below is quite useful. It will look scary to some, but really it's quite fascinating.

Computers in this day and age usually come with gigabyte (GB) hard drives (around 40 GB to 500 GB). Most people don't need more than 150 GB, and even that's saying much. (Check out the "Some Backup Advice" entry for info on storage space).

But more recently, computers can hold 2 terabytes (2000 GB) of space (most likely being a combination of multiple hard drives). I would say that 95% of the people who use computers frequently don't need this huge amount of space. Can you believe that there's things larger than a terabyte?

As technology advances though, we might have applications that take up larger amounts of space, so we might eventually consider 2 terabytes as primitive as storing 2 megabytes.

Here are some fun facts that gives you an idea of how much information these bytes can hold:

 How to Take a Screenshot (Both on a PC and Mac)

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 14:05:00 +0000

A screenshot is a still picture of the computer screen. While screenshots are commonly used, many people don't know how to take one.

How to Take a Screenshot on a PC

PCs offer a rigid screenshot method; however, you can manipulate and edit the screenshot later.

Step 1 - First of all, get your screen ready by opening any files, programs, or anything else you want to take a screenshot of. In other words, "set the scene".

Step 2 - Once you have your screen set up, look at your keyboard. There is a key labeled "prt scr"on the top right side of the keyboard, to the right of F12. If you still can't find it, it's up-right diagonal from the "backspace" key. Once you locate it, press it once.

Step 3 - The computer has just taken a screenshot of the screen. But how do you view your picture? Well, it turns out that the picture has been saved on the clipboard, which means you have to paste it. Simply go to the Paint program (under Start > All Programs > Accessories > Paint). If you have another image editor, you can paste the screenshot in that program.

Step 4 - On the top, go to Edit > Paste (or ctrl-v), and bang! There's your screenshot! You can now edit the screenshot using Paint or any other image editor. If you want to keep the screenshot, then save it.

How to Take a Screenshot on a Mac

Macs are more flexible with their screenshots.

Step 1 - First of all, get your screen ready by opening any files, programs, or anything else you want to take a screenshot of. In other words, "set the scene".

Step 2 - Once you have your screen set up, look at your keyboard. Taking a screenshot a Macs involves a key combination. Hold down the keys: Shift + ⌘ + 3. You should hear a sound of a camera. Go to the desktop and you should see a file called "Picture 1". Double-click on the file and there's your shot. You can then work on that image in an image editor.

Step 3 - Another way is taking a screenshot of just a section of the screen. Hold down the keys: Shift + ⌘ + 4. Your cursor will turn into what appears to be a cross-hair or target, and you are free to click and drag the area you want to photograph. Once you release, you will see the file on your desktop.

Congratulations! You can now photograph your screen without using that digital camera!

 The Scoop About Refurbished Hardware

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:00:00 +0000

What is refurbished hardware?

"Refurbished" literally means redecorated or renovated. This description might seem harmless at first, but beware! When it comes to hardware, refurbished means repaired, re-dealt, and re-stupefied.

A refurbished hardware component is one that was previously defective or damaged and is returned to the company which then fixes it (or at least tries to fix it). They then resell that refurbished component to another retailer.

As always, I will give the advantages and disadvantages of a Refurbished component.

The Advantage of a Refurbished Component

- It is usually much cheaper than a new item

The Disadvantages of a Refurbished Component

- You don't know why the item was returned in the first place.
- The warranty is usually less than a regular warranty on a new item.
- You don't know whether the item has been completely retested.
- You don't know whether the item was fully fixed or if could be fixed in the first place.
- There are usually no return policies (just like OEM products), so if it breaks (again), you might as well throw it in the hamper! (No, don't actually throw it in the hamper).

So, the final story is (which is same situation with car salesman trying to sell you a used car): don't buy a refurbished item unless you know everything about it beforehand and the dealer is trustworthy.

 Handy Keyboard Shortcuts

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:40:00 +0000

Keyboard shortcuts are simple key-combinations that when pressed execute a certain command. Keyboard shortcuts are for regular commands that can be accessed using the mouse. Shortcuts are much more efficient and will save you seconds (you also look like you know computers).

Mac and PC both use the same or very similar keyboard shortcuts, but there are minor differences; instead of pressing 'ctrl' on PCs you press the '⌘' with Macs.

Below is the list of commonly used keyboard shortcuts.
Shortcuts with an asterisk (*) next to the name only apply to Macintosh computers.

Press and hold down the Control Key (ctrl) or Apple Key (⌘) and tap the corresponding letter key once to perform the desired action:

Note: These shortcuts might vary depending on the program or application you are using

Press:

ctrl or ⌘:

C - Copy (copy selected or highlighted text or image)
V - Paste (paste the text or image just copied)
X - Cut (same function as 'copy' except it deletes the selected text or image)
B - Bold (bolds the selected or highlighted text or image)
I - Italics (italicizes the selected or highlighted text or image)
U - Underline (underlines the selected or highlighted text or image)
Z - Undo (undos or takes back the last action that was done)
Y - Redo (redoes the last undo)
P - Print (prints out a page or pages from the computer using a selected printer)
O - Open (open a file or document from a specific program)
A - All (highlights all text and/or images that appears on the current page)
S - Save (saves current file or document)
F - Find (brings up a window that allows you to enter the text you are looking for on the current page)
N - New (new document, file, template, window, etc., depending on the program used)
Q - Quit* (quits or exits out of current program)
H - Hide* (hides current program from view. Press ⌘ H again to un-hide or show)

People are always hesitant to try out the shortcuts and always "do it the long way". Once you know these shortcuts, your life will speed up (you'll see). Try to remember and practice them often (perhaps write it on a post-it note and stick on the side of your computer monitor). Along your journey of becoming a shortcut master, you will discover new and more complex shortcuts that you can use at your disposal.

Good Luck!

 XP vs. Vista: The Battle of the Windows

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:31:00 +0000

With Microsoft's new release of Vista, many people are arguing with each other on which operating system is better. Of course, Microsoft claims that Vista is better, although it can be argued both ways. In fact, many features of the Vista are copied from Mac OS X.

You see, it really depends on the type of person you are and how you use your PC.

The Most Prominent Advantages and New Things With Vista (In my opinion):

-It looks cooler and is more entertaining to use. Not to say that XP isn't cool, but Vista is more cool visually, you know what I'm saying?

-They got that nice instant search feature (from Mac OS X). You can't find a file or program? Simply type in what you're looking for in the search box and in a few seconds you see the light.

-That "Windows Flip 3D" (also adopted from Mac) allows you to literally "flip three-dimensionally" through the various windows you have on your screen. This is useful if you run a lot of programs and windows at the same time since it is easy to switch from one to another.

-Reinforced security, which can be helpful if other people are using your PC and you don't want them having access to certain things, such as your log-in screen. The advanced firewall and account alert windows help to prevent viruses and other unwanted programs, however be aware that you need to get extra virus protection and don't rely solely on Windows.

-The Windows Sidebar (the Mac Dashboard), which displays gadgets and widgets such as a clock, weather, calendar, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera...

-New entertainment advantages, such as the new "Windows Media Center".

The Annoying Disadvantages of Vista

-Yes, Vista boasts their high-end security system, but in my opinion it is a bit too high. For example, if I click on Control Panel, they alert me with a security pop-up window asking whether I want and/or executed the action. It's really very annoying. You can disable this feature, however, in the account settings.

-They try to make it more user-friendly, but they over simplified some things that were much clearer and better in XP. We don't get enough options! For example, in XP, when you wanted to upload your photos from your digital camera, you would simply plug it in, click on the import photos option, select which pictures to import, and choose a folder or create one to store those photos. In Vista, however, you plug the camera in, choose import photos, but you do not choose which photos to import!!! In other words, it imports everything on your camera. And if you're the type of person who just wants a few imported photos, this can get quite annoying. I don't think there's a way to change this, but I have to keep looking...

- It takes a while to get used to. I would recommend getting Vista if you feel you are fairly good at figuring out how new things work. But, if you're the type of person who took a while learning XP, then you're going to have a difficult time. There are so many different "tunnels" of this operating system that it is nearly impossible to explore them all...

There are more advantages and disadvantages of Vista, but these are the ones I feel are important to address.

Once again, it is up to you to decided whether you feel it is necessary to get Vista.

Feel free to leave any comments, questions, or more advantages and disadvantages of Vista!

 The Biz On Those File Extensions

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:26:00 +0000

A file extension are the few letters that come after the filename, usually consisting of three or four letters. For example:

fileexample.dll

The .dll would be the file extension. These so-called extensions are important in determining what type of file the file is. The .dll, in this case, stands for "Dynamic Link Library", which is a data holding place for other applications (hence the name "Library"). Note that .dll files are not open-able and should not be messed around with or deleted--doing so may cause serious problems in the program that they are associated to or corrupt the Windows operating system. But enough about .dll extensions...

Have you ever seen this before?

This is an unknown file type (the icon can also look like a blank sheet of paper). If you double-click on it, Windows will ask what type of program to open this unknown file with. If you know, great, choose the program from the "browse" list and your set. However, if you don't know, then look at the file extension.. If it doesn't have an extension, then you can always try the automatic Internet search option, but it is not always guaranteed to work.

But if it does have an extension, then you might be able to tell what program it is associated with. If you don't, then research it. I highly recommend the site Filext (filext.com). Just type in the extension and you get a full explanation of what it is.

Note that most unknown files cannot be opened; they usually accompany another program (such as the .dll file).

You can also change the extension by retyping it (although it doesn't always work on PCs), such as chaning a file to a .wmv (windows media player/viewer). Of course, if that file is not programmed to run with .wmv, it won't open.

So the next time you see an unknown file type, do not be afraid, be courageous. Just don't mess around with it unless you know what it is and what you're doing.

 The Scoop About OEM Software

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 02:42:00 +0000

You probably heard about OEM software before. And if you didn't, well, you didn't. Anyway, there are some advantages and disadvantages to purchasing OEM software.

First of all, OEM is an abbreviation for Original Equipment Manufacturer, which is basically the same thing as regular retail, except cheaper and without the same "rights".

Advantage of OEM:
-Cheaper than the retail version

Disadvantages of OEM:
-Doesn't come in the nice, pretty box, or any comprehensive instruction manuals, or any cardboard surroundings (ok, this is a stretch...)

-When you buy OEM software, it comes in a sealed box with a "Certification of Authenticity" key. The first drawback is that once you break the seal, you're stuck with it--no returning or refunds!

-Once you install the software on your computer, it encodes the serial number on the motherboard, bounding or tying itself to the motherboard. In other words, you cannot install that software on another computer (or another motherboard, for that matter). If you get a new motherboard, you have to buy that software again.

-You are also your own technical support. For example, I called Microsoft for a question about my OEM version of Windows Vista (long story, I might tell it to you sometime), and once they heard the noble Certification of Authenticity key, they refused to offer any help. To put it more directly, you have to deal with any technical problems that might arise on your own.

Now, before you jump to any conclusions that OEM software is bad, I want you to realize that these disadvantages aren't necessarily that terrible--OEM software is mostly for people who are "sole PC builders". I don't prefer one over the other; they are both equal, in my opinion.

So, in conclusion, whatever is right for you is right for you.

 Some Backup Advice

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:40:00 +0000

Got important files and data on your computer? You probably know it's important to back it up on an external device in case your computer crashes and all your data is lost forever. But it is important to know some "tech specs" and what device to backup your data on.

Here is an approximation of how large a typical file is:

A Song (imported from a CD) that is 3 minutes long is 3 MB (megabytes). Note that this depends on the compression and formatting of the song.

A Video (on a hard drive) that is 10 minutes long is 1 GB (gigabyte; 1000 MB). This can vary.

A Picture is hard to approximate, for pictures come in different resolutions and formats, but they are usually in the mid-high KBs (kilobyte; 1/1000 of a megabyte).

A standard Microsoft Word Document is in the low KBs (32 KB, for example).

The Well-Known and Commonly Used Backup Devices

-External Hard Drive: (below) Probably the most common in storing large amounts of data, such as music, videos, and other large files. Note that in this day and age, 40 GB and up of storage space is often used and is recommended.

-USB Flash Drive: (below) Very useful for traveling and storing documents and pictures, and, depending on the memory capacity of the flash drive, music and short video clips. The Flash drives are about 2 inches in length and plug into a USB port of your computer. They can store anything from as little as 32 MB to 10GB and possibly more. As technology develops, more and more memory will be able to fit into this little device.

-CD (Compact Disc): (below) A standard CD stores up to 700 MB. There are two main types of CD: R (wRitable) and RW (ReWritable). If you're into burning CD's for music purposes, buy R CDs. It is true that you can burn music on a RW CD, but you can only play them on your computer, not on your stereo. For data files, such as documents and pictures, RW is ideal, since you can write files, delete files, and add files to your RW CD at any time. Once you burn a R CD, nothing can be changed, it's done (hence the name, "burn").

-DVD (Digital Versatile/Video Disc): DVDs look exactly like CDs and store up to 9.4 GB (the standard is 4.7 GB, which stores up to 120 minutes of video). The same applies to DVDs: when burning videos, use R, or else they won't play in your DVD player.

-Floppy Disk: (below) Only use these flat things if you want a temporary and makeshift backup (like a day or week). Why? With only 1.44 MB of storage capacity and a low reliablity rating, these things aren't worth it in this day and age. They are defenseless against magnetic fields, so don't store them on top of metal, such as your computer's case or a speaker. They do not last very long and have significant problems retaining recorded data. Don't be surprised if your floppy disc is corrupted after a year of storage. Yes, they can last a long time, but don't trust them 100%.Choose the right backup device for you, but remember to backup important data that you don't want to lose forever. Imagine losing a book (on your computer) you've been working on for over a year! How about important finance or insurance information--gone.

No matter which device you use, always remember to backup often and backup what you need!

 Ways to Speed up Your Computer (PCs)

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:29:00 +0000

I don't want to sound like those ads, but "is your computer running slow lately?" No, you don't need to download some cheesy crapware that runs a free scan and detects problems that don't really exist on your computer. The solid ways below can help, although they are not guaranteed to work significantly; you may notice a huge change in your computer's performance, a small change, or perhaps no change at all. Nevertheless, it is good to know about the different options available to you.

1. Defragmenting that Fragmented Hard Drive!

For those of you familiar with computers, you probably know what this handy utility does and can move on to the next point. But for those of you who don't, I'll explain: your hard drive is where all of your long term memory is stored. In simple terms, if you delete or remove data, which includes files and programs, it leaves an empty space in the hard drive. Over time, there are more and more spaces and gaps and fragmented files that accumulate in your hard drive, which consequently causes the it to take longer searching for and then opening a fragmented file or application and retrieving data. Thus that is why it is important to defragment your hard drive on a regular basis; if you use your computer often and install/remove/mingle with a lot of programs and files, it is advised you defragment once a week or a month. So how do you do it?

Step 1. Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter. If you are running Windows Vista, type Disk Deframenter into the search box and it should automatically start analyzing the volume.

Step 2. You should now see this window:

Select your volume (hard drive) and then click Analyze on the bottom to check whether the volume needs defragmenting. After it is finished, you should see this window:

Notice how the blue lines resemble contiguous files, the red lines represent fragmented files, and the green lines represent unmoveable files. The white space resembles free space. In this case, this computer does not need defragmenting. Click Close and exit the defragmenter.

Step 3. If, however, your computer does need defragmenting, click Deframent and wait patiently for it to finish. Now this can take on average about one hour and a half to two, maybe even more, depending on how fragmented your hard drive. Voila! Your hard drive has been defragmented!

2. Cleaning up your Hard Drive with Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is another handy utility. It locates most of the junk files stored in various places in your computer and then deletes them, freeing up space and making the hard drive a little more efficient. This is does not a largely benefit that speed boost you've been wanting, but it feels good to know that those junk files are gone. Internet users frequently have more junk, so do a disk cleanup each week or month, depending on your usage.

Step 1. It's in the same area as disk defragmenter. Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup. You should now see this window:

After it is finished calculating, you should see this window:

Step 2. You can check and uncheck all the items you want to delete or keep (checked items are deleted). WARNING: Some things should not be checked unless you are sure of it, for it might cause problems on your computer. Luckily, a few words appear within the Disk Cleanup utility when you select an item telling you about it. If you feel that it is unsafe by the description they give you, don't delete it. Once you are done click OK and wait patiently. The time it takes to cleanup varies depending on how much memory you are freeing up.

3. Removing Unwanted Programs

If you bought your PC pre-built by a retailer, then your computer is probably loaded with junk and crappy programs (demos and full versions) that you probably will never use in your life. These programs can slow down and clutter your computer. However, if you built your PC on your own or had someone else build it for you, then chances are that your computer is crap and junk free--well, most of the time. But it is good to check on the Add or Remove Programs List:

Step 1. Go to Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs. You should now see this window:

Step 2. Select a program from the list that you want to Change/Remove and click the button. You will then be guided by an installation wizard (not Merlin). WARNING: Certain programs are not for removing. Don't eliminate programs unless you are sure of what they do and what purpose they serve. For example, you can remove a demo of Craptastic 5000, but don't remove an important driver, such as Nvidia Networking Adapter.

You can also download a trusty freeware program known as the PC Decrapifier (pcdecrapifier.com) that will further search for unwanted crapware. Remember to research and/or ask for help with unknown programs!

4. Removing and/or Disabling Startup Programs

Does your computer take what seems like forever to start up? (In other words, how long do you have to wait before you can use your computer without any holdups?) This problem can be fixed with the Add or Remove Programs List, however, to further dig into things, use the MS Configuration Utility. This is a little more technical, so go slow if you have absolutely no idea what you're doing (which most people don't!)

Step 1. Go to Start > Run and in the box type in msconfig. You should now see this window:

On the top are several tabs; the last one is called Startup. Once you click it you should now see this window:

Step 2. You are presented with a list of all the startup programs that are commencing every time you turn on your computer and log in. If you have never used this feature before, all of them should be checked. Now before you look at this list and panic seeing that you have almost or completely no idea what any or some of these programs are, may I advise breathing? If you don't what a program is, don't be afraid to research it, or you can go to a handy site called Sysinfo (sysinfo.org/startuplist.php), which lists a huge number of well-known or not so known startup programs and their recommendations on whether to remove them or keep them. WARNING: Only disable the startup programs that you are sure are safe to disable.

Step 3. When you are finished, click Apply and then OK. Restart you computer and see if it made any difference!

5. Changing your Desktop Background

In addition, changing your desktop background to a more plain and simple image (such as a single solid color, like blue or white) minimizes the redrawing time, thus speeding up your computer every time the desktop becomes fully visible. For example, after quitting a full-screen application, the computer has to redraw the background. However, for those people who enjoy pretty and original backgrounds, this option probably isn't for you.

6. Adding More RAM

This does not have to do with software but hardware. More RAM is useful when you are running a lot of applications at one time or are running applications that require much short-term memory, such as high-end video or graphic editing and games. If you built your computer, then installing RAM should not be much of hassle. But if you bought your computer, it best be letting someone else who is experienced with computers, such as a technician, to help or install it for you. For tips on adding RAM, check out the entry So You Want to Add More RAM?

7. Upgrading Your Processor (CPU)

Once again this is a hardware issue. Upgrading your processor can be a big deal--it's more serious than adding RAM. Your basically giving the computer a brain transplant. Once again, install the processor by yourself if you can, otherwise seek help. But don't upgrade your processor by a small amount; for example, if your processor is 2 gigahertz, don't upgrade to 2.1 GHz, upgrade to 2.7 or 3.

8. Upgrading Your Video Card (GPU)

Upgrading your Video Card is a hardware issue. By upgrading to a newer video card that has more RAM (video cards have built-in RAM) and is faster, it takes less pressure off the processor and the computer RAM; this way the processor and RAM can function better and do other things, such as clean the house instead of taking care of the kids. If that analogy confused you then just ignore it.

Hopefully these steps helped to speed up your computer, and if it didn't, well at least you learned something. And if you already knew this, at least you could have the chance to experience my bad jokes!

Feel free to leave any comments/questions!

Please don't be frightened by the Disclaimer below:

DISCLAIMER: I am not to be held responsible or blamed for any crashes or corruption of your computer, which is highly unlikely unless you do something careless and/or wrong.

 So, You Want to Add More RAM?

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 02:13:00 +0000

Adding more RAM is not a very hard process, but you have to be aware of a few things:

1. Obviously, you can't just walk up to a salesman and say, "I want more RAM." You have to specify the type of RAM that is compatible with your motherboard. Consult the motherboard manual for this information or contact your computers' manufacturer if no manual is available.

For example, a specific type of RAM: DDR 400 (PC 3200) 184-pin.

2. Some motherboards need RAM to be installed in pairs; for example, if a motherboard has four banks (RAM slots), and you wanted to install 1 GB (or 1024 MB, to be exact) of RAM, then two 512 MB RAM sticks need to be installed instead of just one 1 GB RAM stick. Other motherboards, mostly older ones, need all the banks to be filled in order for the computer to run properly. This does not mean that you have to buy RAM sticks filled with memory, for there are "blank" RAM sticks available that are simply place holders for the empty banks. Motherboards also have a total RAM capacity; most common now is up to 4 GB.

3. You install a nice 4 GB of RAM, yet your computer is unable to utilize all of it. This is because of the Windows operating system version you are using. On average, 32-bit versions can use up to 4 GB (which really narrows down from 2.5 to 3.5, depending on other various hardware and software factors). However, 64-bit versions can use up to 128 GB--no that is not a typo--128 is three digits. Now don't go off running finding a 64 bit version and building or buying a super computer--it is highly unlikely that you will use 128 GB, or 4 GB for that matter, but nevertheless, it is important that you don't waste your money on more RAM that your computer can't handle.

 The Truth About Monitors

noreply@blogger.com (JAB) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 23:15:00 +0000

Have you ever been tempted to buy that monstrous 30" monitor for the cheap price of about $500 compared to the usual $2000? That pesky salesman says that you can get a 19" for the same price as a 15"! Before you eagerly shake his hand and place your dough in his shirt pocket, take note about the following important factors that really determine whether a monitor is excellent or really just a piece of crap.

1. The type of monitor. There are two main types: CRT and LCD.

CRT (above)- abbreviation for Cathode Ray Tube. Those are the big bulky ones with the large back and usually round screen.
Some Advantages: Very cheap, dot pitch (discussed more below) is a bit lower than LCDs.
Some Disadvantages: Takes up a lot of space, the refresh rate (discussed more below) is slower, round screen which distorts image, lower resolutions, emits radiation that can be harmful over time.

LCD (above)- abbreviation for Liquid Crystal Display. These are the thin and sleek flat pannel displays.
Some Advantages: Takes up small amount of space, refresh rate is higher, flat screen, higher resolutions, emits very little or virtually no radiation.
Some Disadvantages: More expensive than CRTs but reasonably priced, a bit higher dot pitch than CRTs.

2. Screen Resolution - The lower the resolution, the worse and less sharp the picture. Note that if a monitor has a maximum screen resolution of, say 1024 x 768, and the video card in the computer has a maximum resolution of 800 x 600, the monitor will not perform up to its capabilities, and vice versa.

3. Refresh Rate- This is the number of times per second that the video card redraws the image on the screen, measured in hertz (Hz). Note: this is not the rental car service. The more hertz, the faster the refresh rate, the more stable the image, and the lower strain there is on your eyes. Comfortable refresh rates are different for every person's eyes, the higher the better, but typical ones are from 60 Hz to 75 Hz; anything lower might be uncomfortable.

4. Dot/Pixel Pitch- One of the most important things to watch out for is that sneaky dot pitch. Dot or Pixel Pitch is the distance between each pixel, measured in millimeters. The lower the dot pitch, the better and more detailed the picture. Any monitor that has a dot pitch of .26 or less is acceptable, above the .26 range results in a decrease in detail and a rough appearance. If that cheap too-good-to-be-true monitor has a dot pitch of let's say .32, you can throw it in the trash and slam the lid.

5. VGA vs. DVI- This factor does not matter as much, but newer LCD monitors are using DVI (Digital Visual Interface), which has a faster transfer rate of data and the best performance than the VGA (Video Graphics Array).

There are other factors that constitute a good monitor, but these are the main ones to take into account. Remember that you usually pay for what you're getting.