My least favorite computer expression

My least favorite computer expression is:

“The computer won’t let me!”

Since a computer can’t actually exert any control, it really means:

“I don’t know how.”

Keep your perspective when a computer problem creeps up on you, and you'll have a better chance of solving it. Look up the problem on the web, if you can get online, or look in the Help files of any program. And, call Tech support. That's what they're there for. Of course, be sure to read "Before You Call Tech Support," in Computer Ease first.

Cheers,
Helen

The secret to being found on the web

With over 5,000 new web sites created each week, it's not easy to be found by our target audiences. How can you separate yourself and rise above the crowd.

Make it easy to be found by search engines. The sites that do best are:

In good health: They have no missing images, broken links, or outdated pages.
Smooth road: People can easily navigate and explore the site.
Newsworthy: Frequent updates with meaningful and well-organized content.
Lots of links: Search engines love links - that's the origin of the "web." Your site should have both affiliate links and reciprocal links. Read Computer Ease for more search engine tips.

And - content is still king. Compelling information worthy of the reader's time makes your web site grow in popularity.

Why Windows is so slow to boot

Have you ever wondered what your computer is doing when it takes sooooo long for Windows to boot? While you're staring at the Windows logo, the system is reporting back to Microsoft, ostensibly so it can check to see what's running on your computer. Now that people have found out this is happening every day, Microsoft is suddenly making changes.

Here's a report from InfoSelect:

Microsoft has changed a major feature found in its Windows Genuine
Advantage (WGA) software, after receiving an onslaught of complaints from
end users. The criticism is in regard to the program's daily check-ins with
the company's servers; now, the tool will dial home in 14-day intervals
instead of after every system boot.

... Click to read the rest of the article (and other InfoSelect recent articles)
online:




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Disable unwanted programs in Windows XP

If you haven't read "Computer Ease" yet, here's a reminder about disabling unwanted programs that hog your memory.

They appear when you load new programs, or run something like Quicken or Real Audio. When you close the program they often position themselves to reside in memory, to load faster the next time you need them. To free up, memory clear them out of the StartUp tab of MSConfig:

Click Start / Run and type msconfig

Click the StartupTab and uncheck any you don't need running. By unchecking you're not actually removing them from the computer, just preventing them from waiting around.

Reboot after exiting from MSConfig and the changes will take effect. You will see a message when you reboot stating someone has changed your system configuration. That someone is you - so just clear the message and you're on your way -- with more memory than you had earlier.

Staying productive away from the office

We’re great at tuning out distractions when working at home, but a hotel room or internet café is often not conducive to conducting business. If you tote your laptop along and can’t get a free wireless connection in your hotel, stay organized to make the most of your time as a café-squatter.

While working on the plane or in the hotel, keep a running list of web sites you need to review, emails you want to send once you’re online, and reply quickly to all the new mail you get, so people will know you’re in touch while out of the office.

Use your Outlook or Act calendar to create one giant “to-do” item of all these things so you don’t waste time wandering through files looking for names, numbers and bits of information.

Because you have greater security risks on any public connection, especially wireless, limit your time online to the essentials, and don’t use it checking bank account balances or for buying airline tickets or any credit card transactions.

While traveling on business this week, I’m witnessing the frustration and lost productivity by business people trying to use a Marriott hotel business center. Because Marriott doesn’t offer free wi-fi, dozens of people every hour are wasting time waiting for one of two computers, or plugging their laptops into a potentially unsafe network to read mail, then switching to web mail to send replies. And I’m telling you from experience you can waste 20 minutes and a cappuccino just trying to get onto an available connection, even at a café with free wi-fi.

Printer's Row Book Fair

Well, 80,000 people can't be wrong! The Printer's Row Book Fair really is a great event. Book vendors lined the streets, south of downtown Chicago, this weekend, in the historic Printer's Row district, while terrific author events, workshops and interviews took place within Chicago's great architecture.

Thanks to the Illinois Women's Press Assn. for allowing member/authors to sell our books. And thanks to everyone who bought Computer Ease. It wa a great crowd. I asked a Chicago policeman if we were a tough crowd to manage. "Yea, if we catch someone reading too many words, we'll book 'em."

Cheers,
Helen Gallagher

SIG's - An Untapped Resource

Newsgroups, once called SIGs (special interest groups), get lost in the clutter of the web and email but they are an important resource and handy reference when you're digging in to a specific topic.

Like what, you ask? Well, clutter, for example, and public speaking, publishing and writing, coping with loss, diseases, childcare woes, PT Cruiser lovers, Desperate Housewives fans, and thousands of other special interest.

To test-drive a newsgroup or SIG and see if it suits you, browse the list of groups at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/
http://groups.google.com/grphp?hl=en&tab=wg&q=

And remember, the web is global, so there are foreign language groups, ethnic cooking, science, religion, technology. all ready to share insights with you.

Web usage grows around the world

We know habits die hard, but they are so easy to create, especially the bad ones.
I notice the majority of my clients and colleagues use the same web sites over and over, and can go MONTHS without exploring a new site. So, I often remind people that it is the "world wide web," not only local or U.S. based content.

I occasionally find interesting news in European columns online and web sites, and when I share them, people say: "Gosh, how did you find that." Well, the world is big and the web puts it all within our reach. As I say in Computer Ease - go exploring.

So where are the greatest number of Internet users? Here are the statistics from World Opinion News:

694,260,000 Worldwide total, users age 15+, as of March 2006
152,046,000 United States
74,727 ,000 China
52,100,000 Japan
31,813 ,000 Germany
30,190 ,000 United Kingdom
24,645 ,000 South Korea
23,884 ,000 France
18,996 ,000 Canada
16,834 ,000 Italy
16,713 ,000 India

Glenview Chamber Tech Talk

We had an interesting presentation at the Glenview Chamber this morning. I posted a draft of the Tech Talk, but due to a connection problem, it didn't post. So here's a more thorough update.

We discussed the importance of gaining visibility & credibility -- two important no-cost ways to grow business. Our session included:

1. Appropriate use of email for sending BCC (blind carbon copy) email messages to clients and prospects.

2. Publishing a free blog, here at blogger.com, or typepad.com or wordpress.com. It's like getting a web site for free since you control the content and invite your clients & prospects to read updated articles you post. Be sure you always have something of value to say, be concise, and make your goals clear. If you use Google Adsense, you can also gain advertising revenue if people click on ads posted on your site.

3. I want you, my readers, to be comfortable sending email, and try your hand at a blog. But if you business is ready to move beyond that, use email as a marketing tool by sending email newsletters. Your subscribers have to opt-in so you are not allowed to send spam, they will expect and appreciate the newsletter because they actively subscribed, and they can print or forward it on to others.

To see some back issues of my Clarity Connection newsletter, click this link on my site:
http://www.cclarity.com/page4.html.

To try an email newsletter for your business, visit mailermailer.com or constantcontact.com and take a test drive. All you have to lose is postage costs !

If you have questions, email me at Helen@cclarity.com

Cheers,
Helen Gallagher

Senior's succeed online

Look at the results of a seniornet.org survey and you'll see we have a lot of seniors who put the rest of us to shame. I know 30-year olds who can't open an email attachment, but look what these sparkling seniors can do. They are the original "can do" generation!

Greatest computer interest:
71% said email
39% said emailing photos

Cool uses:
36% said managing photos
32% said creating photo albums

Other uses:
Health information
Safe and efficient with internet transactions
Talking with friends on the internet
State, local, and federal government info on web sites
Financial management
Greeting cards
Genealogy research

I know from my own clients at Computer Clarity that seniors are participating in all of these tasks and more. Bravo !!

Keeping children safe online

MySpace.com is rightly critized for its unsupervised e-playground, letting children express themselves, thinking only their friends are seeing the profiles and photos. Children don't always understand how very public the web is, and how easily predators can find children to contact.

Yet, many parents realize there is danger in simpler online experiences, such as Instant Maessaging (IM). And, kids love being able to talk to their friends through IM and online chat, at AOL, ICQ, Yahoo etc.

Kids also use codes and abbreviations so you can't always tell what they are typing:

CUL8R (see you later)
POS (parent over shoulder)
MML (meet me later) and
SLAP (sounds like a plan) are just a few.

My personal favorite acronym is BFOO (blinding flash of the obvious), but what goes on with kids and computers isn't always obvious to us. Here are a few tips to keep in mind if your children have a consuming interest in IM and other online chat services.

Block messages from unknown users - so only your own friends can access the pop-up IM chat window in your computer. Otherwise you are opening the door to strangers, and inviting viruses, popups and malicious spyware.

Make sure their online profile is minimal. They should not reveal age, sex, pet names, or the name of their school - just chat about topics like books, TV, celebrities and homework.

Above all, talk to your children, and make sure you know whether their online conversations are appropriate, just as you would if they were talking with friends in the back seat of the car when you're driving them to school.

More online resources for online safety for families:

• GetNetWise
• ProtectKids.com
• Safekids.com

CNet.com recommends a kid-friendly search engine such as KidGrid is a Yahoo-like search engine with categorized links, all of which have been designated safe. Kaboose provides fun stuff for kids and parents alike, from online games to party planning. You can also steer the family to lii.org - a search engine pre-screened by librarians for appropriate content.

Feel free to share this article by highlighting to cut & paste and email to friends.
But, respect copyright by including this too:

Reprinted with permission
All contents copyright, Helen Gallagher, March 14, 2006
author: Computer Ease, ISBN 1589398157

Work from anywhere

A new product from Avvenu.com offers remote access to your files. It works like Gotomypc ($19.95/month) but is free.

You can access and share files, download them to revise, but mostly see your office computer when you're away.

I'll be testing it out over the next week and let you know if it's a winner.

Ultimate laptop launch on March 9, 2006 ?

Microsoft has a product ready to launch any day now that promises to shake up my world -- a tiny laptop with full functionality. Here's what I learned so far:

It is expected to be a tablet mobile PC , running Windows XP, with built-in wireless, weighing about one pound and sporting a battery that lasts all day.

There will be different models & versions, priced under $1,000 and Microsoft is expected to roll it out at the CeBit trade show in Germany next week.

Stay tuned for more news,

Helen

How to "watch" your money

Your computer can help you track your investments, monitor spending and control paperwork too. How?

1. Get online reports from banks and brokers. Cut & paste the information from web screens into Excel for further analysis.

2. Download bank and brokerage statments directly into Microsoft Money, Quicken, or QuickBooks.

3. Build an online portfolio at your broker or at www.smartmoney.com to track your investment progress month-to-month. Request they stop the monthly cycle of paper statements, and just switch to receiving them every six months. I don't know if all brokers do this, but Edward Jones is one who does.

4. Start your web browsing sessions with a home page customized to show your stock and mutual funds value. You can do this from just about any home page: Fidelity, Google, Morningstar, SBC, Yahoo, and more.

So, don't just file those paper statements away--- put the information in the computer, receive live web updates, and know where your money is and how it's growing.

Technology changes fast !!

What's old is new. And guess what's considered 'old' already -- the IPod. Yep, it's true.

Top among the best ten gadgets at cnet.com, No. 1 is Creative Zen Vision's IPod-ish dynamo. It's got MP3, portable video on a 2.5 inch screen, a voice recorder, FM tuner and recorder.

Also on the list, Sony PSO Playstation seems to be ahead of Microsoft Xbox 360 - possibly due to Sony's supply/demand edge.
But Microsoft's product has reputation of overheating and crashing, so Sony rules.

Sony wins again with the Sony Ericsson w800i. It's a cell phone with MP3, FM tuner, good sound quality, speakerphone and camera.

Keep up with edgy tech at Cnet.com or my site www.cclarity.com to sign up for a free monthly tech newsletter.

Computer Ease praise

This is my absolute favorite testimonial for Computer Ease so far:

"If I had not been reading your book an hour ago, I'd be breathing into a paper bag by now! I just had a huge, terrible problem when my computer screen started dancing, and I stayed calm !"

Thank you,
MOC, 12/04/05

Computer Ease is available for holiday purchases at my site, www.cclarity.com or an major online retailers: BookSense independent retailers, Books-A-Million, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Powell's.

Computer Ease is a state of mind...

My book, Computer Ease is now available at online retailers, including

virtualbookworm.com/computerease.html

amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1589398157/103-3539844-1946238?v=
glance&n=283155&s=books&v=glance

Barnes & Noble.com
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/
isbnInquiry.asp?userid=mk46bSWCKI&isbn=1589398157&itm=1

and many more.

It's available in print or as an ebook, for an instant reference document that's always at hand, right in your Adobe reader program.

If you need a dose of clarity and want to understand why computers do what they do, you'll enjoy Computer Ease.

I had a great time writing it. For an interesting article on the self-publishing process see this link to the Miami Herald today: http://www.gallagherink.com/selfpub.html

Cheers, my friends,

Helen

See, this is why I never trust Microsoft

ZDNet(www.zdnet.com) is among the many web sites posting a warning today that another Microsoft 'fix' is actually causing more problems than usual:

Microsoft patch meant to fix critical security flaws in Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 is causing trouble for some users, the company said Friday.

The patch was released Tuesday to fix four Windows flaws, including one that experts predict will be exploited by a worm in the coming days. The flaw, tagged "critical" by Microsoft, lies in a Windows component for transaction processing called the Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator, or MSDTC.

Installing the patch can cause serious problems, Microsoft said in an advisory posted to its Web site Friday. The patch could lock users out of their PC, prevent the Windows Firewall from starting, block certain applications from running or installing, and empty the network connections folder, among other things, the software maker said.

The trouble appears to occur only when default permission settings on a Windows directory have been changed, according to Microsoft. The software maker has received "limited reports" of problems from customers but is still investigating the issue, a representative said.

Even if users experience PC trouble after installing the patch, they will still be protected against any attack exploiting the Windows flaw, a Microsoft representative said. The patch was delivered with Microsoft security bulletin MS05-051.

To resolve any problems caused by the MS05-051 patch, users should restore the default permissions for the Windows folder and the COM+ catalog. A guide is available on the Microsoft Web site, and steps start with changing the permissions on the "registration" folder in the Windows directory.

If you need help, giv eme a call. As you know, I continue to recommend clients don't go overboard on applying the Microsoft Service Pack or downloading patches. If you use good anti-virus and anti-spyware software, plus a hardware or software filewall, and if you use Netscape instead of Internet Explorer, you're safe.

In my morning's mail...

This is a perfect example of a typical phishing scam. It's an attempt to get you to reveal your credit card information. As you read it, there is NO doubt that it is not legitimate. You won't fall victim if you read carefully enough. These scams are often most obvious by their poor use of English and grammar. Read on...

We recently noticed one or more attempts to use your Amazon account for a foreign IP address, to sell a lot of goods from www.amazon.com, and we have reasons to believe that your Amazon account was hijacked by a third party without your notification.

If you recently use your Amazon account while traveling to a foreign country, the unusual use attempts may have been made by you.

However if you are the rightful owner of the Amazon account, click on the link below and submit as we are truing to verify your credit card information.

MIT's $100 crank-operated laptop

For a long time, MIT has been developing a low-price laptop computer for use by children in primary and secondary education around the world, particularly in developing countries. The laptops should start appearing in volume in late 2006.

The 500MHz laptop will run a "skinny version" of the open-source Linux operating system. It will have a two-mode screen, so it can be viewed in color and then by pushing a button or activating software switch to a black-and-white display, which can be viewed in bright sunlight at four times normal resolution, according to Negroponte. He estimates the display will cost around $35.

The laptop can be powered either with an AC adapter or via a wind-up crank, which is stored in the housing of the laptop where the hinge is located. The laptops will have a 10 to 1 crank rate, so that a child will crank the handle for one minute to get 10 minutes of power and use. When closed, the hinge forms a handle and the AC cord can function as a carrying strap, according to Negroponte. The laptops will be ruggedized and probably made of rubber, he said. They will have four USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports, be Wi-Fi- and cell phone enabled and come with 1G byte of memory.