by Norm Salzberg |
Joy of Computing |
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on January 19, 2012.
Although this year's Consumer Electronics Show (in Las Vegas) unveiled no revolutionary got-to-have computer products, two evolutions were significant:
- VIZIO, maker of competitively priced quality Television sets, announced that it will market all-in-one desktop computers and lightweight notebook computers. The desktops will have 24- or 27-inch High Definition screens (suitable for entertainment centers) and contain all the components of traditional desktop boxes. These computers will be available sometime this spring. More information can be found at www.vizio.com/ces#computers..
- By April 2012 Microsoft will release a Beta test version of Windows 8, an upgrade to its Windows 7 operating system. Windows 8 loads faster and changes the Windows 7 Start screen to a tile-based presentation, similar to a smart phone or tablet display of applications (apps). Windows 8 is designed for touch screens, allowing users to maneuver and open apps and files with a finger tip, as if it were an iPad2. It will still work with a keyboard and mouse, for users averse to typing on a virtual keyboard.
Many Tablet Computers were touted at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). They ranged from 7-inch to 10-inch displays, running under the Linux Android operating system. Prices vary from $79 to just under the cost of an iPad2. The $89 Pandigital Novel tablet I bought at Big Lots works well with the Internet via WiFi. I can get West Coast email and gmail on it. My next project is downloading books from Barnes & Noble and the OC Public Library system.
Among the myriad of gadgets promoted at the CES was Liquipel, a waterproof treatment for cell phones. This $59 product will keep a phone dry when dropped into a pool, hot tub or bathroom fixture.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on January 5, 2012.
Cyber crimes and cyber warfare attempts were in the news many times in the past year. Hackers, scammers, foreign powers, anti-government and terrorist organizations are a menace to businesses and governments. A second tier of hackers preys on individuals by infecting their computers with malicious software designed to steal personal information, turn their computer into a spam sending robot, or to dupe them into paying for a cure for bogus infections. “How well is your security and privacy protected, and what can you do to improve it?” is an important question for computer users.
Computer security settings are found in the Control Panel under Security Center for Windows XP systems and under Action Center for Windows 7 configurations. The Windows 7 Control Panel, when set to View by Icons (rather than View by Categories) shows the Action Center. Click on Action Center, then click on the Security heading to reveal the following settings: Network firewall, Virus protection, Spyware and unwanted software protection, Internet Security, User Account Control, Automatic Windows Update, and Network Access Protection. If the antivirus program is out of date or its subscription has expired, replace it with a free program such as Microsoft’s Security Essentials or AVG 2012. These programs combine antivirus and antispyware protection.
User Access Control may seem like a nuisance when trying to install or open programs, but it’s essential for preventing hackers from manipulating a computer; do not turn this protection off. Many Windows updates provide security fixes to the operating system; always allow them to be installed. Network Access Protection is needed when more than one computer is connected to the Internet. A router is an excellent firewall even if you are not using WiFi signals. However, no firewall will protect you if you click on a link in an email message; you invited the download.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on December 22, 2011.
Our community web site – lagunawoodsvillage.com – lists over 235 clubs, ranging from the Aero-Space club to the Yacht club. About half of these organizations have web pages on the Village site or their own web sites.
One popular site is the Men’s Golf Club at lwmgc.org. Along with tournament information, this site provides a detailed history of golf in the Village starting in 1964 when there were no greens fee to play golf. It also has a link to some great instructional videos.
The PC Club’s web site can be found at thepcclub.org. Information on classes offered in the Club's Learning Center are shown as well as PC Workshop hours of operation. From the Table of Contents, you can find a page containing Joy of Computing columns going back one year. Links to the Camera, Mac and Video Clubs are provided.
The Camera Club's web site – lhcameraclub.com – has links to free on-line Photoshop training videos from the Resources option on its Table of Contents. You can view amazing pictures taken by club members from the site’s Winning Images Archive by clicking on a critique event and then clicking on an image title.
The Mac Club’s web site – themacclub.org – has links to Tutorials and Helpful Sites in its Table of Contents. Editorials and Newsletters opened from the Contents list also contain tutorials from basic to advanced operations.
The Astronomy Club has a page on lagunawoodsvillage.com. To find it, click on the Clubs and Club Web Pages option and select List of Clubs A J. Links to scientific and educational sites are listed in the bottom of the Astronomy Club's page.
To learn what’s happening and planned for in local government; visit lagunawoodscity.org.
Wishing you Joy of Computing in the New Year.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on December 8, 2011.
As the holidays approach, here’s a caveat to observe when shopping for a new computer: Don’t overbuy match the processor to your needs: a dual-processor, such as an Intel i3, or equivalent, is fast enough, unless you are conducting a business or playing interactive games online. The same goes for WiFi Routers low-end ratings, like N-150, are fine, as long as you’re not streaming movies to a remote TV. And most printers in the $100 range are adequate to connect via WiFi, print, scan and copy, unless you are printing photos for art shows.
When shopping online, visit reputable companies and make sure the http:// address of the web site that opens shows the desired vender. Hackers can redirect your request to a rogue web site if they’ve gotten into your computer. When checking out your shopping basket, verify that the address shows https:// to confirm that a secure transaction will take place. Never click on links in emails claiming to take you to sites with deals that are too good to be true. Likewise, don’t click on links in pop-up windows promising big savings. Either the stuff they are selling is counterfeit or the site will corrupt your computer.
If you are shopping for a laptop computer, try the keyboard on a demonstration model before buying. There’s no standardization of laptop keyboards. Some models reverse the dual use of Function keys, requiring you to press a special F key to get the function that a standard desktop keyboard provides. I’ve found keyboards with a reversed Function key that turns off the built in WiFi receiver without requiring a second key to be depressed. Other keys may be found in strange locations or may not be provided at all.
Happy and safe shopping.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on November 24, 2011.
Subscriber counts reported at November’s Broadband Services Committee meeting show 7,151 residences (56 percent of the Village) are accessing the Internet over our High-Speed Cable service. While it’s taken seven years to reach this level, in only one year, digital telephone service is used by over 3,000 residences (24 percent) and digital television subscribers amount to 33 percent of all units. Also reported: free WiFi Internet access is now available at the Village Greens, our new golf facility, as well as all seven Clubhouses and the Community Center.
The tenth WiFi spot will be the Library, once reconstruction is completed. Even with 29 antenna stations covering these facilities, some blind spots (where reception is hindered by steel structure or electrical noise) will occur. If your smart phone, iPad, eBook tablet or laptop can’t connect to the free WiFi signal, just move a few feet; similar to finding good cell phone reception.
Amazon's Kindle Fire, a 7-inch color touch screen eBook reader with WiFi capability and 8 gigabytes of memory, is selling for $199. That’s less than Amazon’s production cost. Amazon expects to make a profit by selling eBooks, Apps and the myriad of merchandise available on its web site. Barnes & Noble’s new Nook 7-inch Tablet with double the memory and a memory expansion slot, costs $249. Although neither item is as capable as an Apple iPad, they cost a lot less than the basic iPad at $499.
Other inexpensive 7-inch color tablets are available. I bought a Pandigital Novel 7-inch multimedia eReader at Big Lots for $89. It takes some practice to use this kind of gadget, but it works. I used it at Clubhouse 6 to surf the Internet and check email, thanks to Laguna Woods free WiFi service.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on November 3, 2011.
“Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage”, “Unable to connect to the Internet”, “Unable to send or receive messages” and similar frustrating notices occur when your computer loses Internet access. After your Internet Service Provider (West Coast or AT&T) assures you their equipment and circuits are working properly, call the PC Workshop, the MAC Learning Center, or someone who is technically savvy, for help. Sometimes I get the call. Reestablishing Internet access depends on the type of modem and router installed and the computer’s status.
Here are a few situations I have encountered: modem or router, or both, out of synchronization; wireless (WiFi) link turned off; computer corrupted by a recent change, update or program installation; and disconnected cables. If the modem and router connections are intact, a quick fix may be had by resynchronizing these units. The original Motorola cable modem can be turned off by removing the power cord from its back panel and waiting 20 seconds before replugging it, the Cisco digital phone and Internet modem can be reset by pressing a ballpoint pen tip in the Reboot hole in its back for three seconds. DSL modems vary and can be resynched by one of the preceding methods.
Routers without a power switch can be turned off by removing the power cord. If the router has a wireless On/Off pushbutton located in the back, reset it. Routers do go bad and have to be replaced. Laptop computers have a mechanical switch or a Function key to turn their WiFi receiver On and Off. It’s easy to accidentally turn the receiver off, so make sure the setting is in the On mode. If none of these procedures work, try restoring the computer to a date before Internet access was lost.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on October 6, 2011.
The Recycle Bin and the Deleted Items Folder (in Outlook Express, Outlook, Windows Mail or Windows Live Mail) are different entities. Deleted non-mail files or folders go into the Recycle Bin, while emails deleted from the Inbox or Sent Items folder go into the Deleted Items Folder. More important: emptying the Recycle Bin does not empty the Deleted Items folder. As a consequence, some users accumulate hundreds, if not thousands, of old messages clogging the Deleted Items folder. Overstuffed Sent Items and Deleted Items folders can slow down a computer.
Here are a few measures to clean up these folders and organize mail you want to keep. First: create new Folders to save mail under categories such as Family Members, Clubs, Humor, and Reservation confirmations. Do this by right-button-clicking on the Inbox, or the Folders’ Header, and selecting the New Folder option from the pop-up menu. Then name the new folder and click OK. Now you can move mail by clicking and dragging it to the desired Folder. Next, the Deleted Items folder can be set to automatically empty when you exit the mail program.
For Windows Live Mail: click on the dark blue Tab in the upper left corner of the window to open a menu, select Options Mail the Advanced Tab Maintenance and then place a check mark in the Empty messages from the Deleted Items folder on exit box. For Outlook Express: Open the Tools Menu and select Options and then the Maintenance Tab to check the Empty messages on exit box. Finally, if you are saving sent mail, delete message after a reasonable passage of time.
Hotmail, Gmail and YahooMail users can do likewise to sort mail, but they don’t have to worry about deleting old stuff because it’s not saved locally.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on September 22, 2011.
Keyboard shortcuts can save time and effort. They eliminate sequential mouse manipulations to accomplish program operations. Shortcuts usually involve the Ctrl (Control) or Alt (Alternate) key plus (+) another key or keys.
Some of my favorite keyboard shortcuts are: Ctrl + P to open the Print window; Ctrl + C to Copy a highlighted portion of text in a document, email or web page; Ctrl + X to remove highlighted text; Ctrl + V to Paste what was previously copied or cut (the P key is already used for Print); and a life-saver, Ctrl + Z to Undo a previous action.
To save a new document, or any file type being created, use the shortcut Ctrl + S. This opens the Save As window, letting you name the document and designate where to save the file. It’s important to save your work as it progresses in order not to lose it due to keyboard errors. Perplexing situations can arise by accidentally depressing the Ctrl key instead of the adjacent Shift key when typing an upper case A or N. Inadvertently pressing Ctrl + A, the shortcut for Select All highlights the whole document; the next keystroke then replaces everything. To recover your work, use Ctrl + Z to Undo the wipe out. Ctrl + N opens a new document page, right over your current work. Don’t despair when seeing a blank page, just close the new document and your work in progress will reappear.
For an extensive list of keyboard shortcuts go to support.microsoft.com/kb/126449 or support.apple.com/kb/ht1343 for Mac computers. Another useful shortcut is Windows Logo key + Pause to open the System window which lists your computer’s Information including Operating System, processor type, and memory (RAM).
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on August 25, 2011.
Free wireless (WiFi) Internet access will officially be available at all Clubhouses and the first floor of the Community Center in September, courtesy of Broadband Services. This is the newest Village amenity. These locales are called “hot spots;” that’s technical jargon for areas with public WiFi networks. In an informal survey, I connected to the Internet via “Laguna_Woods_WiFi,” the name of this network, at four Clubhouses and the Community Center, using my laptop.
Here are some caveats to observe when using Village “hot spots:” when outdoors, a screen is difficult to read due to sunlight and reflections; very few AC outlets are available to power or charge a laptop; there is no security when using a public wireless network; and remember: smart phones and iPads are not waterproof, so don’t use them while in a hot tub. Currently not all areas of large Clubhouses are hotspots until all gateway repeater antennas are activated.
The Village Greens, our new golf building, when completed, will also have free WiFi service. In addition, both the PC Club and the Mac Club facilities on the third floor of the Community Center provide WiFi access for laptop users. If you have questions or problems concerning your laptop, bring it to the respective computer workshop to get help.
Our community now has over 7,000 manors subscribing to high-speed Internet access over Broadband Services’ TV cable system. We’ve come a long way since West Coast Internet started installing modems in March 2004, shortly after GRF approved installation of front-end equipment on the basis that 500 residents would sign up for service. The PC Club spearheaded a petition drive in 2003 to motivate GRF to allocate funds for high-speed Internet service.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on August 11, 2011.
Here are a few tips to make your computing experience more enjoyable. First; shut down (power off) a computer when finished using it for the day. Leaving a computer on for long periods, even in sleep or hibernate mode, will eventually cause it to lose track of its configuration and not work properly. Power down a computer by going to the Start Button and clicking on Shut Down. If a computer freezes up (the mouse or keyboard does not respond) depress the Power button for five seconds to force a shut down. Computers may be turned on and off thousands of times without harmful effects to hard drives and other parts.
To speed up a computer that still runs slowly after using disc cleanup tools, either add more Random Access Memory (RAM) or use a flash memory in Ready Boost Mode. Ready Boost works for Vista and Windows 7 computers and is less expensive than adding RAM, especially for laptops. After inserting a flash memory, the Autoplay window should pop up. Scroll down to select the “Speed up my System” option (not all flash memories have this option). When the Removable Disk window opens, select the ReadyBoost Tab. Under the Tab, select the third choice, “Use this device,” set the space reserved for speed up to maximum and click OK.
Finally, protect your computer from malicious software infections by using an anti-virus program that includes anti-spyware protection. There are several good free programs available; AVG 2011, Avast and Microsoft's Security Essentials are popular choices. Do not install more than one anti-virus program. Keep the program active and updated. And never click on a link in an unusual email, even from a friend.
Following these tips may prevent expensive service calls.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on July 21, 2011
To make computer usage safer and more pleasant, or at least less frustrating, there are a few things you can do. One is to have a different, and strong, password for each mail, bank, brokerage, credit card, and personal account, as well as for a WiFi Router. Hackers can break simple passwords after learning about you (address, phone number, etc.) from public domain web sites. Hence, use of simple words, family names, birthdays, addresses or phone numbers is not recommended.
Passwords should be a combination of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers and punctuation marks. They need not be random combinations but based on easy to remember mnemonics or sentences; for example: MFAfUM'1962 for Master of Fine ARTS from University of Maine '62 is a very strong password. Make passwords relevant to the type of account; for example, a prescription drug service account password can be based on your doctor’s name or office. Use of jargon terms for a hobby or sport; 7Spades (for bridge bidding) or Double-bogeyonhole18 (for golf) will work. And always keep an up-to-date list of website addresses, Id’s and passwords handy.
Another good practice is to keep all discs that came with your computer, printer, router and application programs is a safe place. Then you will be able to retrieve them in case the computer has to be restored due to a hardware failure, corrupted program or serious infection. In addition, back up personal documents, photos and email addresses to an external memory device or web service for the same reason.
Space will only permit one additional practice. That is to have anti-virus and anti-spyware programs active and updated. Good practices will lead to more Joy of Computing.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on July 7, 2011
How do you tell a valid pop-up message from a malicious one? Most pop-up windows appearing at start-up are legitimate notices from programs and applications already installed in a computer. They usually advise that updates are available for download and installation. Updates improve a program's performance or increase its security. Always allow Microsoft Windows, Adobe, Flash, Java and any programs you installed to update. Follow the displayed steps to permit the update to proceed; once started, the update will continue in the background while you use your computer.
The big exception is pop-up warnings by a rogue program that your computer is infected with viruses and Trojans and that the only cure is to buy their special removal program. The actual infection is malicious software (malware) spoofing actual security programs, causing one or more pop-up warnings and preventing remedial action. These rogue programs are called “scareware” for good reason. They have names like Malware Protection and Vista Anti-spyware 2011. To avoid malware infections - use up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spyware programs and avoid links to unfamiliar websites that may be corrupted with malware.
Removal of malware is sometimes possible by scanning the computer with a good removal tool like Malwarebytes (it’s free at malwarebytes.org) or restoring the computer to a time prior to the infection. Some malware infections bury themselves so deep in a computer that the only recourse is to reformat the hard drive and reinstall the operating system and all programs. Because reformatting wipes out document and picture files, as well as your email address book, you will have to reinstall them from an external memory device. If you haven’t backed up those important files, do it now; you've been warned!
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on June 23, 2011
The Windows XP operating system is almost 10 years old; its release date was October 21, 2001. Computers running XP range from three to 10 years of age. Without scrupulous maintenance, computers over five years old may run slow, tend to freeze and show strange error messages on start up (previous columns discussed techniques for tuning up computers). After five years of use, operating parts can wear out, especially the hard drive, resulting in loss of stored files.
An easy way to save important personal data files and photos is to copy them to an external memory device. Right button click on a file or folder and select the “Send To” option for the external device. Inexpensive USB flash memories now hold 8 MegaBytes; enough for most document and image collections. Other backup methods include external hard drives or Carbonite’s automatic online storage service for $59 a year.
The PC Workshop will start replacing its Windows XP computers with new Windows 7 PCs this summer. All Workshop Vista computers have been updated to Windows 7. When the XP-to-Windows-7 conversion is finished, the Workshop will no longer have computers with floppy drives. If you still have personal data files saved on floppies, now is the time to bring them to the Workshop for transfer to CD’s, DVD’s or flash memory devices.
Before contacting an outside service when a computer, printer or Internet access problem occurs, call the PC Workshop. If the on-duty staff can’t help, the Greeters have a list of Workshop Supervisors who make house calls to clear up frustrating computer situations. If your laptop is balky, or you need help using it, bring the laptop to the Workshop. Both wireless and wired Internet access is available for laptops.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on June 9, 2011
The iGadget revolution began 10 years ago with Apple’s iPod music player. The iPod stores music downloaded from Apple’s iTunes web site. From that simple iPod, Apple has introduced many versatile versions of the iPod. In June 2007, the first iPhones were marketed, and in April 2010, Apple released the iPad for sale. Over three million iPads were sold in the first 80 days. In the past decade, Apple’s world of gadgets has evolved to a new, popular second-generation iPad.
The iPad 2 is a super fast computer-like gadget. It can access the Internet using a WiFi signal or 3G (third generation) cellular tower signals. The WiFi version starts at $499 and units with both WiFi and 3G cellular access start at $629. Add $100 to go from 16 GB (Gigabytes) to 32 GB iPads. The iPad2 has front and back cameras; the front camera for communication using Apple's FaceTime long distance video calls (to other Apple users) and the back camera for taking photos to share online. Its battery is rated to last 10 hours before recharging.
With no USB ports, the iPad cannot interface directly with a printer, but it will send print jobs to a designated number of WiFi-ready HP printers. Files can also be emailed to other computers for printing. A number of email services are supported, including Gmail. The iPad touch screen is simple to use and, when needed, can display a virtual keyboard for alphanumeric entries. It can also function as an eBook reader, eliminating the need for a Kindle or Nook device. And its back-lit screen can be read in a dark room.
Apple will shortly introduce the iCloud remote mass memory system for storage of music and other personal files accessible to all authorized computers and iPads.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on May 26, 2011
Modems convert television or telephone signals to digital patterns to link a computer to the Internet via an Internet Provider. Modems modulate output signals and demodulate input signals; hence the name “modem.” Routers are used to connect one or more computers to a modem, in addition to acting as a firewall to prevent hacker intrusions. These two hardware devices require no attention once installed, but you should know where they are located in case of trouble.
Routers emit radio signals by a process called Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), to connect nearby WiFi-enabled laptops to the Internet. A WiFi source is often called a Hotspot. Hotels, airports, coffee shops and other public places provide unsecured WiFi Internet access. Desktop computers may also be connected wirelessly to the Internet by installing a WiFi receiver card or USB plug-in unit. Security and privacy are concerns when using WiFi access due to the possibility of others tapping into the radio transmissions. To avoid this, routers should be set to encrypt signals with WPA (Wireless Protected Access). Your receiving computer must now be set with the router’s SSID (Service Set Identifier, or name given to the router) and its Password.
WiFi reception can be impeded, or slowed down, by radio signals from nearby cordless phones, microwave units and other WiFi routers. Continuous Internet access requires your modem, router and computer to be synchronized. If you lose Internet access (synchronization); turn off all three units (pull the power cords to the modem and router, if necessary) and sequentially repower the modem (all lights come on), then repower the router and finally the computer. If still no Internet access, call for help.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on May 5, 2011
The World Wide Web (WWW) was developed 20 years ago to make it easy to access information on the Internet. Application programs known as web browsers are used to retrieve information stored on web sites. Browsers locate a particular web page by its Uniform Resource Locator (URL), commonly know as the web page’s address. A typical URL is entered in the following format: www.howstuffworks.com. One of the earliest browsers was Netscape which was preempted by Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. Netscape evolved into the Firefox browser. Today the three most popular PC Computer browsers are Internet Explorer, Firefox and Google’s Chrome. Mac computers use Safari, Firefox and Google’s Chrome.
All browsers are released in a sequence of versions. Internet Explorer 8.0 and 9.0, Firefox 3.6 and 4.0, Chrome 10 and 11, and Safari 4 and 5 are most recent. Usage statistics vary by how and where data is gathered. Roughly: Internet Explorer is used 40%, Firefox about 30%, Chrome inched up to 16%, and Safari 6% of the time. Google’s Chrome browser was a radical design departure from the traditional Menu laden versions of Internet Explorer and Firefox. The latest versions of Explorer and Firefox have adopted Chrome’s minimal screen presentation which requires users to learn where to find Tools, Options, and Bookmarks (Favorites).
Internet Explorer 9 has received good reviews for its ability to prevent malicious software attacks; however, it will not support computers running Windows XP. All other browsers still operate with XP. Internet Explorer 10, now in pre-release, will not support Vista. I have Internet Explorer 9.0, Firefox 4.0 and Chrome 11 on my Windows 7 PC. I like Chrome best for its ability to remember more Id’s and passwords than the other two browsers.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on April 21, 2011
The Internet is a great place to look for information about people, things, places, events, recipes, etc. The tool to do this is called a search engine, a web site that collects and organizes information from the Internet. The three most used search engines are Google, Bing and Yahoo, although there are many others. These are free web sites. They make money by placing Ads and links to Sponsored web sites on their search results pages. Google is the current usage leader with 64% of all search queries. Microsoft’s Bing (formerly MSN Search) has moved up to 30%; half due its own web site; the other half by supplying search results for Yahoo. The remaining 6% represents specialty search engines.
When searching for a common item such as Apples, the results can be overwhelming. To narrow a search, use the Advanced Search link next to the search bar and be more specific. Quotation marks around a name or phrase improve the search.
Google has introduced a new feature - in the form of a game: A Google A Day. It poses questions requiring a search for unusual tidbits of information. Visit www.agoogleaday.com to play and learn neat ways to use a search engine.
Specialty search engines are also very useful. For information and reviews on movies, visit www.imdb.com, the international movie data base. For new and used car prices, visit www.kbb.com, Kelley Blue Book's web site. For mathematical and scientific information visit, www.wolframalpha.com, a computational knowledge engine. For up-to-date real estate sales data and listings, visit www.zillow.com. A complete list of Search Engines can be found at www.thesearchenginelist.com. However, none will tell you where you left your car keys.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on April 7, 2011
Nullum Gratuitum Prandium is Latin for “There is no free lunch.” That aphorism is more true today than when the Romans understood it. Whether by phone, US mail or via the Internet, most free offers come with strings (or worse) attached. However, there are free programs that work as well as costly commercial applications - without infecting your computer or pestering you with ads. Here are a few free programs I use regularly:
- Open Office, Version 3.3, instead of Microsoft's Office Suite (for word processing, spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations)
- Picasa 3.8 for photo organizing and simple photo editing instead of Photoshop Elements 9 - and the following utility applications:
- For Anti-virus and anti-spyware, I use Microsoft's free Security Essentials rather than Norton or McAfee which require an annual subscription fee.
- An alternate security program is AVG Free Edition 2011. However, the AVG web site is tricky to navigate to avoid downloading a costly commercial version.
- The free version of Malwarebytes is a security program that I’ve used effectively to ferret out Trojan horses and other malicious infections.
- CCleaner 3.05 is a free utility I use to remove temporary files, cookies and other vestigial stuff from my hard drive.
To locate the web site for downloading any of these free programs, enter the application’s name in the Google (or Yahoo or Bing) search bar. From the search results, select a link for downloading and then click on the download option when the web page opens. Save the download to the Desktop for ease in locating and then click on its Icon. Follow the installation instructions which may require closing any open programs and restarting your computer. Lunch may not be free but these programs are.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on March 24, 2011
The Information Age began in 1838 when Morse demonstrated his telegraph. His invention reduced the time to send a message from days or weeks to minutes. Communication improved with Bell’s “telephone exchange” in 1878 and Marconi’s radio signals in 1895. Today we have many choices for voice communication; AT&T, Vonage, Magic Jack, mobile/cell phone, Skype and, now, digital phone service via our Broadband cable system.
Voice communication can go over wires, radio waves or the Internet. We grew up using the Telephone Company’s twisted pair of wires running to and throughout every house. No AC power is required (unless a cordless phone is used) and no computer is needed. The Bell system claims a reliability of 99.999 percent. Vonage is a low cost alternate to AT&T. It uses a home"s wiring to connect phones to the outside world via an Internet modem; no computer is involved.
MagicJack is another low cost way of making phone calls, however, it requires a computer to be on and connected to the Internet. Cell phones replace the need for wires or Internet access. They use radio links to Cell towers owned by wireless services such as Verizon and T-Mobile. Monthly charges can be high and reception varies with location. Skype calls are made with a computer, microphone and speakers. They’re free to other computer users and, for a nominal charge, to telephones.
The Village’s Broadband digital phone service uses a modem connected to your TV Cable. It does not involve using a computer. Various call packages are available. This new service is still refining its operation. As of February, 1900 residents were digital phone subscribers and 6,774 residents were using Broadband’s Internet service.
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on March 10, 2011
A Windows 7 computer may require the latest version of an application program that ran well under Windows XP. Older program versions, designed before Windows 7 (or Vista) and 64-bit processors, may not run, or communicate with a printer, when installed in the new environment. This was the case recently with older versions of Quicken and PrintMaster software. My four-year-old HP Printer-Scanner-Copier would not scan images into Photoshop until I download a free Windows 7 compatible driver from hp.com. The Windows Plug and Play feature only installed a print capability. Printer manufacturers provide free drivers for download at their web sites.
The transition to Windows 7 may be a daunting experience, especially if it is due to the demise of a Windows XP computer. Initially there is bereavement over the loss of an old, faithful workhorse. Then there's the confusing task of selecting a new desktop or laptop from the many makes and models available when shopping for a replacement. Next comes setting up the new machine, which includes installing programs (Quicken, Photoshop, Office, Greeting Cards, Anti-Virus, Games and drivers for peripheral equipment such as a printer, webcam, and camera) assuming you still have the installation disks. And finally, transferring personal files (email address book, Favorites, documents and photos) that were saved to an external memory from the XP computer.
The 2011 version of Windows Live Mail (Microsoft's version of Outlook Express for Windows 7) provides a quick way to insert images in a message without having to change resolution or size in order to fit the picture on the screen.
Once you're up and running, a Windows 7 PC's speed will make the transition worth while. norm.maven@gmail.com
Send your questions and comments to my Gmail address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on Feb 24, 2011
Previous columns reviewed free programs that are as good as their commercial counterparts. They included Microsoft Security Essentials (for Anti-virus and Anti-spyware protection) and Open Office (for word processing, spread sheets and power point creation). Now there is a free hard drive cleaner to remove temporary files, cookies, histories, remnants from downloads and useless registry entries. This tool is CCleaner 3.0 from Piriform Ltd, a London based software developer. They claim it has been installed over 600 million times. CCleaner 3.0 downloads and installs fast from www.piriform.com.
CCleaner’s name probably refers to the designation of computer’s hard drives as the letter ’C.’. It does a more complete job of removing unwanted and unnecessary stuff than the Disk Cleanup utility found in Windows System Tools and a web browser's history and cookie removal options. CCleaner covers Internet Explorer, Firefox and Google’s Chrome browser. It also opens the Installed Programs list faster than the Windows' Control Panel option for Removing programs. Prior to any major cleanups, it is recommended to set a System Restore Point by going to Computer > System Properties >System Protection window to find that option.
Not all Cookies should be removed. Web browsers use these small text files to save passwords and other useful data to let users reopen their personalized web pages. Third party cookies are used by advertisers to determine which ads to display on visited web sites. Some advertisers take advantage of this information to determine a users shopping history. CCleaner's options allow you to select which cookies to keep and which ones to remove. Now you can get a jump on spring cleaning.
Send your questions to my Google address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on Feb 10, 2011
For those still using Personal Computers (PC's) running Windows XP, be advised that their days are numbered. Windows XP was released in August 2001 to replace Windows ME and Windows 2000 with improved stability, security and new features. XP was subsequently upgraded by Service Packs (SP) 1, 2 and 3. Microsoft stopped offering XP to dealers and vendors on January 31, 2009. Last year over 350 Million computers were sold; most were PC’s running Windows 7. If your old XP workhorse is getting slow or balky, delete temporary files, remove programs from the Start Up list, add more random access memory (RAM), defrag the hard drive and run a malware sweep to remove infections. It your PC is over 5 years old, back up important files to an external memory; hardware doesn’t last forever.
Google unveiled its Art Project on February 2nd. By visiting www.googleartproject.com you can tour 17 major museums to view many of their famous paintings. This web site allows visitors to do a 360-degree sweep of a gallery, look up at the ceiling frescoes, take an audio tour and zoom in to see details of a piece of art. Each museum has a floor plan (where you can pick a gallery) and a link to its web site. Google plans to add more museums. To use this web site, click on “Learn More” on the home page and start the Visitors Guide video when the Guide page opens.
Do not respond to any purported West Coast mail asking for your password so they can upgrade their system. Itwww.googleartproject.coms is a phishing scam sent by someone with an sbcglobal.net address which makes it obvious West Coast was not the sender.
Send your questions to my Google address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on Jan 20, 2011
Our local Best Buy emporium has an extensive selection of laptop computers. They range from netbooks with 10 inch screens at $250 to 17 inch notebooks at well over $1000. Laptops with dual processors selling for about $500 can replace desktops for most applications. Last November, I bought a simple 15-inch HP laptop (Model CQ56 with a single processor and 2 GBytes of RAM) for $350 just to have a portable computer. It runs fast and literally sucks up available WiFi sources for Internet access. My decision not to buy a netbook was determined by the lack of an internal DVD drive in these units.
There is no standardization of Laptop keyboards; function keys have various dual purposes, and keys, other than alphanumeric, are located any place. A touchpad serves as a pointing and scrolling device similar to a mouse; however, they can be overly sensitive and finicky. I connected a Logitech wireless mouse (on sale for $13 at RadioShack) to my laptop. It's tiny USB wireless receiver can be left plugged in permanently. My only chagrin is that my laptop now sells for $300.
In October 2003 GRF approved funding to provide broadband (high speed) Internet access via our Cable TV system, on the premise that at least 500 residents would subscribe. At the January 2011 Broadband Committee meeting it was reported that 6,607 residents are now subscribers. In addition, over 1,600 residences are now using the recently added digital telephone service, and about 100 are signing up each week. Broadband Services is investigating how to make download speeds faster than 3.5 Megabits per second available, at an extra charge, for users of Netflix and other high-demand services.
Send your questions to my Google address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on Jan 6, 2011
Here are a few resolutions to ensure your joy of computing for the New Year.
One: back up important files by saving them to a flash memory or an external hard drive; include your Outlook Express addresses or Live Mail contacts (in .wab or ..csv format), Favorites, documents, spread sheets, and photos.
Two: keep a good security program (one with Anti-virus and anti-spyware protection) up to date; free programs include Microsoft Security Essentials, AVG 9.0 and Avast.
Three: use a different and strong password to access email and financial accounts; passwords should have a mix of letters and numbers; avoid common names and words; and make a written record of them.
Four: don't open links in emails unless you know the sender and the message is the type that person would normally send you; hackers could have stolen the sender's password and are using it to send spam and malicious programs.
Five: don't believe any pop-up windows claiming you are infected with viruses and Trojan horses and requiring you to purchase a removal program from a web site; it’s a scam - get help to remove this infection.
Six: take classes offered by the PC and Mac clubs; enrollment for the PC Learning Center courses begins January 10.
Seven: read the manual that came with the new digital gadget or computer you got during the holidays.
Eight: try Broadband Services’ new digital phone service; it works great and reduces the cost of West Coast’s Internet service.
My resolution for 2011 is to reduce the size of this column so it will fit in the limited print space available and keep our Globe editor happy.
Send your questions to my Google address norm.maven@gmail.com
The following article was published in the Laguna Woods Globe on Dec 23, 2010
The high-tech industry has made a dazzling array of electronic gadgets, gizmos and “toys” available for holiday shopping. These devices operate when connected to a computer or television, either directly or via a wireless link. While none are absolute necessities, some will make life easier and one will actually improve your health. That gem is the Wii (sounds like “we”), a video game console made by Nintendo. This best-selling console features a wireless controller which detects motion, enabling a user to play interactive games like tennis, basketball, bowling and many others by moving a hand held controller in any direction. Many seniors are playing games with their Wii, not only for fun, but for aerobic exercise. The Wii retails for $199. Electronic Arts sells a $30 Sports Active Fitness game with exercises and heart rate monitor.
For couch potatoes who want to watch this years hit movies on their TV, there’s Netflix. All it takes is an inexpensive monthly subscription to Netflix and a Roku box connected to a TV set. The Roku unit receives movies streamed from a computer via a WiFi router once a Netflix account is setup. Roku units sell for as low as $60; the fastest ones go for $100. Movies can be purchased from Netflix and Amazon. You can also watch TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix via a Wii console with Broadband Internet access.
Electronic readers (E-readers) are available from several sources: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Sony. The readers use “electronic ink” display technology which makes it easy to read books, newspapers and magazines in direct sunlight on a hand held screen. Amazon’s Kindle sells for $139. It downloads purchased books via WiFi. The Kindle screen is black and white and measures 6 inches diagonally. Its battery lasts for a week or more. Barnes & Noble’s Nook is now available in color. The Nook Color has received rave reviews and sells for $249. It has a 7-inch touchscreen that can be adjusted for various lighting conditions. However, the Nookcolor weighs about a pound and its battery only lasts about 8 hours. Another eReader is the Sony Reader. It comes in three sizes (5, 6 and 7 inch) and is priced accordingly. The Reader is similar to the Kindle, but can connect to a computer to download books from Sony’s eBook store.
Take advantage of a holiday sale to replace a clunky digital camera, cranky computer or finicky printer with a new, sleek model and help stimulate the economy. I purchased an inexpensive 15-inch HP laptop which I’ll write about in a future column.
Send your comments to nsalzberg@yahoo.com.