Technology Advisor
The Advisor Guide to choosing and using computers, networking, digital media systems, wireless, the Internet, and gear and gadgets of all types.
Does the bizarre end of Microsoft Windows XP mean the end of useful PCs?
Submitted by John L. Hawkins on 5 July, 2008 - 15:00.Windows XP is gone, but Windows Vista is not an acceptable replacement. What now? Is Microsoft's forced death of XP also ending the era of useful Windows PCs?
My Close Encounters with Bill Gates
Bill Gates got involved with microcomputer software in 1975, and he built Microsoft by seeing, seizing and maximizing key opportunities.
My first use of Microsoft software was in 1978, and my first personal brush with Bill was in 1981.
During Microsoft's most influential period, the '80s and '90s, I had a variety of face-to-face Bill Gates experiences. Here are some of my Boomer Years stories.
Search Engine Optimization - SEO Webpage Basics
Once people have a website, they start to realize the importance of search engine optimization. Why? Because without it, you just have a website, and what good is a website if you don't get lots of targeted traffic looking for products and services which you provide.
How Competition Can Benefit You – Starting NOW
Submitted by Richard Rider on 27 May, 2008 - 15:00.A small financial tip for these hard times: If you have cable TV service, AT&T is starting to compete in some areas. Not to say they are necessarily better, but the competition itself is indeed beneficial.
I just called my cable company, Time Warner, and told them that I was considering switching to AT&T cable and high speed Internet services. That prompted the sales clerk to suddenly note that I was under an "old" plan (established less than a year earlier), and that now there are better deals.
Will Reduce My Carbon Footprint for Cash
Submitted by Richard Rider on 10 May, 2008 - 15:00.Much is being made of "reducing our carbon footprint." I'm in favor of that -– to a point. I look for carbon-reducing steps that also save me money and/or make my life more pleasant! As I see it, if a carbon reducing strategy costs more, then often the wisdom of selecting that option is highly suspect.
For instance, I like using energy-saving florescent bulbs. I've used the big florescent lights in my fully equipped, professional office in the home for about 30 years. I also use the newer compact florescent bulbs whenever they fit with the demand, which fortunately is most of the time.
Big Picture on the Go
No more small screen viewing here! iWear (from Vuzix, formerly Icuiti) projects a virtual 44" screen creating a movie theatre experience that fits in the palm of your hand and weighs in at four ounces! Now you can watch your favorite shows up close and personal.
Keep in Touch: Setting Up a Webcam
Keeping in touch face-to-face with family, co-workers and friends is not easy. So we often fall back on communicating by phone and e-mail. But there's a better way: video chat. It's easy and virtually free!
Record Your Family's Memories
My nephew, Connor was working on a project for school and needed to interview my dad about his time in the Army during World War II. As it turns out, my father had a lot to say (but only with much prodding) because he was a young private, 18 years old in 1943, who was shipped off to fight in Italy, wounded in both legs by sniper fire, and back to the United States before he turned 19. And that was only one of his many interesting lives!
To my library-loving critics
Submitted by Richard Rider on 26 June, 2008 - 06:00.My column in North County Times questioning the ancillary functions of public libraries brought a storm of protest from library lovers. Well, a squall at least.
http://nctimes.com/articles/2008/05/29/opinion/rider/doc483ee3f9b66bd295...
What struck me about the criticism is that many of these supposedly well-educated folks apparently read no further than the headline before firing away in the online comments section. Either that, or their vaunted reading comprehension remains at third-grade level.
Mapping Software: DeLorme vs. Microsoft
Submitted by John L. Hawkins on 21 May, 2008 - 16:23.I like to take road trips, and especially roads I haven't traveled, to places I haven't been. So, I consider mapping software an essential feature of my laptop computer.
I know, many newer cars (including one of mine) have GPS-based satellite navigation systems. And the pocket-sized sat-nav systems are affordable and wonderful. Web sites with maps are helpful. And good old paper maps are still as useful as ever. But none of these provide all the capabilities I get from mapping software on my laptop.
There are two major mapping software products, Microsoft Streets and Trips, and DeLorme Street Atlas USA, and I think one strongly out-classes the other.
How I escaped from Windows Vista
Submitted by John L. Hawkins on 23 January, 2008 - 00:00.I have a new/old laptop computer and I love it -- finally -- because I dumped Microsoft Windows Vista.
In June 2007 I got a new Lenovo ThinkPad T61 with Windows Vista. I expected to be thrilled with my new laptop, but instead, it was horrible. Whatever I tried to do, the new computer fought me -- and usually, it won. By "do" I mean basic stuff: save a file, connect to my office network and the Internet, turn on, turn off, copy some files. It's MY computer -- shouldn't I be allowed to do these things? Nope, not without lots of effort, wasted time, and sometimes, complete failure.
Phone Numbers at Your Fingertips
Have you ever wanted to call someone but had to stop and look up the number, even ones you dial often? Have you wished you could remember the important ones so you don't have to look them up? Have you ever had a hard time hearing the person on the line, but didn't want to keep asking them to speak up? Here's the phone for you!
Help Paramedics Help You
In an emergency, time is crucial. The Vial of Life is a simple yet effective way to quickly get vital medical information into the hands of emergency responders, such as firefighters, paramedics, and police.
A Vial of Life kit contains a medical information form and two stickers. You fill out the medical form, which contains information about any medical issues, allergies, medications, and contact information for your doctors; place the form in a baggie and tape it to your refrigerator door, then place one sticker on the baggie and another on your front door.
Easy on the Ears
Have you ever walked into your mom and dad's house and been blasted by the TV volume? To them, it sounds normal; to you it's too loud to even think, much less carry on a conversation.
One solution is TV Ears, a hearing device that lets people with mild to severe hearing loss hear the television clearly without disturbing others.
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A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many bad measures.