Internet Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 4 comments
06
Nov 09
Google started as a college project 12 years ago, then as a startup search engine just 10 years ago. Today, Google owns more than 60% of all web search traffic and employs close to 22,000 employees worldwide.
You probably interact with Google via their search engine primarily. However, you are missing out on some truly great services that Google also provides in addition to their fast and accurate search engine.
In this article, I will share 7 of the many other services Google provides.
Google News
When you arrive at google.com, click the link that says News at the top of the page or you can directly visit news.google.com. Google News is an auto-generated news page that refreshes automatically every 5-10 minutes and displays headlines from more than 4500 news sources around the world. To me, it is the ultimate newspaper?unbiased and unfiltered. And even more helpful, starting a Continue reading: 7 Google services you have never tried
Riding Shotgun with Rick — 5 comments
06
Nov 09
photo credit: Greenmonster
Although I’ve been testing, using and writing about Windows 7 since last year, it has only been on the market 2 weeks. In those two weeks, I have setup 8 or 10 new machines already.
The setup is much faster than Vista, but I’m already getting that same ‘ol, same ‘ol feeling about it as I did with Windows Vista and Office 2007. I don’t doubt that Microsoft went back to the drawing board and tweaked and improved Windows, but overall it really is just Vista, done correctly. Plus the machines it is being released on are monsters: dual and quad core processors, 4, 6, and 8 GB of RAM and fast, capable video processors as well.
I really think the improvements in usability will be completely lost by the majority of average computer users. Pinning programs to the taskbar, jump lists, using the integrated search, file libraries, Home Groups, shaking and pushing Windows to screen edges will Continue reading: Early thoughts on Windows 7
Internet Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 1 comment
04
Nov 09
photo credit: geo462rge
This tip needs to come back to the front page again. I’ve helped many more people the last few weeks with this issue.
Please print it and hang it by your computer…and send it your friends as well.
I posted this tip many moons ago, but wanted to bring it back to the front page because we have so many new high speed Internet users. Click the Printer Friendly option at the bottom of this tip, print it out and post it next to your computer…you will be glad you did.
Routers take high speed Internet signals and then distribute the signal (route) to multiple computers. Sometimes, however, the signal gets lost and an Internet connection cannot be made. This can be due to multiple reasons, but most can be rectified the same way. Before you reach for the phone or grumble under your breath, follow this simple and highly effective procedure to get your system(s) up and running again.
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Shut off Continue reading: Troubleshooting Your High Speed Internet Connection
Email Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 7 comments
03
Nov 09
photo credit: State Library of New South Wales collection
I just emptied 536 spam from my email spam folder.
Today, I ran across some clients who had problems with email spam, and I recanted the following story.
Once upon a time, my email inbox was filled to the brim with spam every single day. Then one cool autumn day in Las Vegas, Nevada at the now defunct Comdex show in 2000 or 2001, I met some nice folks from a startup company called Cloudmark. They were discussing and promoting a new way to combat spam that used human eyes and minds to identify spam instead of computer algorithms.
Intrigued, I immediately downloaded and started using it upon my return from Vegas. Cloudmark was nothing short of Continue reading: I don’t miss spam
Email Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 1 comment
03
Nov 09
photo credit: TheeErin
AOL made millions of dollars for years because computer users are afraid to change their email addresses. All week long, I hear, “Oh, it’s too hard to change email addresses now.” Or, “It will take forever to change my email address with everyone.”
Come on folks…we’re using computers! You don’t have to fill out a change of address form and march it down to the postal office. You don’t have to send out a post card to every person you know. You don’t have to fill out a change of address for all your bills and utilities.
Changing email addresses is actually pretty painless and can be cathartic as well. In fact, think of it as going into the digital identity protection program. Here’s how to make it a smooth transition Continue reading: Changing email addresses – It’s not that difficult
General Computer Tips — 4 comments
02
Nov 09
photo credit: daryl_mitchell
Should you carry health insurance? Should you carry car insurance? Should you save for retirement? Should you eat every day? Does a bear…. Well, hopefully you get the picture. The answer is a resounding YES!!
You should backup, and depending on your computer needs and usage your backups should occur frequently (sometimes daily). Many computer users equate backing up their computers with their mother’s giving them castor oil. It’s no fun, but a necessary evil. What is castor oil any way?
Things you should backup on your computer include Continue reading: Should I backup?
Videocasts — No comments
01
Nov 09
This week questions arrived from Dan, Sue, Thomas, Stan, Eric, Terri, Jackelyn, Peggy, Cody, and Barb. In order they asked about an anti-brainscan hat (honestly), .data file extensions in Gmail, upgrading to Windows 7, optimizing computer startup, Internet monitoring software, identity theft phone number, free antivirus software, 32 vs. 64 bit Windows 7, missing desktop icons and unsending email.
Here are the answers: Continue reading: Rick Answers his Email Videocast -064
Internet Tips — 4 comments
01
Nov 09
After I created an interactive, customized map showing all of the wifi hotspots in Grand Junction, CO, many folks asked my how I did it. Since it is such a visual process, I put together this short instructional video to show you how you can create your own customized Google Map.
General Computer Tips — 2 comments
01
Nov 09
photo credit: geoftheref
This tip conjures up some points from older tips, but needs to be reiterated. Follow these rules-of-thumb to keep your system clean and more importantly running smoothly.
Use these rules when deleting individual files:
- Never delete files that you did not create.
- If you can’t trace the origin of the file, leave it alone.
- If the file sports one of the generic
looking ‘windows’ icons (see picture), do not delete it (again unless you created it).
- Do not delete files that exist in the Windows directory, unless you created it.
- Instead of willy nilly deleting files, use the CCleaner tool
Use these rules when deleting programs or applications:
- Always start with Continue reading: Deleting Programs and Files
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