Computer User Group

How to backup your important stuff – Video Tips

: Image via Wikipedia

Photos

I’m betting that your photos top the list as your most precious data. If that is true, then you want to back that data up. First, you need to store all your photos in one easy to find (and backup) spot. My suggestion is to use the default My Pictures folder found in all versions of Windows. If you have not purposefully moved your photos to another location, then they should all reside there now.

However, since we all receive many photos via email, it is important to NOT save those photos in email, but rather pull them out of the email and save them to Continue reading →

Become a web surfing pro!

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

At this month’s computer user group meeting, I used many of the articles, tips and videos I have written over the years to highlight how any computer user can start making quicker and better use of the Internet.

Before I delve into specifics on this topic, watching and reading this tip title 7 ways to become a better web surfer, will yield you the greatest benefit if you read nothing else on this page. Do it! Now!

First and foremost, it is important to use a capable and safe web browser (the program used to view web sites). My recommendation is to use only Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome. I currently use both, but prefer Google Chrome more and more every day because of its speed. Internet Explorer, MSN, and AOL are simply too slow and out dated to be used effectively in today’s fast paced and content rich web.

Clicking here will get you a list of all my Continue reading →

Computer User Group / Internet Tips — 4 Comments
10
Mar 10

Create Your OWN Personalized Newspaper Online – Video Tip

In this month’s group, we talked about and demonstrated how to set up a web page that can be personalized. I like to use a customized web page (portal) as my home page (first page that shows up when I start my browser). We looked at the Yahoo portal (My Yahoo) and the newer Google customized home page.

Both services require that you register and setup a user name and password. Once you register, you can customize your page to include weather information, stock portfolios, sports news and scores, news from industries or topics that you choose, comics, and even content from other web pages. Both services are free and give you the flexibility to add, subtract and edit any type of data that you choose.

After you sign in, first look for the “X” in the upper right hand corner of each content box. Continue reading →

Computer User Group / Internet Tips — 3 Comments
13
Jan 10

Watch almost any TV show on the web…for free!

photo credit: alvi2047

If you don’t mind sitting at your desk to watch a television program you missed or just want to see it on your own time, you can do so using the web. Everyday, the number of TV watchers watching live television drops. The phenomenon is so big, it now has its own name: time shifting. Time shifting means watching a program on your own time instead of the time listed in the TV listings.

The most common way to time shift your TV watching is the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) made popular by the TiVo service and now included in almost any satellite or cable package. However, watching TV shows on the web is becoming more and more popular with the majority of Internet users finally using high speed connections and the improved watching experience available on the web.

In today’s meeting, I discussed Continue reading →

Application Tips / Computer User Group / General Computer Tips / Macintosh / Ubuntu Tips — 2 Comments
11
Nov 09

How to print labels the EASY way! – Video Tip

I know I’m late for this year’s Christmas season, but you can learn and start using this tip TODAY to make next year’s Christmas card mailings a breeze.

Too many computer users have no idea what a database is, how to use it, and how to merge it with another program to create labels. Since printing mailing labels is only a once per year activity for many of you, learning how to do it again every single year requires too much time and frustration.

In this week’s tip, I take all of the mystery and hysteria out of creating and printing mailing labels. You will thank me every November when you need to print out your mailing labels. The tip centers around creating a word processing document where you can store, edit and print your labels quickly and easily. Watch the video as many times as you need to and you will NEVER be frustrated with printing labels again!!

If you can’t understand and utilize this tip to print your labels, get out your best pen and write them out instead.

Computer User Group / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 2 Comments
7
Sep 09

Please note change in GJ Computer Users Group time

At last month’s meeting, I discussed Continue reading →

Computer User Group / Internet Tips — 7 Comments
7
Jul 09

The Castellini Approach to Internet Security

photo credit: The Joy Of The Mundane

This past week I saw way too many people who are not taking advantage of the free information we give out on the show and the web site. Their computers were suffocating from a preventable disease…viruses and spyware. Yes, preventable, almost 100%. And fighting the war on our home computer security front does not have to be costly or time consuming.

We talk about this subject quite a bit on the program and the web site because of its rapid growth worldwide. In today’s tip, I am providing you with links to information that we have on this site that have been up for months to years that contain the essential information about protecting your computer.

Continue reading →

Computer User Group / General Computer Tips — 6 Comments
10
Jun 09

Computer Boot Camp – June 2009

photo credit: heraldpost

The most common piece of feedback I receive about my monthly computer users group goes something like this; “I love coming to the meetings, but I don’t understand most of what you say.” Or, “Almost all of the information is over my head.”

I dedicate today’s meeting to all you folks who want to learn (and rightfully so) the bare bone basics about computers. This article will give you links to those basics that make computing a much easier endeavor.

And please don’t keep this valuable information to yourself, pass this article on to any and all of your computer buddies/family that could benefit from a little basic training about computers. Continue reading →