I originally posted this list in January 2007. However, through my keen observation skills, I discovered that all computer users have not yet read and digested this information. For this reason, I'm posting it again because I won't stop working to educate computer users until every computer user knows these 10 skills.

Computers have become almost a main stream household appliance. Whether you have been using a computer for fifteen years or one, these skills should be second nature:

1. Cut, Copy, Paste
2. Print just what you want (word processing, email, web)
3. Backup your address book
4. Select (highlight) text or files
5. Properly uninstall unwanted programs
6. Burn a CD
7. Download files from the Internet
8. Use MSCONFIG ; Another MSCONFIG tip
9. Search the Internet
10. Attach Files to an email
    

]]> http://helpmerick.com/setting-up-a-new-computer.htm/feed 17 http://helpmerick.com/web-surfing-101-again.htm http://helpmerick.com/web-surfing-101-again.htm#comments Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:08:00 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/?p=5310 Catching up on my reading, I ran across yet another article outlining how easily unsuspecting web users can be duped into infecting their machines and voluntarily giving up their own hard earned money. You MUST read this article, IF you want to keep yourself, your wallet, and your computer safe. Wired published the article I [...]]]> http://helpmerick.com/web-surfing-101-again.htm/feed 0 http://helpmerick.com/creating-documents-in-apple-pages-notes.htm http://helpmerick.com/creating-documents-in-apple-pages-notes.htm#comments Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:36:43 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/?p=5281 Some notes for a client with a new MacBook Air. She wanted to create a Christmas letter with photos and colored text. She was amazed at what could be done with a few keystrokes and mouse clicks in Pages that she already had installed. I did learn that Pages has a cool reduce file size [...]]]> http://helpmerick.com/creating-documents-in-apple-pages-notes.htm/feed 1 http://helpmerick.com/holiday-computer-madness.htm http://helpmerick.com/holiday-computer-madness.htm#comments Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:01:36 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/wordpr/?p=28 Every year for the last 6-7 years, I bring up a version of this tip to help save you time and money during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years visiting season. Please follow the advice. I can guarantee that it will save you and your computer lots of grief.

With all the traveling done during the holidays, your computer is bound to be taken hostage by friends and family wanting to check their email or play a game or two. Unlike the TV, a computer can be victimized, unintentionally, by all this attention. When everyone returns home, you may not recognize your computer or have problems with the way it runs.
]]> http://helpmerick.com/holiday-computer-madness.htm/feed 5 http://helpmerick.com/how-to-print-stuff-from-the-web-the-way-you-want-it-notes.htm http://helpmerick.com/how-to-print-stuff-from-the-web-the-way-you-want-it-notes.htm#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:15:43 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/?p=5270 I created these notes for a client today who visits many sites with text that prints small. She knows how to make the screen text larger, and I referred to the tips  (below) about printing from the web, but sometimes good ol’ copy and paste is necessary to truly get the look you want on [...]]]> http://helpmerick.com/how-to-print-stuff-from-the-web-the-way-you-want-it-notes.htm/feed 3 http://helpmerick.com/scanning-and-attaching-documents-to-yahoo-email-notes.htm http://helpmerick.com/scanning-and-attaching-documents-to-yahoo-email-notes.htm#comments Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:02:58 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/?p=5244 These notes were generated for a customer using an older HP All-in-one printer. He needed to learn how to scan documents, save them, then attach them to his Yahoo email. For folks learning how to scan or attach items to Yahoo email, these notes will help. Related posts: How to attach photos to Bresnan web [...]]]> http://helpmerick.com/scanning-and-attaching-documents-to-yahoo-email-notes.htm/feed 0 http://helpmerick.com/5-reasons-why-you-should-be-moving-to-the-cloud.htm http://helpmerick.com/5-reasons-why-you-should-be-moving-to-the-cloud.htm#comments Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:38:56 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/wordpr/?p=2303

Over the past two or there years, I have written many articles about Web 2.0 or cloud computing. Cloud computing means that you work with programs and/or data that are not installed or saved on your computer. Instead, the programs and/or data live on an Internet connected computer (server) somewhere else in the world. These computers provide security via the password and user name that you choose. Five reason come immediately to mind on why you should start moving your data and computing power to the cloud.

1.  Although more powerful than ever before, computers have become more unreliable than ever.

In particular, Windows computers require more expertise to keep them safe, updated, and problem free than at any time in the short history of home computers. Macintosh and Linux operating systems certainly require less technical expertise from the security standpoint, but still rely on desktop applications to create, save and edit data. Web based (cloud) applications provide plenty of power and flexibility for the vast majority of computer users while also presenting a simpler interface.

2.  You already spend 90% of your time in the cloud already. 

Non-business computer users spend the majority of their computer time]]> http://helpmerick.com/5-reasons-why-you-should-be-moving-to-the-cloud.htm/feed 9 http://helpmerick.com/google-rolling-out-new-gmail-look-and-functions-video-tip.htm http://helpmerick.com/google-rolling-out-new-gmail-look-and-functions-video-tip.htm#comments Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:26:28 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/?p=5228 Starting today, Google is rolling out the option for you to try out there new interface (look and function). You will see an option to try out the system in the lower right hand side of your Gmail screen (see picture at left for what it will look like). In a nutshell, don’t be overwhelmed [...]]]> http://helpmerick.com/google-rolling-out-new-gmail-look-and-functions-video-tip.htm/feed 1