Castellini on Computers - Computer help for beginners » CDs

Keep track of your original computer documentation and make restore CDs

Rick — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 00:43:57 +0000

Lately too many customers have had to wait for repairs on their computers because I needed to order recovery CD sets from the manufacturer. This time and expense can be avoided if you do two simple things when you buy your new computer: 1. Save all disks and/or documentation that comes in the box 2. Since [...]

Great digital photography debate topics

Rick — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:39:31 +0000

Technology is no different than politics in that there are a variety of topics that people have opinions on. While you may not know much about these topics now, what you know about them can have a great impact on knowing who to listen to when it comes to learning more about digital photography and related topics.

PC vs. Mac:

The Mac people will tell you that Macs are better for graphics, easier to use more stable.

CDBurnerXP free CD burning and DVD burning software

Rick — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 22:09:21 +0000

It's already Wednesday and I just noticed that I haven't posted anything all week. I better make this one count.

I have helped a number of people do basic reformats lately and often they have old copies of Roxio EZ CD Creator. Any version older than 6.0 can cause some serious problems with Windows XP and AVG antivirus.

If you would like to create music or data CDs or data DVDs, CDBurnerXP is a free program that will let you do almost everything that the expensive programs from Roxio and Nero will let you do. I have been using it quite a bit and I have been pretty impressed with it so far.

The one feature it doesn't have is the ability to copy CDs of any kind.

Another sony proprietary technology bites the dust

Rick — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 21:10:01 +0000

For every Apple device that becomes a standard there is a Sony technology that becomes obsolete. Apple and Sony both got off to a great start in the early 80s. Apple introduced the Mac and Sony gave us the Walkman.

From that point on, Apple has had only a handful of market failures and Sony has had nothing but. Sony announced their latest casualty this week by discontinuing their proprietary ATRAC audio compression file format.

While the rest of the world committed to MP3 and WMA or Apple's music format for iTunes, Sony made up their own format only supported by their devices. Sony saw Apple succeeding with their own format and device and figured they could do the same.

Stop buying floppy disks

Rick — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 09:44:29 +0000

I have seen a number of people lately who have insisted on backing up on USB flash drives and floppy disks.

Having two backups is always a good idea, but the era of the floppy has come and gone.

What's wrong with floppies?

1. They scratch

2. They bend

3. Even a small particle of dust can hurt them

4. Almost any magnet can corrupt them - such as setting them too close to a computer speaker

5. Any accidental spill of any liquid will ruin them

None of these things are generally true about USB flash drives or CD-ROMS.

I have one flash drive that I intentionally let go through the wash on a regular basis. I have had it for three years and I still use it often.

So, if you want to make multiple backups of something, use

Fun with Cameroon Pet Scams

Rick — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:20:03 +0000

I really love English Bulldogs.

Recently I became aware of a common pet scam that is based on every other over seas Internet scam.

Someone from Cameroon posts a desired breed up for a ridiculously low price.

He/she asks for money plus shipping. You never get the dog.

Here is my recent correspondence with one such scammer.

I have resorted the posts from oldest to newest so you can enjoy the events as they occurred.

When to use CDs , DVDs or flash drives

Rick — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 01:19:47 +0000

With so many options for backing up today, people often get confused on which method is right for them.

Typically there are three methods for backing up:

1. CD or DVD

2. Flash drive

3. External hard drive

The method you choose should depend on the type of backup you are doing.

CDs hold 700MB (about 300 pictures) while DVDs hold 4,700MB. But the amount of data that they hold is not as important as what you use the disks for. CDs and DVDs are best for archiving data that will likely never change such as pictures, old word processing documents, important tax or financial records, etc. Once you write information to a CD or DVD consider that disk finished and do not try to add more to it.

Have you ever heard of these things called books?

Rick — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 21:50:38 +0000

I took a quick trip to Portland last weekend. While I was there I went into a few used book stores and bought some books to read on the long drive back. I was riding with my wife and Mother-in-law, both of which enjoy driving as much as I don't.

Conversation was interesting but they got tired of me pretty quickly. They would sit for hours trying not to talk in fear that if they started a conversation, I might try to get involved. I was glad I bought so many books.

I put my headphones and switched it to my Artist list and listened to all 17 Dave Matthews CDs randomly while I read from my books.

Why haven’t software companies adapted to Vista yet?

Rick — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 20:05:36 +0000

It is no secret that I am not a big fan of Vista, however I understand that Microsoft isn't going to move backwards so Windows users will gradually have to adapt to the new OS.

While consumers can take their time making the transition to the new Windows, there is no excuse for software designers who have dragged their feet in becoming Vista compatible.

Although Vista has been out on the shelf for only a couple of weeks, it has been out in beta form for several months. Software designers have had sufficient time to had sufficient time to update their programs for Vista compatibility.

Gadgets yield more gadgets

Rick — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 19:45:04 +0000

I have helped several people buy new computers lately. I don't sell computers or any other hardware so I am more of a personal shopper than a salesman when it comes to guiding people through their purchase.

I think it's funny how gadgets always seem to yield more gadgets. Here is a short flowchart of how this process works.

1. A client calls and says that they need a new computer. They ask my advice on what they should get for just basic stuff like email and word processing. "I don't need anything fancy."

2. I suggest a basic system that will handle all of their needs and a little more.