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Posts Tagged: computer

System Engineer fed up with Windows vulnerabilities

Interesting article from a ZDNet author, Christopher Dawson, who also works full-time as a school district computer engineer. Despite locking down Windows computers with security software, tweaking firewalls, and making sure all Windows updates are up to snuff, threats still sneak into their computers. I understand the frustration he exhibits in the article regarding the time and effort spent fighting these threats…especially knowing how much more trouble free a Linux computer or Apple computer can be. Worth the read:

Give me one good reason not to just move them all to Linux | Education IT | ZDNet.com.

Should government have right to cut off Internet service?

Senate Bill 773 provides for protecting the country’s tech infrastructure by declaring a cybersecurity emergency. This emergency would authorize the government to shut down Internet access to key non-governmental computers and networks. If passed, the bill would create a whole new government agency that trains and certifies cyber-security professionals to help manage and carry out the rules set forth in this proposed law.

Click the link below to read a complete news store from CNET and get links to other news stories on the subject.

Bill would give president emergency control of Internet | Politics and Law – CNET News.

Riding Shotgun with Rick / Tech News — 2 Comments
20
Aug 09

Yet another reason to ditch Microsoft Office for web based apps

photo credit: thoth92

This news story has flown mostly under the radar of most computer users for weeks. In a nutshell, it’s a patent infringement suit brought upon Microsoft by a Canadian company called i4i. The suit alleges that Microsoft knowingly used proprietary technologies in Microsoft Word 2003 and 2007. Last week, a judge in Texas, ruled in favor of i4i and ordered Microsoft to remove Microsoft Word from being sold and fined them nearly $300 million. Microsoft, of course, immediately filed an appeal that will draw the case out even longer.

While the appeal is being considered, Microsoft Word can still be purchased, but for how long? This case builds yet another argument for home and business computer users to consider using online based business applications like Zoho.com or Google Docs. If you want desktop software, look to OpenOffice.org.

Read more on the suit between i4i and Microsoft in the article below:

NewsFactor Network | Appeal Seeks To Keep Microsoft Word on Store Shelves.

Riding Shotgun with Rick — 125 Comments
19
Jun 09

Senior uses Ubuntu system 14 months trouble free

photo credit: Nico Kaiser

Computers started making their way into homes, en masse, 15 years ago. After 15 years, computer users should not be afraid of using their computer.

This case study tells the story about a customer of mine, Wanda, who happens to be in her 70s. Like most computer users she used a Windows based computer. In her case, it was a system put together by her grandson in 2002 or 2003 and has a 1.8ghz processor, 256mb of RAM and the XP Home version of Windows.

When I first met Wanda a few years ago, she had typical Windows user problems; slow computer, slow Internet, couldn’t open some attachments, virus and spyware problems. She used dialup Juno for Internet and Norton Antivirus on her system. I couldn’t talk her into getting a DSL or cable connection, but I did change her security from Norton to Continue reading →

Riding Shotgun with Rick — 4 Comments
10
Mar 09

New computer users

photo credit: liewcf

Today alone, I ran across two brand new computer users. It irritates me when I see commenters on some of my YouTube videos and elsewhere on the web make fun of the fact that some people can’t copy and paste or create a table in Microsoft Word or perform any number of computer tips I teach through this site and via my instructional videos. Computers can be intimidating enough for someone new let alone have the added pressure of insensitive bafoons make snide comments about their skills. We all started at the beginning at some point in our computing lives and we all still need help from time-to-time with technology.

I wonder if these types of people would make the same kind of observations in person as they do on the Internet, or if the anonymity of the Internet makes them more boorish?

Riding Shotgun with Rick / Tech News — 6 Comments
9
Mar 09

Don’t buy a new computer yet!

If you can at all help it, I still recommend waiting to buy a new computer until later this year. Unless you are willing to move to Ubuntu or a Mac. The reason being that more and more evidence is pointing to a fall release of Windows 7…Microsoft’s next Widnows release.

Analyst sees Windows 7 done by summer | Beyond Binary – CNET News.