I have an AOL Screen Name

For those of you who have followed this web site and the show for awhile are probably wondering what an anti-AOLer like me is doing with a Screen Name. Actually, it is a result of a corporate buy out. Years ago I signed up for some free online storage space from X-Drive . Like many other tech companies, AOL purchased X-Drive since I had signed up for it. When I first signed up, I used the account to upload large files that...

Create Email Filters in Thunderbird

This site has step-by-step instructions for creating email filters. Also, check the help menu in Thunderbird for more information.

File Management: Why is it so hard to figure out?

As I have mentioned before on the show and in these articles, I teach the local basic computer classes for the Parks and Rec. department. I teach the classes as a four-part series in which I dedicate an entire two hour session to file management. Teaching the concept of how your computer organizes information is a huge struggle for me. I don't think it is because if my teaching technique or the inability of my students to...

You are wasting money!!

Yes, YOU are wasting money if you don't take advantage of this web site, our newsletter and the radio show. One common trait that Adam and I share (despite occasional thoughts to the contrary by our wives), is that we hate wasting money on technology. Of course, we love technology, but we don't like throwing money at it unnecessarily. Not too many technology nerds will tell you not to upgrade your Windows 98....

Create Your Own Slideshows and Screensavers

Create Slideshows and Screensavers Here are some of the basics we discussed at the Meeting   FINDING THE RIGHT PROGRAM   Good Shareware Sites: Hotfiles Download Make sure to check if the software is trialware or freeware. HOW TO MAKE A SCREENSAVER USING YOUR OWN PICTURES IN WINDOWS XP Windows Me had a similiar screen saver option, but Windows XP made the feature even better. Since many...

Google News Alerts

We talk frequently of the new and useful tools that Google offers. One of the best is the Google News service. Google uses their powerful search technology to bring you news stories from many angles. If you really are a news junkie, you can use Google Alerts and RSS to get those news stories routed to your email or customized portal page like My Yahoo or even Google’s cutomizable home page. To use the Google Alerts or...

How to use the XP Start Menu

I saw two clients today who had their XP Start Menus set to the "classic mode."  In classic mode your Start Menu looks the same as it used to in Windows 98-Me, but the new XP menu is much more functional and easy to use once you understand it. The XP menu is divided into two sides. The right side lists all of the utility type of programs and features such as My Computer, My Network Places, My Documents,...

What do Rick and Adam do during the week and what ...

A common misconception is that Adam and I spend our week sunning ourselves with our families on some exotic beach before returning to our mansions and counting our stacks of $100 bills. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I own and operate a business called Grand Valley PC Partners in Grand Junction, CO. All my business is onsite home and office calls to help computer users get out of trouble, setup up new systems or...

RSS – Really Simple Syndication

RSS has been around for quite a few years already, but we have not brought it up as an official tip. We purposefully held off because we wanted the technology to mature and for the technology to truly become usable. We also delayed the idea a little until we perfected how we were going to offer this exciting web technology on our site. This week, we just want to introduce you to the topic and then next week give you the...

RSS – Really Simple Syndication

Admittedly, I’m always a little late to some technologies. Sometimes because of a time factor and other times because it takes me awhile to figure out a use for the technology. One technology that has been around a few years that I’m just starting to take advantage of is RSS. RSS allows any web user to ‘subscribe’ (for free) to an automated feed from a web site. At first, I thought, "hmm, why not...

Automating Word

Almost seven years ago, I created some form templates for a customer of mine who is a salesman. He wanted to automate some forms that he filled out frequently so that he could minimize his time filling out forms and increase his time selling products. He gave me the forms that he currently filled out by hand, and I re-created them in Microsoft Word using Tables and the form features available in Word. The final form was then...

Microsoft PowerToys

Over the years we have mentioned various Microsoft PowerToys. PowerToys are free tools that help you customize or enhance Windows. One of our favorites is the Picture Resizer tool. One of our user group members here in Colorado turned us onto this one and it works amazingly well. Microsoft offers many other fun and useful tools for XP users. The tools are offered free of charge, but Microsoft offers no official support for...

The power of databases

Lately, I have been helping a business customer set up a database to help manage a portion of their business. Databases are highly underutilized in the small to medium sized business. Databases differ greatly to spreadsheets and potentially offer many more benefits to using spreadsheets. Properly designed and built, a database can save many hours of data entry and reduce entry errors to almost zero. Databases also provide the...

Photoshop Elements Part II

Adobe Photoshop Elements Part II Tools: Toolbox This box contains all of the primary manipulation tools used in Photoshop Elements. Download this zipped (530k) file for a demonstration program that describes each tool and what it does. If you are not running Windows XP and have not installed a zip opener – here is a free one that you can download and install. Zip Central Little Black Triangle The little black...

Create Calendars Easily and for Free

If you have been frustrated at trying to create an attractive and simple monthly calendar, then you have come to the right place.  Days Ease is a free program from the folks at PC Magazine. It allows you to create and print customized monthly and yearly calendars…easily! You can add your own text to the days, customize titles, fonts, colors and more. Follow these steps to start using Days Ease today: Click on this...