Castellini on Computers - Computer help for beginners » editing

Type first. Edit last.

Rick — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:20:01 +0000

Most of us learned how to type letters and documents using a typewriter. Word processing reigns as then new king of document creation and most typewriters are relegated to attics, back rooms and antique shops. However, the majority of computer users use their word processors (MS Word, Word Perfect, etc) like a typewriter. The first rule to remember when using a word processor is to forget your typewriting rules. When we sat down to our typewriters to create a document (whether a simple letter to Mom or a 100 page novelette), we had to have a clear picture in our head of what the document should look like. Otherwise, crumpled typing paper dominated our floors!

What do you really do with your computer?

Rick — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:38:36 +0000

In my travels, it seems that most home computer users primarily use email. I would love to see 100-200 comments attached to this short article so you can tell me what you use your computer for from day-to-day. You don't have to be statistically accurate or detailed, I'm just curious and this topic is too broad and detailed for a poll. Here's how I use my main computer: Internet (web browsing, pay bills, web site maintenance, etc) - 60% Email - 15% Instructional videos - 10% Word Processing - 8% Desktop publishing (creating newsletters, flyers, calendars, etc) - 2% Skype video calls - 1% Digital Photography (including ordering, editing, and downloading photos) - 1% Games - .33% Other - 2.67% YOUR TURN! Leave a comment and share what you use your primary computer for on average. Thanks!

5 Reasons why YOU should be moving to the cloud

Rick — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:56:56 +0000

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

Rick’s Answers his email Videocast – 022

Rick — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:27:08 +0000

Questions about converting to Firefox, malfunctioning keyboards, Wordpress consulting, Norton 360 problems, video editing, the Magic Jack phone, and more are brought to you by Dixie, Kitty, Jill, Anne, Diane, Elaine, Amber, Norma, Rich and Mike! Have a look!!

Rick’s Answers his email Videocast – 020

Rick — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:17:52 +0000

Brought to you by questions from Paul, Pat, John, Luke, Jose, Pam, Gloria, Mark, Jon, Nicole, James, Laureen, Anne, Larry, Don, and Papa C. They asked questions about web editing, web surfing on a Mac with OS9, installing AVG, installing Windows Vista SP 1, creating a shortcut to the Clipboard Viewer and much more.

Netbooks are NOT made for Windows XP or Vista

Rick — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:50:18 +0000

One year ago, ASUS started a fire storm of new computers that now go by the name of netbooks with the release of their EeePC. I wrote about this subject just a few months ago, but with the holidays approaching and netbooks are high on gift giver's radar screens so I want to explore netbooks a little more in depth.

Netbooks make attractive gift giving ideas for a few reasons:

They are inexpensive; usually cost less than $400.
They are extremely portable (2-3 pounds).
They are cute.

Here are some facts you need to know about netbooks:

Dr.Pic Online Photo Editing and Batch Resizing

Rick — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:05:03 +0000

Earlier this week, I posted a story about Web 2.0. Just today, I found another Web 2.0 application that works extremely well. It's called Dr.Pic and offers online basic photo editing and touch up in a fast and intuitive layout. In addition to the nice editing and touch-up tools offered by Dr. Pic, they offer a fantastic batch (multiple) image resizing utility.

Like all Web 2.0 applications, a high speed Internet connection is essential. Having tools like this available on the web make getting your work done pretty easily and from any computer.

Dell goes deeper into Linux

Rick — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:48:06 +0000

Dell announced that they will release a line of laptop computers this fall with an instant on technology called Latitude On. Early indications are that it will closely mimic the Splashtop technology I wrote about last year and during CES 2008. And like Splashtop, the Dell technology involves using a light version of Linux to produce an extremely fast boot up (30 seconds or less) time and can access the Internet through Firefox and a wireless signal.

Defrag, scan disk, and deleting cookies don’t do much

Rick — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:56:17 +0000

In the computer world, there are hot rodders - people who will tweak their computers to get every last bit of horse power out of their systems. Just as with automobiles, techniques used by hot rodders were once necessary in the early days when horse power was hard to come by. Today, most computers come with all the horsepower most people need. Important tasks like defragmenting the hard drive, running scan disk and deleting cookies no longer do anything spectacular to the performance of the average computer. Cookies are harmless - even the shady ones. Defragging does little on a 250 gig hard drive and scandisk is take care of by utility features in Windows that run every time you boot up or shut down.

Living online with your applications and data

Rick — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 22:56:13 +0000

Here I go again talking about online applications and data storage. I keep bringing it up because the idea makes more sense to me everyday.

In just my first two days of work this week, I found multiple examples of how computing online instead of on your desktop makes sense for so many people. It will be a long time before serious photographers, movie makers, engineers, and graphic designers can make do with online applications because their programs require a great deal of computer speed, power, and storage. However, for the bulk of computer users at home and many in small businesses, migrating data online and utilizing online applications can save a great deal of time and money.