Email | Castellini on Computers - Computer help for beginners

Posts Tagged: email

7 Google services you have never tried

Google Sign Google started as a college project 12 years ago, then as a startup search engine just 10 years ago. Today, Google owns more than 60% of all web search traffic and employs close to 22,000 employees worldwide.

You probably interact with Google via their search engine primarily. However, you are missing out on some truly great services that Google also provides in addition to their fast and accurate search engine.

In this article, I will share 7 of the many other services Google provides.

Google News

When you arrive at google.com, click the link that says News at the top of the page or you can directly visit news.google.com. Google News is an auto-generated news page that refreshes automatically every 5-10 minutes and displays headlines from more than 4500 news sources around the world. To me, it is the ultimate newspaper?unbiased and unfiltered. And even more helpful, starting a Continue reading →

I don’t miss spam

Margaret Shaffhauser with bull terrier dog at the Canine Association Show, 3 Nov 1934 / by Ted Hood

photo credit: State Library of New South Wales collection

I just emptied 536 spam from my email spam folder.

Today, I ran across some clients who had problems with email spam, and I recanted the following story.

Once upon a time, my email inbox was filled to the brim with spam every single day. Then one cool autumn day in Las Vegas, Nevada at the now defunct Comdex show in 2000 or 2001, I met some nice folks from a startup company called Cloudmark. They were discussing and promoting a new way to combat spam that used human eyes and minds to identify spam instead of computer algorithms.

Intrigued, I immediately downloaded and started using it upon my return from Vegas. Cloudmark was nothing short of Continue reading →

Email Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 1 Comment
3
Nov 09

Changing email addresses – It’s not that difficult

photo credit: TheeErin

AOL made millions of dollars for years because computer users are afraid to change their email addresses. All week long, I hear, “Oh, it’s too hard to change email addresses now.” Or, “It will take forever to change my email address with everyone.”

Come on folks…we’re using computers! You don’t have to fill out a change of address form and march it down to the postal office. You don’t have to send out a post card to every person you know. You don’t have to fill out a change of address for all your bills and utilities.

Changing email addresses is actually pretty painless and can be cathartic as well. In fact, think of it as going into the digital identity protection program. Here’s how to make it a smooth transition Continue reading →

General Computer Tips — 4 Comments
2
Nov 09

Should I backup?

photo credit: daryl_mitchell

Should you carry health insurance? Should you carry car insurance? Should you save for retirement? Should you eat every day? Does a bear…. Well, hopefully you get the picture. The answer is a resounding YES!!

You should backup, and depending on your computer needs and usage your backups should occur frequently (sometimes daily). Many computer users equate backing up their computers with their mother’s giving them castor oil. It’s no fun, but a necessary evil. What is castor oil any way?

Things you should backup on your computer include Continue reading →

Videocasts — No Comments
1
Nov 09

Rick Answers his Email Videocast -064

This week questions arrived from Dan, Sue, Thomas, Stan, Eric, Terri, Jackelyn, Peggy, Cody, and Barb. In order they asked about an anti-brainscan hat (honestly), .data file extensions in Gmail, upgrading to Windows 7, optimizing computer startup, Internet monitoring software, identity theft phone number, free antivirus software, 32 vs. 64 bit Windows 7, missing desktop icons and unsending email.

Here are the answers: Continue reading →

Email of the week — 3 Comments
28
Oct 09

Email of the Week – 021

photo credit: diegoperez74

QUESTION

Name: Barb

From: Grand Junction,CO

OS: Windows Vista

———————-
If I install Windows 7 and I find I do not like it, can I re-install Vista on my HP Laptop by using the recovery Disk, then I would have to set it all up again?
Is it necessary to have Winows 7 professionaly installed, or is it as easy as the Beta version you installed?
Thanks for all you do, you have helped me so much over the years.

ANSWER

First, you are welcome…I appreciate the kind words and hope you keep talking about me and referring people to the site for years more to come.

And, yes, you can definitely Continue reading →

Riding Shotgun with Rick / Videocasts — No Comments
25
Oct 09

Rick Answers his Email Videocast – 063

Wow, tons of great questions this week from Donna, Deborah, Craig, Jay, Chris, Larry, Gloria, Jack, Ralph, James, Robert, Darren, Leo (who just said hi), Marge, Janette, Joyce, Leo Jason, Emir, Bob, Glenna, Enoch, and Alice.

In order, they asked questions about installing Flash in Firefox, a stolen email address, moving to a Mac, viewing large pictures sent as email attachments, removing spyware (2 in a row), HP scanning software, fake update emails, improving boot up speed, a laptop screen problem, transferring favorites to Firefox from IE, opinion about ThreatFire, how to send smaller pictures via email, adding a photo to a blog, using Picasa to create special effects, Windows 7 launch party question, where to find computer components locally, missing desktop icons, backup recommendations, removing the Quick Launch toolbar, how to copy & paste, and what’s up with McAfee Security Scan. The answers to all these questions and more are located in these two videos: Continue reading →

Email Tips — No Comments
18
Oct 09

Email Filters – Outlook Express

This tip gives you the tools you need to help organize your email with Outlook Express or Windows Mail. Using Filters is like having an assistant go through your email for you and sort it before you see it. Click here for a previous tip on how to use filters to keep spam out of your inbox. Continue reading →

Riding Shotgun with Rick / Videocasts — No Comments
18
Oct 09

Rick Answers his Email Videocast -062

This week’s questions are brought to you by Mike, Todd, Paul, Randall, John, Bob, William, Warren, Bob, Raymond, Che, Dennis and Monica. In order, they asked questions about; digital camera repair, lost CD drives, Vista startup nags, deleting Facebook account, programs for checking drivers, stubborn desktop icons, lost search feature in XP, lost password for helpmerick.com??, free Microsoft Word download, wireless Internet connection, Internet monitoring software, unknown startup program, and one more username/password issue.

Here’s the video:

Continue reading →

Email of the week — 3 Comments
14
Oct 09

Email of the Week – 020

photo credit: ~Oryctes~ (away)

QUESTION

Name: Marty

From: Houston, TX

OS: Windows XP
———————-
Is there a difference between the AVG trial version and the AVG free that you refer to on your site? Is it too late to get the free version or is it the same as the trial version? Thank you. Is it compatible with WindowsXP – SP1 only? I still need to restore computer to SP2 but want to be protected ASAP.
Thanks.
MC