Linux | Castellini on Computers - Computer help for beginners

Posts Tagged: linux

Print Preview

Sometimes the most helpful computer utilities elude us and stay hidden for years. One such utility that I find very helpful (and have taken for granted) is the Print Preview function found in almost any program that allows printing.

Because Windows and Macintosh made the WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) environment available to the masses, what we see on our screens is pretty close to what we see on our print outs. However, if you need to tweak margins, find the extra line that is creating an extra page, or determine whether a document (like a spreadsheet) will look better in Landscape or Portrait mode, there is no substitute for the Continue reading →

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.

Computer Tips / Ubuntu Tips — 1 Comment
26
Aug 09

How to set Puppy Linux to double-click instead of single click

I use Puppy Linux to troubleshoot computers and backup data from dead hard drives. However, by default, the system automatically opens a file or folder when it is clicked just one time. For me, it seriously slows down my work. I finally learned how to set Puppy Linux to double-click instead of single click for opening folders and files.

RIGHT Click on any desktop icon
Click ROX-filer —> Options
Click Filer windows from options on left of screen
Uncheck the box that says Single-click navigation
Click OK

This short video demonstrates how this tip works.

Riding Shotgun with Rick / Tech News — 1 Comment
28
Jul 09

Intel Helped Google with Chrome OS

This article seems to confirm a suspicion I had and wrote about upon Google’s initial announcement of the Chrome Operating System. Intel has been working with the Linux community for months developing a compelling operating system called Moblin. The Moblin project already uses the Chromium browser (Linux equivalent of Google Chrome) and seems like a natural starting spot for Google’s project.

I still think that Moblin or something very similar will become Google Chrome OS.

You can read CIO Today’s entire article here:

Operating Systems – Intel Confirms It Helped Develop Google’s Chrome OS.

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 — 5 Comments
25
Apr 09

2 laptop suggestions for college students

photo credit: jarnott

Millions of high schoolers will be graduating soon and will be leaving for their respective campuses (campii?) at the end of the summer. These students will more than likely go to college with a computer…probably a laptop. I would like to suggest two possible laptops ideas for these students.

Both of my ideas involve good systems that will allow college kids to word process, chat, email, listen to music, watch DVD’s, browse the web wirelessly(for school research of course), create presentations, spreadsheets, download and edit photos and much more. Neither involve Windows and thus don’t require a degree in computer security and maintenance. One of the computers costs between $1200-1800 and the other costs less than $700.

My recommendations stem from first hand accounts from parents whose college kids call home frequently with tales of woe about a slow, non-functioning new computer. Students need to have their computers operational, and running around to the campus IT people or dropping the computer at a fix-it shop for expensive repairs. These two recommendations will keep calls home for repair money, tales of woe, and computer down time to a bare minimum. Continue reading →

Riding Shotgun with Rick — No Comments
19
Apr 09

First Linux Users Group Meeting

Joe has posted the notes from our fist Linux Users Group held a couple of weeks ago. Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19 from Noon-1:30pm at Main Street Bagel. Keep an eye on the Grand Valley Linux Users Group web page maintained by Joe! Thanks Joe.

Riding Shotgun with Rick / Ubuntu Tips — 6 Comments
4
Apr 09

Portable Ubuntu lets you try out Ubuntu Linux

For a little over two years, I have been yammering on about Linux and Ubuntu. To get started using it, you need to either order a free Linux CD from the distribution of your choice or download a copy then learn how to burn a bootable CD from it. For many, this just isn’t going to happen.

However, if you are extremely curious about Ubuntu and would try it if it was easier, Lifehacker just wrote an article about a new program called Portable Ubuntu that installs and runs like any other Windows program. This should be a great way for many novice computer users and Ubuntu lookie-lous to give it a try. The download is still huge (a few hours for most people), but you might have fun giving it a try.

Lifehacker – Portable Ubuntu Runs Ubuntu Inside Windows – Portable Ubuntu.

Announcements — 4 Comments
1
Apr 09

Advanced Linux Meeting next week

First off, I need to stress that this new group has no affiliation what-so-ever with the Grand Junction Computer Users Group, and also need to stress that it is for advanced hobbyists only.

Last week, I met with Joe Mason last week who is very interested in this idea of starting an Advanced Linux Users Group. The conversation and information overwhelmed me, but also inspired me on how much more I want to learn about Linux. He agreed to lead the first meeting with an introduction to Linux distros and Linux lingo, etc. Then, as a group, we can discuss how we want to proceed with future meetings. Lastly, for those attending, if you bring a laptop that you would like to have Linux installed on, we can install Linux (a choice of distros will be available) on as many as time allows. Just make sure that the laptop doesn’t have any data on it that can’t be lost.

Details for the first meeting are:

When: Thursday, April 9 from 12:00-1:30pm

Where: Main Street Bagels downtown in the back meeting room. They have wifi there, but require that we spend a minimum of $30 while using the room

Who: Advanced Linux users only, and those that want to become advanced at using Linux

If you have any questions, leave a comment here or contact Joe. He has setup an initial web site for the group that has his contact information.