Money | Castellini on Computers - Computer help for beginners

Posts Tagged: money

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 →

AOL users: Save your money!

I just left a client’s home who pays for both a DSL connection AND AOL. They were paying $30+ per month for AOL and not using a dial-up connection or their support. In fact, take a look at the image at the bottom of this tip and note that although they were signed up for the AARP discount account of $23.01, they were actually being billed $30.01!

If you use AOL and have a high speed connection, there is no need to pay Continue reading →

Computer User Group / Internet Tips — 7 Comments
7
Jul 09

The Castellini Approach to Internet Security

photo credit: The Joy Of The Mundane

This past week I saw way too many people who are not taking advantage of the free information we give out on the show and the web site. Their computers were suffocating from a preventable disease…viruses and spyware. Yes, preventable, almost 100%. And fighting the war on our home computer security front does not have to be costly or time consuming.

We talk about this subject quite a bit on the program and the web site because of its rapid growth worldwide. In today’s tip, I am providing you with links to information that we have on this site that have been up for months to years that contain the essential information about protecting your computer.

Continue reading →

Riding Shotgun with Rick — 1 Comment
26
Jan 09

Will Obama save money on government computers?

A news story from the BBC broke today describing Obama’s invitation to Sun Microsystem’s CEO, Scott McNealy. Obama asked McNealy to present a report on the benefits of Open Source software. Already many national and state government entities in the United States and many over-seas governments successfully use Linux and other Open Source software. What do you think? Should the United States government go on a software diet?

Internet Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 7 Comments
1
Dec 08

5 Reasons why YOU should be moving to the cloud

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 emailing, surfing and researching the web and playing online games. Transitioning to web based mail and web based word processing, spreadsheets and more is easy and free with products like Zoho Office, Google Docs and ThinkFree.

3. Digital photography is easier in the cloud…and cheaper.

Too many computer users do not know how to properly resize and attach photos to email or gauge how many photos to attach to email. You spend way too much money and time on ink cartridges and paper trying to print good quality pictures. All these problems are solved in the cloud by helping you organize your photos better, share them easier, and print them in higher quality in more formats professionally. Flickr, Picasa Albums, and albums and services from Shutterfly, Snapfish, Winkflash, and others help you do all these things much easier than any desktop application. For those who like to edit their photos, these services offer some limited editing, but Pixlr, Picnik, Fotoflexer, Snipshot, Photoshop Online, and many others provide more than enough power for almost any digital photographer.

4. You either don’t know how or are too lazy to backup your important data.

I admit that I’m putting a lot of faith in Web 2.0 companies, but I know they will do a better and more regular job of backing up your data than you currently do. These companies have their reputations and big bank rolls on the line to take backing up your data lightly. If your data is truly important to you, learn to back it up. In the interim, your data will be much safer online than it is right now on your unprotected computer with no backup plan at all. If I’ve stirred you a little to think about backing up your current data, read my tips about online backup services that truly do make backing up your data easier and safer than learning to burn DVD’s, setup and configure backup programs and then maintain them.

5. Using cloud computing strategies sets you free from any computer.

Since your data and applications live on the web and are accessed through a web browser, you no longer are tied to any one computer or operating system. As long as you have an Internet connection (high speed only) and a browser, you can work and play from any computer!

I keep urging you to learn about and use these services because they are coming down the pike and becoming more mainstream every day. Microsoft, Apple, Adobe and other stalwarts of the desktop continue to make their own plans to finally come on board and offer more and more cloud computing options.

What do you think? Leave me a comment below to tell me about your cloud computing experiences and questions.

Photo by ewen and donabel

Riding Shotgun with Rick — 4 Comments
7
Nov 08

How can I increase traffic to my site?

You can lead a horse to water What a week! For some reason, my scheduling went a little awry this week and made for some long days. In addition to my scheduling problems, however, I could have saved a ton of time (thus the 3 day hiatus of new posts) and my clients could have saved a lot of money if they were more diligent about backing up their data and keeping track of passwords and software.

This web site is exactly the same age as my business…almost 13 years old. In those thirteen years, I can emphatically claim that customers who read my site daily and follow the advice and tips have far less problems and trouble with their computers than those who never visit. And when regular readers of HelpMeRick.com do need an on site consultation from me, they rarely last longer than an hour and usually involve more instruction that troubleshooting. After building this site for 13 years and adding to it almost daily, I can answer at least eighty percent of the most common computer questions with articles found right here at HelpMeRick.com.

I pose the question to you, the faithful HelpMeRick.com visitor: What can I do to encourage you to recommend this site to others and to get them to become regular visitors? What types of articles do you like and which do you dislike? Are the how-to videos working well for you? Any advice and feedback I can get from you to make HelpMeRick.com a better and more reliable resource is appreciated. Leave a comment below and let me know what works and what doesn’t work here at HelpMeRick.com .

Thanks for your help.

Photo by renatotarga

Internet Tips — 2 Comments
22
Oct 08

7 ways to become a more efficient web user – Video Tip

This is a reintroduction and retitling of a previous video/tip because of a copyright infringement complaint from Franklin Covey. Hopefully, the new title and verbiage will satisfy their legal staff.

All week long I help computer users of all ages and experience levels. Too often, I see that many computer users (beginners and experienced alike) do not utilize or know about some basic web browsing skills that will speed their work and give them less problems when using the Internet.

In this week’s tip, I will highlight the inefficient habits computer users use and replace them with tips that will make YOU a quicker and more profecient web user.

1. Using an old browser

No matter how old your computer is or what operating system you are using, DO NOT USE INTERNET EXPLORER 6 (IE 6). IE 6 is late 20th century technology and is not compatible with much of the web today and it also poses the greatest security risks.

Instead, use Mozilla Firefox, Opera, or if you must use Internet Explorer, use version 7.

2. Using a search engine instead of the address bar

If you know a web address you are trying to visit, do NOT use a search engine to type that address, type it directly into the address bar and press Enter on your keyboard.

3. Closing the web browser or clicking the Home icon before going to another web site.

When changing channels on a television, you don’t always go back to channel 1, then go to the channel you wanted do you? Likewise, with the web, you can simply click a bookmark or type web address in the address bar to move on to a new web site. You don’t need to close the window or click Home first.

4. Keeping the default browser home page

Your Internet provider often installs their web site as your “home page” (the first page you see when you launch your browser). However, if you never use that page, change it to something you will use.

5. Overuse of the back button

With older browsers (see Habit 1 above), we had little choice but to click on links, then the back button to reach our previous page. True, some people learned to use multiple browser windows, but even that is a dated technique now.

Modern browsers give us the efficiency and elegance of opening multiple pages in what are known as tabs. Tabbed browsing will drastically cut your use of the back button and change your web browsing life forever…for the better.

6. Wasting paper, time, and money by printing more information than necessary

The Internet definitely gave paper companies a new lease on life because we print more today than ever before. However, too often, Internet users want a certain amount of information from a web site and end up getting 6-8 or more extra pages of information they don’t need.

Instead, take advantage of this easy to follow tip that lets YOU select exactly what you want to print and print only that.

7. Search from a search engine site

Searching the Internet is by the greatest, in my opinion, function available for our computers. However, with modern browsers, again see Habit 1, there is no need to visit the search engine site to start your searches. Instead, use the built-in search bar in your browser. You can find it in the upper right corner of IE 7, Firefox, Safari, and Opera.

Watch the short video below to see all these tips in action and also use the links in this article for more details. Master all of these tips and you will be a web surfer with 7 highly effective habits!

Riding Shotgun with Rick — No Comments
17
Oct 08

What is Open Source?

Open Source software began soon after computers became main stream in offices and then homes. In a nut shell, Open Source refers to software developed under a set standard of rules that developers agree upon to make the software freely available, no penalties for copying or sharing the programs (in fact, it is encouraged to share the software), the source code (programming) must be made available to anyone, and the software must also have no restrictions on others making variations of the software. You can read an exact definition and read the licensing information at the Open Source Initiative web site here.

Open Source software seems to be gaining more and more traction in the computer world as budgets start to tighten in an uncertain financial climate. This week, OpenOffice.org released the newest version of their Open Source office suite software. I’ve been using the beta version of the software for a couple of months and find it to be quite good. OpenOffice is considered one of the bright lights in the Open Source software world and for good reason. It offers an extremely viable option to Microsoft Office and gains new users and fans every single day.

Another Open Source darling is Linux and its various forms (distros). Linux is an Open Source operating system and the poster child for it today is Ubuntu. Ubuntu, like OpenOffice, garners new fans by the thousands every single day because it offers a real alternative to Microsoft Windows for no cost.

Just yesterday, I read an article by Matt Hartley titled 10 Simple Methods for Happily Running Ubuntu. I enjoyed the article, but number 7 in his list stuck with me the most. It was titled, There is no free lunch. He described Open Source as being free from any initial monetary investment, but that Open Source refers more to freedom of use than free ride. What he refers to is that although Open Source software doesn’t cost any money, it does require an investment in time. Time to learn the software, time to research and troubleshoot answers to your questions, and time shared with others on public bulletin boards or other forums sharing any solutions to problems you found or sharing tips that you might have about a particular software. Matt’s sage description stresses the importance of the Open Source movement as being an active solution that everyone can and should contribute to versus a passive one where you take something but never return anything.

I think I’m drawn to Open Source software for a few reasons. 1) The talent and knowledge of the programmers who develop the software amaze me. 2) The thought of being self-reliant and learning to use resources (existing knowledge and collaboration with others) to solve a problem makes sense to me and is extremely self-satisfying, and 3) Paying money for something that doesn’t completely solve a problem for me doesn’t make a lot of fiscal sense.

Getting more people to adopt Open Source software is not always easy. I think this is so because consumers are so brand conscious these days. If it doesn’t have a flashy logo or name on the software or device, then it can’t possibly be worth their time…especially if it is free. I try to look at anything I buy or use from a perspective of; can it do what I need it to do, can it do it efficiently, and can I readily find help for it when I run into a problem or need to learn something new. Open Source often time does fit the bill quite nicely. Sometimes it does not. However, I think any computer user owes it to him or herself to investigate Open Source alternatives to commercially available software. You may be surprised at the quality and functionality of Open Source software while at the same time saving money and becoming a little more knowledgeable and self-sufficient when it comes to your computer use.

Photo by Antikris

Riding Shotgun with Rick — 6 Comments
13
Oct 08

Get a new computer for almost free

Piggy Bank If you would like or might even need a new computer, but aren’t crazy about spending $500-1500 in our current financial environment, consider upgrading your computer for free. Yes, I said free. The only investment you will incur is some time. “How”, you ask? By upgrading your computer’s operating system to one of the many Linux options. As many of you know, I started dabbling and learning more about Linux a little more than two years ago. Linux offers a secure, completely functional, modern operating system for free. Linux falls under the guise of Open Source software (available for free and developed by a collaboration of many programmers) and has spawned many different versions to suit all sorts of users.

The most popular version of Linux the past few years, and the one that hooked me, is Ubuntu. Ubuntu has risen to become, arguably, the leader in Linux operating systems. Ubuntu’s popularity stems from the solid community behind the product that supports and develops it, the incredible array of software that comes installed automatically including full Office compatiblity, networking, photo and multimedia tools, and even games. To get the equal functionality that Ubuntu gives users upon installation, a Windows user would have to shell out nearly $1000 for software alone. Ubuntu throws the knockout punch by offering all this for not only free, but also in a package written well enough that it installs in under 20 minutes and runs on hardware that would buckle under the weight of Windows Vista.

Search my site for more information about Ubuntu, read some stories at Ubuntu Story, and definitely visit the Ubuntu web page for more information as well. For many home users and some small businesses as well, upgrading existing computers to Ubuntu will save time, money and extend the life of many computers. Think about it…you do have a viable choice.

Riding Shotgun with Adam — 1 Comment
18
Aug 08

What’s Adam been up to?

Hey folks, just checking in to let everyone know that I am still around. I don’t come around as much any more because I have been taking a break from my HelpMeRick.com duties to spend time with my family and work on a few other projects behind the scenes.

I am very proud of one such project, a website called ChanisProgress.org.

chanis picture Several years ago I worked on our local senior paper. I did everything from write, to layout, to photography. During that time I worked for one of the greatest bosses I will ever have. Susan was not only a great boss, but a great person. During the time I worked with her, I saw her go through many life developments and she was always open with me about what was going on in her life. As the years have passed and I’ve had a number of jobs since, she remains a close friend.

Late last May, shortly after her graduation and 18th birthday, Susan’s daughter Chani was in a major accident and was left a partial quadriplegic as a result.

Susan has carefully documented the events of Chani’s recovery in a scrapbook and she has tirelessly sent out email udpates to concerned friends and family.

Reading through her emails, as money has become a problem yet miracles continue, I decided to build a website to help Susan keep family and friends informed on Chanis progress and perhaps raise some much needed funds in the process.

Today, ChanisProgress.org went live.

I have designed the site to allow a community of supporters to build online. A place where Chani can see everyone who is pulling for her and read their comments of support. I don’t expect the site to go viral and see millions of visitors a day, but I do hope that it provides friends and family to watch the progress and, at the same time ease some of the load on Susan as she works to keep everyone informed of her constant progress.

Whether you know Chani or not, I encourage everyone to stop by and read about Chanis progress and, if the feeling so strikes you, drop a few dollars into her support fund.