New computer recommendations

At least once a year, I write a short article about my current computer recommendations. The holiday season is upon us, and I haven’t written an article like this in awhile, so here goes. In the past six months, I ask more questions than I give when approached with this question. Scenario 1 If I find that the person has a 2-4 year old computer with Windows XP, and just thinks the computer is slow, I go with this...

I want a Palm Centro!!

I just read the review of the new Palm Centro at TreoCentral.com. It sounds wonderful. I was very excited to hear about it when it was announced, but after reading the review, I feel that it is a device that would change my life. I have used the Palm Treo 600, 650 and 700p. Each new generation has been better than the last. My only complaints about the Treo have been over form factor. It already does more and does it better...

TIME inc. makes another mistake – Business 2...

A few months ago, I discovered Business 2.0, a small magazine in the Time empire. I have read every issue since over and over again in the room where I do most of my reading. I have bought the past few issues off the stands. I bought the October issue with every intent of filling out the subscription card this month replacing my Popular Photography subscription. I was very disappointed to read the banner across the top of...

Now I remember what I don’t like about Apple...

Apple products are beautiful and functional. Many people brag about their iPod or Mac’s stability, but there is a good reason that Macs are so stable. Apple is very restrictive as to what others are allowed to do with their systems. For example, if you have a iPod, you can only use iTunes if you want to sync music to it. If you have another brand of media player, it will not work with iTunes. Most standard hardware such...

AOL is so easy (to cancel)

I helped a broadband user cancel (yet keep) his AOL account today. Over a year ago, AOL stopped charging users who wanted to use their service over broadband. However, they did not tell their members about this change and continued charging them. My client was still paying $23.95 per month for AOL. The conversation went kind of like this: ME: Are you still paying for AOL? HIM: Yes. ME: How much? HIM: $24 per month. ME: You...

It’s the basics baby…5 of them

A customer of mine commented earlier in the week that he was “amazed” at my knowledge of computers. I thanked him then replied that all of my knowledge could fit in the head of a thimble. And it’s true. Many days I stew over how much more I would like to know and learn about computers, technology, programming (which I know butkus about), web design, and web marketing. One reason I have been successful in...

Reconsidering extended warranties

I think that electronics aren’t as well made as they used to be. Correction: I know that electronics aren’t as well made as they used to be. Not only are products more fragile and flimsy but repair costs are rising. Both of these facts have caused me to reconsider my opinion of extended warranties. Not all extended warranties are a good deal, but I used to feel that they were almost always a waste of money....

Demand compensation from Microsoft

If I was independently wealthy, I would give discounts to customers with Windows Vista. Alas, I am not independently wealthy and my business supports my family, so I charge for time I spend in a client’s office or home. One customer , today, could have saved 30-40% off their bill had they bought one of the few remaining laptops with Windows XP. This brand new Toshiba laptop with only 1 GB of RAM (half of the minimum...

Another sony proprietary technology bites the dust

For every Apple device that becomes a standard there is a Sony technology that becomes obsolete. Apple and Sony both got off to a great start in the early 80s. Apple introduced the Mac and Sony gave us the Walkman. From that point on, Apple has had only a handful of market failures and Sony has had nothing but. Sony announced their latest casualty this week by discontinuing their proprietary ATRAC audio compression file...

Fun with Cameroon Pet Scams

I really love English Bulldogs. Recently I became aware of a common pet scam that is based on every other over seas Internet scam. Someone from Cameroon posts a desired breed up for a ridiculously low price. He/she asks for money plus shipping. You never get the dog. Here is my recent correspondence with one such scammer. I have resorted the posts from oldest to newest so you can enjoy the events as they occurred. For...

11 years with my wife – 10.5 with my compute...

Every August 6th my wife and I celebrate our anniversary. Marriage certainly has its benefits. We have four wonderful kids. We each have great jobs that allow us to spend time together as a family. But, I have to admit that I got the better end of the deal. Every skill I have that makes me worth anything is a skill I have because of her. That is a total of one skill. I make no secret of the fact that I am not a carpenter,...

Disposable tech?

All-in-one printers have dropped so low in price the last couple of years that it poses a dilemma when the machine goes on the fritz. Decent all-in-ones can be found for right at $100 and some as low as $79. When one starts to malfunction, you need to really evaluate how much time and money is too much to spend on an inexpensive piece of equipment. My thought is that if your printer cost around $100-125 new, I wouldn’t...

Sadly, dial-up Internet is still alive and well

The majority of people I have seen this week have been dial-up Internet users. In every case the appointment lasted longer and cost more money than if they would have been on broadband. In other words, the appointment could have taken only a few minutes. Instead the appointment took so long that it cost as much as three month’s worth of broadband service. I carry most of the tools for fixing computers on my flash drive...

New computer does not equal faster Internet

I believe that I’ve written about this before, but since I ran into this phenomenom at least three times over the past week, it bares mentioning again. Many dial-up Internet users using Windows 98 or Me buy a new computer and after taking it home setting it up and jumping online with their dial-up systems find that the Internet and email are just as slow as their hold systems. I then get the question,...

Used computers & friends

I believe Adam or I have written on this topic before, but I worked with a situation yesterday that was disturbing enough that I needed to bring this topic up again. We continually talk about friends or family members who like working with computers and then like to help out your computer. IF the help revolves around something mundane like plugging the power into your power strip or maybe changing an ink cartridge, then by...