Computers have become almost a main stream household appliance. Whether you have been using a computer for fifteen years or one, these skills should be second nature:

1. Cut, Copy, Paste
2. Print just what you want (word processing, email, web)
3. Backup your address book
4. Select (highlight) text or files
5. Properly uninstall unwanted programs
6. Burn a CD
7. Download files from the Internet
8. Use MSCONFIG ; Another MSCONFIG tip
9. Search the Internet
10. Attach Files to an email
    

Overall, the iPhone has performed wonderfully and with the exception of no cut, copy and paste (when Apple?  when?) it has performed admirably. I have been able to duplicate all the functions I used the Treo for, and added many new capabilities. I use the phone the most...after all, it is a cell phone. The visual voice mail system that lets you pick which message to listen to first or have the ability to visually pause, rewind or fast forward voice mail is stunningly implemented and makes managing voice mail much easier.

For extra applications, I settled on SplashID to manage my passwords, Grocery Zen to create shopping lists (I get through the store in at least 25% less time now), Now Playing to look up movie times, Pandora for listening to music (don't have much time to do this, but it works well), Woot On! to check the daily Woot, but especially helpful when there is a Woot Off, WeDict for a dictionary, Wikipanion for great mobile access to Wikipedia, SportsTap keeps me up to date on sports I follow, Units application for converting volume, length, weight, etc. I also downloaded and occasionally use Word Warp, Sudoku, Tris (tetris clone), reMovem, and Blocks Classic for quick games. For future travel, I downloaded the mobile versions of Yelp and Hotels.com.

The built-in email application works well, and I use it daily in addition to browsing the web. The iPhone truly has exceeded]]> http://helpmerick.com/treo-what-treo.htm/feed 5 http://helpmerick.com/instant-shutdown-in-windows-vista-video-tip.htm http://helpmerick.com/instant-shutdown-in-windows-vista-video-tip.htm#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:44:03 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/wordpr/?p=2248 Many moons ago, I shared with you a tip on how to create a desktop icon to shutdown Windows XP instantly. It's about time that I share with you the same tip applied to Windows Vista. Here's how it is done:

1. RIGHT Click on a blank part of your desktop
2. Click New --> Shortcut
3. Type the following phrase EXACTLY as shown in the box (or better yet, Copy and Paste it):    %SystemRoot%\System32\shutdown.exe /s
4. Click Next
5. Type a name for your shortcut like Shutdown, It's Over, Time to Go...you choose
6. Click Finish
7. Now RIGHT click on the new shortcut you created
8. Click Properties
9. Click Change icon (you might get an error message, just click OK)
10. Click an icon you want to use for the shutdown
11. Click OK

You can see all these steps in action in the video below AND get a bonus tip of how to change the action of the little power button on the start menu.
]]> http://helpmerick.com/instant-shutdown-in-windows-vista-video-tip.htm/feed 6 http://helpmerick.com/what-i-learned-in-the-first-4-days-of-my-iphone-3g.htm http://helpmerick.com/what-i-learned-in-the-first-4-days-of-my-iphone-3g.htm#comments Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:59:26 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/wordpr/?p=2194 I picked up my new iPhone late on Thursday night, worked with it on Friday, then left with it for a quick trip to see my brother and my first and only nephew. Prior to this phone, I have used some sort of smartphone since 2000...all Palm software based. Prior to that I used Palm handheld computers since about 1997.

I decided to move to the iPhone because I felt that the Palm innovation had stagnated...about 5 years ago. Plus, with all the innovation and development happening around the iPhone, I knew it was a great opportunity to take my smartphone usage even further than the Palm based systems had. A real quick word about any smartphone; they aren't met for every cell phone user. Smartphones are designed for people who want to check email, lookup information on the web, get maps, send text messages, add specialty programs like conversion programs, time trackers and much more to their phone.

Enough blabber, here are some of my thoughts about the iPhone after only four days of use:

1. The screen is absolutely stunning...clear, bright, and responsive.

2. I really miss being able to select text]]> http://helpmerick.com/what-i-learned-in-the-first-4-days-of-my-iphone-3g.htm/feed 4 http://helpmerick.com/solution-for-computer-users-who-cant-print-from-internet-explorer-7-ie-7.htm http://helpmerick.com/solution-for-computer-users-who-cant-print-from-internet-explorer-7-ie-7.htm#comments Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:00:21 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/wordpr/?p=2172 Since I use Firefox exclusively for my browsing, I haven't seen this problem yet, but today I ran into a computer that could print from anywhere but Internet Explorer 7 (IE7). Turns out that, in her case, the upgrade to AVG 8.0 caused the problem. A standard installation of AVG 8 installs a security toolbar in Firefox, if you use it, or Internet Explorer 7. The toolbar is meant to help users from clicking on potentially harmful web links. However, the toolbar, like most toolbars, slows down browsing speeds and in the case of Internet Explorer 7 with Windows Vista, it also disables the ability to print!

   ]]> http://helpmerick.com/solution-for-computer-users-who-cant-print-from-internet-explorer-7-ie-7.htm/feed 2 http://helpmerick.com/7-great-places-to-start-learning.htm http://helpmerick.com/7-great-places-to-start-learning.htm#comments Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:19:26 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/wordpr/?p=1987 Not long ago, a commenter on the web site suggested we put up some links to our some of our best and most visited tips. I thought it was a great idea, and here are seven that I came up with. If you have your own favorite or most helpful HelpMeRick.com tips, please share them with everyone by leaving a comment below.
   • Cut, Copy, and Paste  -  I believe that this invaluable skill should be a computer prerequisite
   • Print just what you want - Everyone's going green these days, and we've been green for years
   • MSCONFIG - Take control of your computer's startup
   • How to Burn a CD  -  Million's have this question
   • Create your own custom online newspaper -  A video tip packed with information that WILL change your life
   • Tabbed Browsing  -  You have to see it to believe it. Then use it to save hours of your time.
   • Set up a home network  -  Yes, you can. And yes, you should. 

   Remember to tell us which are your favorite HMR tips by leaving a comment below. 

   ]]> http://helpmerick.com/7-great-places-to-start-learning.htm/feed 1 http://helpmerick.com/cut-copy-and-paste-video-tip.htm http://helpmerick.com/cut-copy-and-paste-video-tip.htm#comments Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:30:06 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/wordpr/?p=59 These techniques should be standard tools for any computer user. However, many computer users find these techniques elusive.

   The ability to move (cut) or copy information from one computer program to another sets you free to do so much more with your computer. Cut, Copy and Paste function by temporarily storing the information, cut or copied, into a temporary holding spot of memory known as the clipboard (Click here for the Webopedia definition).

   The information held in the clipboard stays there and is available to Paste until either the computer is restarted or another item is cut or copied. Make special note of this fact when using the "Cut" command, because if you cut or copy another item before pasting the first item, the first one is lost.

   Before choosing Cut or Copy, the computer needs to know what you want to cut or copy. This is done by using the mouse to]]> http://helpmerick.com/cut-copy-and-paste-video-tip.htm/feed 4