Know your Internet connection types

Rick has called me a cheater for using my user group notes and product reviews in place of a daily column. So, today I am not only writing an official Shotgun article, but I am also turning it in early. I have seen several clients lately who are using the full priced AOL dial-up service. That means they are paying $25.90 for dial-up Internet. One person even had a seperate line for the Internet (add on another...

Print Preview Revisited

I have a couple of tips related to this topic on the site that I will link later, but this feature is important to keep in mind when creating documents you want to print. Print Preview also comes in handy when printing out documents that you aren’t sure how they will look printed; like spreadsheets and web pages. If something doesn’t look quite right, you can then close the preview window and click into the Page...

Digital Photography and the Internet

Digital Photography and the Internet The Internet is a wonderful resource for all sorts of topics related to digital photography. Here are a list of links and topics where you can learn more. Researching equipment: Digital Photography Review Steves Digicams Digital Photography News: Imaging-Resource Rob Galbraith Online Popular Photography Photoshop Stuff: Photoshop Elements Techniques Photoshop User ...

Photoshop Elements Part I

Adobe Photoshop Elements Part I This month we will begin a four-part session on Adobe Photoshop Elements. Although we are centering the meetings on Elements, most of the techniques and tools we discuss also apply to programs such as Paint Shop Pro, Ulead Photo Impact and other advanced image editing programs. Getting Started: Before you begin using Elements or any image editing program it is important to get the monitor...

Top 10 Digital Camera Tricks

Top 10 Digital Camera Tips: (in no particular order) 1. Use Rechargeable Batteries: Make sure your digital camera supports them. Look for at least 1800 mAh. Get more than one set. 2. Save those batteries: The three best ways to save batteries are… 1. Don’t use your LCD except for macro and composition shots. 2. Don’t over use your zoom lens. 3. Don’t connect your camera to your computer (use a media...

Digital Camera Mini Lab

Digital Camera Mini-Lab Important Camera Features The zoom lens: The zoom lens does much more than just bring the subject closer. It can also compress the photo, bringing the subject and background closer together. -NOTE: This effect does not work with digital zoom. Macro Lens: This feature, found on most cameras, allows the photographer to take extremely close-up shots. Some cameras have a macro that works fractions of an...

How to Format Your Hard Drive and Reinstall Window...

WARNING:  I have done my best to outline the steps in this somewhat arduous task, but undertake this procedure at your own risk. Because of the vast differences in hardware and software, I cannot possibly cover every nuance. Please use this Tip as a guide and not the end all. AND BE SURE TO BACKUP ANYTHING YOU DON"T WANT TO LOSE PRIOR TO UNDERTAKING THE TASK! Since many of the sites that I used to refer...

Font management

Fonts are the different typefaces that we can choose when we create word processing documents, newsletters and other computer-generated documents.  I am willing to wager that most computer users only use about a dozen different fonts.  However, there are over 400 different fonts installed on many computers today. These fonts utilize precious computer memory resources and also increase computer boot time.  In...

Lose the ads in the Netscape Messenger (email) Pre...

Here is how to get rid of those email ads from Netscape: 1. Click on Start –> Find –> Files or folders  2. Type: *prefs.js in the "find" box  3. Make sure the Look in box says My Computer  4. Click Find now  5. The search should yield at least two files (depends on how many profiles you have set up in Netscape)  6. RIGHT click on each of the files and click...

Windows XP Makes Computing Easier

When Microsoft released the latest version of Windows in October ’01, one of the most touted features was its redesigned user interface. The press and reviewers of the software initially called the interface “Fisher Price” like, but after working with the operating system over the past four months, I have come to appreciate some of the new usability features. Some basic computing functions like renaming,...

Take Advantage of Window’s Folder Views

Viewing files and their attributes works great in all version of Windows IF you know hot to take advantage of the different folder views. It makes managing and searching through your files much easier. In all versions of Windows, you can view files in List, Icon, Tile, or Details view. With Windows XP, you can view files in Thumbnail view or Filmstrip view for pictures. Tile view shows an icon representing the program used...

Delete an Email without opening it

A common question I am asked is how to delete an email without opening it first. Keep in mind that if you keep your anti-virus software up to date AND you don’t open suspicious attachments…even from people you know, you will lower your risk factor significantly. To delete email without opening it in Outlook Express follow these steps: 1. Click on View from the menus 2. Click Layout 3. Uncheck the box next...

Holiday Digital Photography

Nearly one out of every four homes in the United States own at least one digital camera. Chances are you are one of those households. And if you are one of those digital camera owners, you will probably be taking a few pictures this month. Following are some tips on how to take some interesting and fun photos during the holidays. * Keep your batteries charged or have extras available. “Kodak moments”...

Digital Cameras

The Photo Marketing Association show was last week in Orlando, Florida and there were dozens of new cameras announced for the consumer level. If you have been putting off purchasing a new camera because you wanted to wait for the latest models, now is the time to consider making that purchase. This is also a great time to buy the older models at a closeout price. Here are the important features that you want to look...

Print your Word document on one page

If you have a letter or some other document you typed in Microsoft Word 97 or 2000, and you want to print it on a single page then this tip will save you some time and frustration. Before I discovered this feature, I would adjust the margins, shrink the font and make other formatting changes to make my letters fit on one page. Thankfully, one of the more useful additions to Word 97 and Word 2000 is the ability to shrink a...