3 Classes of Information Technology (IT) Users

I left this note as a comment on a web site just now, but decided that it was good enough to be a post here at HelpMeRick.com.  IT is the fancy word for computer technology. The more I read about and talk with people about computers, I see there are three distinct “classes” of computer users. Hard core IT - those that need every ounce of PC power for their jobs and/or personal life. They program, game,...

7 Tech items I would take to college

I graduated from college almost 10 years before computers started being a main stream college accessory. I would love to be a student again not only because I enjoy learning, but I would love to have access to the technologies today’s students use every day. The most advanced piece of tech I used in college was the HP 41 CV programmable calculator with the magnetic card strip reader attachment. I loved that calculator,...

Digital Readers and E-books

Amazon released their version of a digital reader, called the Kindle, in late 2007. It received a lot of attention at the time, but not as much as its new version released this spring. Amazon states that more than 285,000 books are available for download and purchase, 50,000 audio books, and there are many magazine and newspaper articles also available for download (including my blog). A full text book can be downloaded in...

5 pieces of technology I can’t live without

Many of these types of articles have been written on the Internet, but I don’t think I ever did one. These are the five pieces of technology that I consider essential to my digital life. Smart phone (currently the iPhone 3G). Since I started using cell phones, I saw the need and utility to marry the phone with a portable organizer. I even carried around the clunky (but useful) Handspring Visor with the Sprint phone...