R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find and Replace
One often overlooked feature in word processing programs like Word, WordPerfect and even Microsoft Works is the Find and Replace function. It is used to locate and replace a frequent use of a word with a different word in a document. You might use it if you right contracts, leases or some other long document and need to make a quick change. Here’s how to use it:
- Open your document in your word processor
- Click Edit –>Replace from the menus
- Type a word or phrase in the "Find" box
- Type the word or phrase that you want to replace the found word with in the "Replace" box
- Click Replace All
That’s it! Give it a try the next time you need to make a few adjustments in a document.
Never be embarrassed
One of my stops today led me to a nice woman who said that she was somewhat embarrassed that she didn’t use her computer for more "important" purposes. She described that her computer usage primarily revolved around email, browsing the Internet and an occasional word processing document. When I explained to her that she wasn’t alone and that many people I see use their computers for exactly the same purposes, she was quite surprised.
One of my philosophies about computers is that you should never do something just because someone else is or someone else told you so. I think it is good advice for life too. If you are happy with how your computer works and with the types of activities you can perform, then great, no worries. Using a computer is a very individual undertaking and there is no reason that we all have to be performing the exact same functions with them.
Why we recommend the stuff we do
Our listeners and subsribers have probably heard me say, "Don't let your kids fix your computer, no matter how old they are or who they work for."
I say this because many of my appointments come as a result of a full grown son or daughter who "works for Microsoft" or "Is a computer tech for ___________ University" coming home and "fixing" the computer.
I have no doubts that said son or daughter is great at what they do while they are at their work, but there is a big difference between working in a controlled environment like a business or school and working on dozens of computers a week in completely unassociated environments.
The nuts and bolts of setting up a computer
It seems that we are in a computer buying season. I have several appointments this week to setup new computers. While we have a number of tips on the site about how to setup a new computer for safety, we don’t have much written about the physical setup of the system. Here are a few tips to get things setup quickly and efficiently.
1. Start with the big parts – Don’t take every cable and disk out of the box, just remove the big pieces and set them in their place. The trick to getting large pieces out of the box is to open the box then turn it over. You can then pull the box off the top leaving a neat pile of components.
Read the bubbles
Computer software makers have tried to make software easier to interact with over the past ten years. The problem is us…not the software. I equate the problems with computers with the problems we have faced for ever in real life.
Doctors tell us not to smoke…it’ll kill you. What do we do? Smoking, although relegated to streets and alleys, remains insanely popular and kills millions every year. Don’t eat too much fat or sweets we are told. "Honey, where shall I pick up food tonight; Dairy Queen, McDonalds or Wendy’s?"
It’s disgusting, I know. We are creatures of habits and don’t like to be told what to do. The advice ALWAYS turns out to be helpful, but we usually find out too late how helpful it would have been.
Image Converters
Here are two programs that may help you batch convert image files:
Image Magick (that’s how they spell it)
Choose local Internet providers for DSL
No one likes to sit on hold waiting for ‘customer support’. DSL high speed Internet is growing rapidly because of increased availability from the phone companies and it is inexpensive. However, many computer users choose to get the service through the phone company (which in turn is provided by big guys like MSN or AOL) or they choose to upgrade their dial-up service with their existing large national Internet provider.
DSL offers the opportunity to cut the ties with the large national chains and get your Internet provided by your local Internet company. Part of DSL monies still go to the phone company, but technical support is handled by your local provider. Local DSL providers offer some distinct advantages:
I always have my tools with me
Most computer problems have nothing to do with the mechanics of the computer. It is rare that I see a motherboard die, RAM go bad, a video card burn out or a power supply fail.
Almost all computer problems are software related. Among the hundreds of millions of lines of programming code, a few 1s and 0s crash together and things go screwy.
Whether it is a programming glitch or the problem is caused by an intentionally designed virus, the majority of computer problems must be solved by tweaking the software.
Twice today I had people comment on my lack of tools. I walk into a home or office with nothing under my arm. Everything I need is on my person.
Dude, where’s my shotgun?
Rick pointed out to me tonight that I haven’t put up any shotgun articles for a few days. It was at that exact moment that I realized that I hadn’t written any shotgun articles for a few days.
I have some catching up to do so consider this article one of the most important articles I have written for several days.
When I fix a computer I try to always approach the computer and the situation as if it were my own. I work hard at using techniques that allow me to get the best job done in the least amount of time. I ask myself three questions to determine the approach that I want to take.