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Riding Shotgun with Adam

Proper care and feeding of batteries

I bought a new digital camera the day after Thanksgiving. Following Adam's First Law: Gadgets Yield More Gadgets, I have ordered a new vertical shooting grip and several batteries.

When the batteries arrived, I followed Adams 379th Law: Always Read the Instructions. I am thinking seriously about moving the 379th law up to at least 134 because I discovered some interesting information about rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries.

1. Li-Ion batteries run down faster when they are cold. If you are shooting in the cold, you should keep spare batteries in your pocket, close to your warm body.

Being stranded isn’t as bad as it used to be

Driving back from my first client this morning, the guy in the car next to me honked and pointed at the side of my car. Since I couldn't tell what he was talking about, I pulled over hoping that someone had taped a $100 bill to the side of my car. As it turned out, I had a flat tire.

I put the space-saver tire on my Civic and headed to the tire repair place. The wait was over an hour and a half, but I was able to get quite a bit of work done – including this post.

The tire place offers free WiFi so I was able to sit and work on Internet things. I also answered my calls and scheduled appointments for next week. I did have to postpone some appointments for today, but I was still able to get to everyone I had scheduled (at least that's the plan, I haven't left the tire place yet).

AOL is FREE! Stop paying for it!!

A few months ago AOL changed their business model completely.

AOL has never been a real Internet provider. They are an advertising company that charges subscribers to see their ads.

With the spread of broadband Internet and wiser consumers, AOL has finally realized that people don't like paying $25/mo. to see strategically placed ads and a cluttered interface.

If you are paying for AOL, I am not going to try to convince you that you need to cancel or leave the service.

I will let you know though that AOL has changed their business model and their service is now FREE for broadband users and $9.99/mo. for dial-up users.

How to buy a computer book

When teaching my basic computer classes, I often get the question, "What is a good computer book?"

This is also followed or preceded by the complaint that the individual's computer did not come with a manual.

As strange as it may seem, there is a very good reason why the average computer doesn't come will a full instruction book. The reason is that there is too much to know about a computer to fit in a single manual.

Most computers come with a small user guide that shows how to turn it on and what numbers to call for tech support. Strangely this little guide is often a file on the computer, so you must turn the computer on in order to read it.

What IS a blog?

Over the past few weeks I have been asked this question several times. For some reason people always place the emphasis on the word is in this question.

"So, what is a blog?" is a different question than "What is a blog?

By placing the emphasis on the word is, I read this question to be rephrased as, "I keep hearing about blogs and they sound interesting, but no one can really define it for me, can you explain?"

A blog is a sort of online journal. Some people describe it as a diary, but since it is public and can be used for purposes other than personal information, a journal is probably a better description.

Things we say for our health

Today I visited a client who listens to the show regularly, or so she said.

I was there because the computer was running very slow and locked up often. On her computer were three programs (or groups of programs).

1. AOL

2. AOL Security Center (AOL's antivirus, antispyware and popup blocker)

3. Norton System Works

"I know you guys say not to use these programs but my son said I need them, he works for a big computer company in California."

As I explained that her problems were caused by AOL, AOL Security Center and Norton she said, "I knew you were going to tell me that I shouldn't be using those programs but…"

Zune no big woop

I didn't get home until late last night so I am writing two articles tonight. Even though I am home even later than I was last night.

Yesterday while I was at Target and Best Buy I had a chance to look at the new Microsoft Zune MP3 player. I was not impressed. As I played with the device I had to wonder if I was even supposed to be impressed. I mean it comes in three colors – white, black and brown. No electronic device has come in brown since the 70s and that was because the 60s used up all of the colored inks and everything in the 70s had to be brown.

I am not a huge fan of the iPod, but at least it's elegant. The Zune is a nogahide (fake vinyl leather that they make couches and coats out of) iPod. It tried to be sleek and elegant but it comes out looking like the fancy Kia next to a Mercedes.

Google – more than just a great search

Why is Google's stock always so high? How can a company be worth so much if all they do is help people find web sites? Where do they make their money?

Before you dismiss Google as just a search engine or over-priced stock, take a look at the hidden features they offer.

Google offers so many services for free that many experts have theorized that Google may one day replace libraries, phone companies, operating systems, Internet browsers, phone books, calendars and reminders, email, television and even paper.

Gadgets yield more gadgets

I have helped several people buy new computers lately. I don't sell computers or any other hardware so I am more of a personal shopper than a salesman when it comes to guiding people through their purchase.

I think it's funny how gadgets always seem to yield more gadgets. Here is a short flowchart of how this process works.

1. A client calls and says that they need a new computer. They ask my advice on what they should get for just basic stuff like email and word processing. "I don't need anything fancy."

2. I suggest a basic system that will handle all of their needs and a little more.