Great questions this week from Robin, Eileen, Sue, Jewel, Dennis, Gwen, Jack, Monica, Raymond, Jerry, Chris, Len, Barb, Dave, Amin, Sandra, BJ, and Sandra from Phoenix. In order, they asked about an AVG install problem related to a Microsoft download, repeating emails in Outlook, attaching photos to email, upgrading to AVG 9, problem with a web site designed in MS… Read More »Rick Answers his Email Videocast – 065
Google started as a college project 12 years ago, then as a startup search engine just 10 years ago. Today, Google owns more than 60% of all web search traffic and employs close to 22,000 employees worldwide.
You probably interact with Google via their search engine primarily. However, you are missing out on some truly great services that Google also provides in addition to their fast and accurate search engine.
In this article, I will share 7 of the many other services Google provides.
When you arrive at google.com, click the link that says News at the top of the page or you can directly visit news.google.com. Google News is an auto-generated news page that refreshes automatically every 5-10 minutes and displays headlines from more than 4500 news sources around the world. To me, it is the ultimate newspaper?unbiased and unfiltered. And even more helpful, starting a Read More »7 Google services you have never tried
Although I’ve been testing, using and writing about Windows 7 since last year, it has only been on the market 2 weeks. In those two weeks, I have setup 8 or 10 new machines already.
The setup is much faster than Vista, but I’m already getting that same ‘ol, same ‘ol feeling about it as I did with Windows Vista and Office 2007. I don’t doubt that Microsoft went back to the drawing board and tweaked and improved Windows, but overall it really is just Vista, done correctly. Plus the machines it is being released on are monsters: dual and quad core processors, 4, 6, and 8 GB of RAM and fast, capable video processors as well.
I really think the improvements in usability will be completely lost by the majority of average computer users. Pinning programs to the taskbar, jump lists, using the integrated search, file libraries, Home Groups, shaking and pushing Windows to screen edges will Read More »Early thoughts on Windows 7
AOL made millions of dollars for years because computer users are afraid to change their email addresses. All week long, I hear, “Oh, it’s too hard to change email addresses now.” Or, “It will take forever to change my email address with everyone.”
Come on folks…we’re using computers! You don’t have to fill out a change of address form and march it down to the postal office. You don’t have to send out a post card to every person you know. You don’t have to fill out a change of address for all your bills and utilities.
Changing email addresses is actually pretty painless and can be cathartic as well. In fact, think of it as going into the digital identity protection program. Here’s how to make it a smooth transitionRead More »Changing email addresses – It’s not that difficult
This week questions arrived from Dan, Sue, Thomas, Stan, Eric, Terri, Jackelyn, Peggy, Cody, and Barb. In order they asked about an anti-brainscan hat (honestly), .data file extensions in Gmail, upgrading to Windows 7, optimizing computer startup, Internet monitoring software, identity theft phone number, free antivirus software, 32 vs. 64 bit Windows 7, missing desktop icons and unsending email. Here… Read More »Rick Answers his Email Videocast -064
I’m always amazed at how surprised computer users become when they learn about a keyboard shortcut. A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that you press on your keyboard to perform a particular function. If you learn them and practice them, they can shave hours off of the tedious maneuvering of the mouse.
These are my favorite and most used computer keyboard shortcuts:
| Alt + TAB | Switch between Open Windows |
| Windows key + E | Open Internet Explorer |
| Windows key + M | Minimize all windows and show the desktop |
| Ctrl + C | Copy |
| Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert | Paste |
| Arrow keys | To scroll pages and place my cursor |
| TAB | Move between form fields (boxes) |
| F2 | Rename a file or folder |
| Ctrl + F | Usually on the web to search for a word on a page |
| Windows key + R | Open the Run Command |
Here are a couple more tips thatRead More »Share YOUR Favorite Keyboard Shortcuts
My radio show co-host, Adam Cochran, sponsored a Windows 7 launch party tonight, and I helped out. We both setup our laptops and projectors and showed off some of the Windows 7 features and answered general questions about upgrading, buying new computers, what software was included, and more. We talked about the new taskbar, increased search abilities, demonstrated the Home Groups feature by sharing some folders back and forth, talked about the less intrusive User Account Control (UAC), demonstrated the snap to edge for positioning windows, the shake technique and how the system installs faster with greater driver support.
Many computer users continue to believe that Microsoft Office (more specifically Word) is included in Windows. Word has never beenRead More »Fun night at Windows 7 Launch Party
Wow, tons of great questions this week from Donna, Deborah, Craig, Jay, Chris, Larry, Gloria, Jack, Ralph, James, Robert, Darren, Leo (who just said hi), Marge, Janette, Joyce, Leo Jason, Emir, Bob, Glenna, Enoch, and Alice. In order, they asked questions about installing Flash in Firefox, a stolen email address, moving to a Mac, viewing large pictures sent as email… Read More »Rick Answers his Email Videocast – 063
A customer asked me a question that I get asked quite often on the radio show and when I’m making my daily house or office visits. “Why do you use free products versus the larger commercial pay products for keeping a computer secure?”
My answer can be summed up in word: effectiveness.
Time and time again, the products I recommend prove themselves in the field as being thorough, effective, and unobtrusive programs. Unobtrusive is a big one for me these days as the leaders in security software (Norton, McAfee, etc) bloat their software beyond recognition and slow down even the fastest, newest machines. Norton claims that their newest versions areRead More »Why use free security software?
This week’s questions are brought to you by Mike, Todd, Paul, Randall, John, Bob, William, Warren, Bob, Raymond, Che, Dennis and Monica. In order, they asked questions about; digital camera repair, lost CD drives, Vista startup nags, deleting Facebook account, programs for checking drivers, stubborn desktop icons, lost search feature in XP, lost password for helpmerick.com??, free Microsoft Word download,… Read More »Rick Answers his Email Videocast -062