At least once a year, I write a short article about my current computer recommendations. The holiday season is upon us, and I haven’t written an article like this in awhile, so here goes.
In the past six months, I ask more questions than I give when approached with this question.
If I find that the person has a 2-4 year old computer with Windows XP, and just thinks the computer is slow, I go with this advice:
I have been an avid weather watcher since I was a kid. I love looking at weather radar and satellite maps and always enjoyed watching the weather on the news.
Since the advent of the Internet, I exclusively keep track of the weather on the Internet.
This weekend, I was fortunate enough to get a couple of tickets to the Broncos v. Steelers from a friend. My son and I were supposed to leave for the game (a four hour drive over multiple mountain passes) on Sunday morning. However, a look at the weather forecast on Weather Underground prompted us to leave yesterday instead.
By now many of you have figured out that computers are unruly beasts. They seem to be fine one day and schizophrenic the next. As a person who troubleshoots computers for a living, I’m going to let you in on a little trade secret.
When something on your computer seems to be a little left of center, stop and ask yourself three questions:
Last week, I initiated a new service here at HelpMeRick.com that allows you to get email updates (including the newsletter) about the site. Once per day, you will receive an email with any new content we have posted to the site. No spam, no fuss, just nicely formatted updates from the site.
The service is called FeedBlitz. Click the little FeedBlitz icon found in the upper left hand corner of all our web pages and then fill out the short form to subscribe to the updates. You can also click right here to subscribe.
We would love to see that little subscription number get into the 10’s of thousands or more!
As you know, we have been working hard to get our newsletter problems cleared up since they started earlier this summer. Unfortunately, some services are still marking the newsletter as spam.
Using our new FeedBlitz service will allow you to not only get the newsletter, but also help you keep on top of all the happenings here at HelpMeRick.com. Give it a try! And tell all your tech friends about it as well!
On last week’s web show, I talked about how excited I was with a new technology called Splashtop. Adam sent me the site earlier last week, and since then my mind and ideas have been flying.
Splashtop was developed by a private company called Device VM. They work with hardware and software developers to bring their ideas to the market. Splashtop is being billed as a computer’s alter ego to the operating system (aka Windows, Linux, etc). Instead of booting all the way into your operating system (2 minutes plus), you can choose to boot to the Splashtop which, at the moment, runs a customized version of Mozilla Firefox and Skype.
When you choose to start your computer into Splashtop, you can be browsing the Internet in seconds. Everything you can do on the web is available. When you finish, hit the off button and the system shuts off instantly.
I am really excited about the possibility for Splashtop because I have been talking and writing a lot recently about the need for simpler computers. With all the computing we can do on the Internet today, there really is no need for a vast majority of computer users to deal with the complexities and cost of an operating system.
Take a look at the Splashtop web site and watch their video below and then let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.
There is no doubt in my mind that our site has the most relevant and easy to understand computer information for the average and beginner computer user. Unfortunately, the average computer user doesn’t know how to browse the web well and has trouble finding the information they need to know.
Search engines are confusing. Searching a web site is even more baffling. These computer users do well when they have a recipe of what to do in front of them or can watch someone else perform the steps.
Enter the above average computer user…YOU!
We desperately need your help in spreading the word about HelpMeRick.com Your neighbors look to you for help and computer advice. Your co-workers look to you when they need to find a lost file. And of course your family knows that you know the answer to their latest computer dilemma.
Unofficially, YOU provide tech support for a multitude of computer users. Those computer users you help need to be visiting HelpMeRick.com to help get answers to their questions and to improve their computer knowlege. You can help them get the computer education they need by using the thousands of answers we provide here at the site.
Send your tech support charges links via email to the exact answer to their question at HelpMeRick.com. No reason for you to have reinvent the wheel.
Get the picture? Help us, help you. Help us, help your friends.
Then tell your friends to visit HelpMeRick.com often so they don’t get in these messes to begin with or can learn new skills that make them more productive computer users.
And finally, let them know that they also should send their friends, family, and co-workers to HelpMeRick.com for education and computer help. Knowledge is power, and powerful computer knowledge can be found right here.
Definition
The word blog derived from web + log. Blogs became well known during the 2004 election process, but have been around since at least 1999. They started out as simple online diaries comprised of primarily text entries sorted by date…newest to oldest. Gradually, they morphed into full fledge web sites containing images and video along with the written information.
What is the purpose of a blog?
Thankfully, broadband (high speed) Internet is spreading further and further. I don’t walk into many homes anymore than don’t have high speed access, and I can’t remember the last time I helped a business customer who had dial-up access. With high speed Internet access, many computer users install a wireless router to the modem to allow multiple computer access to the Internet. Wireless routers are easier to setup than ever before and can be purchased for well under $50. However, with extra technology, comes extra problems.
With wireless, the extra problems can mean potentially slow, spotty, and unsecured Internet access. Follow these five steps to make your wireless Internet stronger, more secure and less problematic:
Windows Vista has few redeeming qualities, in my humble opinion. Some users, however, may have the need to track multiple time zones for work or personal use. I use this tip to track the time in Arizona where my brother lives. Because they don’t follow daylight savings time, I am forever confused about what time it is for him when I call.
Watch the short video below to learn how to quickly track up to three time zones if you are a Windows Vista user.
Many times when sitting in front of a computer screen, I need to know the date. I don’t tend to keep the date in my permanent memory, so I rely on calendars to remind me. With a Windows computer (from Windows 95 through Vista), you can quickly access the current date by hovering your mouse, don’t click, just hover on the time in your system tray.
Watch my quick 40 second tip demonstrating this extremely useful, but often forgotten tip.