Many times a computer user may need the ability to print what they see on the screen, but can’t access a Print command. Using the underutilized Print Screen button on the keyboard can rectify this situation.
The Print Screen button is usually located just to the right of your F keys and above the Insert, Home, Delete key section.
Most of us 40+ learned how to type letters and documents using a typewriter.
Word processing reigns as then new king of document creation, and most typewriters are relegated to attics, back rooms and antique shops.
However, the majority of computer users use their word processors (MS Word, Word Perfect, etc) like a typewriter.
The first rule to remember when using a word processor is to forget your typewriting rules.
When we sat down to our typewriters to create a document (whether a simple letter to Mom or a 100 page novelette), we had to have a clear picture in our head of what the document should look like. Otherwise, crumpled typing paper dominated our floors!
With word processing, the most efficient way to create a document is to Read More »Type first. Edit last.
In my travels, it seems that most home computer users primarily use email. I would love to see 100-200 comments attached to this short article so you can tell me what you use your computer for from day-to-day. You don’t have to be statistically accurate or detailed, I’m just curious and this topic is too broad and detailed for a poll.
Here’s how I use my main computer:
Internet (web browsing, pay bills, web site maintenance, etc) – 60%
Email – 15%
Instructional videos – 10%
Word Processing – 8%
Desktop publishing (creating newsletters, flyers, calendars, etc) – 2%
Skype video calls – 1%
Digital Photography (including ordering, editing, and downloading photos) – 1%
Games – .33%
Other – 2.67%
YOUR TURN! Leave a comment and share what you use your primary computer for on average. Thanks!
Questions about converting to Firefox, malfunctioning keyboards, Wordpress consulting, Norton 360 problems, video editing, the Magic Jack phone, and more are brought to you by Dixie, Kitty, Jill, Anne, Diane, Elaine, Amber, Norma, Rich and Mike! Have a look!!
Brought to you by questions from Paul, Pat, John, Luke, Jose, Pam, Gloria, Mark, Jon, Nicole, James, Laureen, Anne, Larry, Don, and Papa C. They asked questions about web editing, web surfing on a Mac with OS9, installing AVG, installing Windows Vista SP 1, creating a shortcut to the Clipboard Viewer and much more.
Dell announced that they will release a line of laptop computers this fall with an instant on technology called Latitude On. Early indications are that it will closely mimic the Splashtop technology I wrote about last year and during CES 2008. And like Splashtop, the Dell technology involves using a light version of Linux to produce an extremely fast boot up (30 seconds or less) time and can access the Internet through Firefox and a wireless signal.
In the computer world, there are hot rodders – people who will tweak their computers to get every last bit of horse power out of their systems.
Just as with automobiles, techniques used by hot rodders were once necessary in the early days when horse power was hard to come by.
Today, most computers come with all the horsepower most people need. Important tasks like defragmenting the hard drive, running scan disk and deleting cookies no longer do anything spectacular to the performance of the average computer.
Cookies are harmless – even the shady ones. Defragging does little on a 250 gig hard drive and scandisk is take care of by utility features in Windows that run every time you boot up or shut down.
Here I go again talking about online applications and data storage. I keep bringing it up because the idea makes more sense to me everyday.
In just my first two days of work this week, I found multiple examples of how computing online instead of on your desktop makes sense for so many people. It will be a long time before serious photographers, movie makers, engineers, and graphic designers can make do with online applications because their programs require a great deal of computer speed, power, and storage. However, for the bulk of computer users at home and many in small businesses, migrating data online and utilizing online applications can save a great deal of time and money.
“Why didn’t my computer come with a manual?”
One of the most common complaints we hear is about how new computers don’t come with manuals. I am here to explain why this is the case.
The sad answer is that if the computer company came with a manual, it would weigh more than the computer.
“But my old computers used to come with manuals…,” Is the next comment.
Back in the old days of computers there weren’t many uses. You would use computers for word processing, finances, Internet and email. In each case there were only a handful of options.
Basic photo editing no longer takes special software. You can now do some wonderful things with photos from any computer on almost any browser from anywhere in the world. Online photo editors allow you to edit photos simply by going to a special website.
Once fully loaded, these sites let you resize, adjust brightness and contrast, tweak color and even work with layers. While none of these editors are as robust as Photoshop Elements, they are great for doing basic adjustments especially when working on a computer that is not your own.