Gmail update
I started using Gmail exclusively as my email program of choice almost eight weeks ago and haven’t opened Microsoft Outlook since. I wrote about it three weeks into the process, and decided to give another update today.
The $399 Power Computer
Last week, I was charged with finding a computer for a customer who only wanted it for Internet, email, and word processing. He didn’t want to add any games, extra programs, or anything else to it. My first thought, as I was listening to his needs, was Ubuntu. One other request was not to break the bank on cost. Lastly, he told me that he would be hooked up to a high speed cable Internet service.
Upon talking a little more, I explained my idea bout an Ubuntu Linux machine. He asked, “Does it do Internet? Email?” I said, “Yes.” He agreed that it sounded fine to him.
Save pictures from email – Video Tip
It’s been almost one year since I first posted this tip. We have many new visitors this year, and not enough of you are heading my advice yet on this subject, so I’m posting it again. Please believe me when I tell you that this tip alone can save you countless dollars, time, and tears!
Through my travels, I have noticed that many computer users save emails with pictures because they are unsure of how to save those pictures. Saving lots of pictures in your email program can drastically slow down the performance of the email program over time. Email programs typically can handle thousands of messages, but if something happens to the email database, and you haven't backed up those databases, the pictures will be gone for good. Your best insurance for saving pictures is to save them to a folder on your computer (like My Pictures or a subfolder of My Pictures) then back them up on a regular basis.
To save pictures from your email to a folder on your hard drive, do the following:
Outlook Express
1. Click the paper clip icon in the preview pane*
2. Click Save Attachments
3. In the "Save To" box at the bottom of the dialog box that pops up, click Browse and choose where YOU want to save the pictures and click OK
4. Click Save
* If you read your Outlook Express email in its own window, then RIGHT Click on the
Gmail convertee
Three weeks ago, I switched from using Microsoft Outlook (which I had used since 1998) to Gmail.
What is Gmail?
Gmail is the fast, free web based email from search giant Google. Gmail offers free POP3 access (if you want to download your email into Outlook Express, Thunderbird, etc), 6.5 GB of storage (and the number continually grows), and the best web based spam filter I’ve seen so far.
Why good computer guys get grumpy sometimes
Arrogant computer guys really bother me. I try very hard not to be a computer guy who thinks he knows everything.
The problem with this is that I am sometimes competing with computer guys who convince people that they do know everything. When I try to straighten out the situation, I get the line, “but the guy at Best Buy said that Norton is the best.” or “But my son who has worked at HP for 20 years says that Vista is much faster.”
When I try to explain using experience and logic, they don’t want to listen. Logically, wouldn’t it make more sense to listen to someone who isn’t trying to sell something. Even better, someone who deals with problems in real-life homes and businesses every day?
AVG Antivirus 8.0 Upgrade Advice
The past few days calls and emails started filtering in about the new AVG 8.0 version folks have seen appear on their free versions of AVG Antivirus. The common query is, “Should I upgrade?” No, home users of AVG Antvirus do not need to upgrade at all. The current free version of AVG will continue to be updated and as… Read More »AVG Antivirus 8.0 Upgrade Advice
Where to buy a book manual for your computer
“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.
Cloudmark, Zonbu, Hostgator OH MY!!
You may have noticed that HelpMeRick.com has something new. We have added ads, but not just any ads.
The ads you see on HelpMeRick.com are only for companies that we recommend strongly.
So far, we have ads for Hostgator – our favorite web hosting service.
Zonbu, an excellent laptop for those who want a laptop in a standard size package but alternative operating system. If you can’t afford Mac and the Eee PC is too big, take a serious look at the Zonbu.
WiFi is truly becoming ubiquitous
I’ve mentioned before that I think that laptops make a lot of sense for computer users who travel. With a great deal of our communication and information gathering tied up in the computer world, not having this tool when traveling is a definite minus. My family and I just returned from a short trip where having our laptop with us saved us a lot of time and aggravation.
While traveling, we used the computer and a wi-fi connection (which was easy to find) to :
- Email relatives
- Access maps
- Compare shopping centers we were thinking of visiting
- Keep an eye on the weather
- Check road reports
- Find our favorite eateries
- Find independent coffee shops (we like them better than Starbucks)
- Download and look at pictures we took
- Stay current with news without having to wait for a newspaper or the evening news
I’m curious what other travelers use their laptops for on the road. Leave a comment and tell me your traveling laptop story or tip!
Zonbu – Part III
This will be the fourth article I have posted about the Zonbu computer company (read previous Zonbu articles here). Since my last report, I helped setup a second Zonbu laptop and visited with my first Zonbu customer today. The second Zonbu owner bought his for his wife who enjoys mainly email and Internet and had no need for an expensive machine. He and his wife found the computer easy to operate and extremely capable for their needs.
In visiting with my original Zonbu client today, all we did was talk about basic computer learning issues…no computer or security issues. The laptop is working well and fitting her needs perfectly. She had the occasion to talk with Zonbu support on a few occasions and found them to be extremely helpful and patient.
One of the things we did today was setup an Epson printer with her laptop that she received from a friend. As many of you are painfully aware, setting up a printer in Windows can take up to 20 minutes in some cases because of the gargantuan installs the manufacturers throw at us these days. Here’s how the Zonbu printer setup went (and all Linux printer setups for that matter):
- Plug Printer into power outlet
- Turn Printer on
- Plug USB cable into back of printer
- Plug USB cable into Zonbu laptop
- Immediately, a screen appears asking if the printer shown was indeed the printer plugged in (and it was)
- Click Next
- Waited exactly 17 seconds for the