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Should I backup?

Five Days' Backup
photo credit: daryl_mitchell

Should you carry health insurance? Should you carry car insurance? Should you save for retirement? Should you eat every day? Does a bear….  Well, hopefully you get the picture. The answer is a resounding YES!!

You should backup, and depending on your computer needs and usage your backups should occur frequently (sometimes daily). Many computer users equate backing up their computers with their mother’s giving them castor oil. It’s no fun, but a necessary evil. What is castor oil any way?

Things you should backup on your computer includeRead More »Should I backup?

Share YOUR Favorite Keyboard Shortcuts

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

How to adjust toolbars in Internet Explorer – Video Tip

I ran across a question today that could not be explained verbally or in writing. It is so visual, that a video was warranted. The question was how to adjust or restore the default toolbars in Internet Explorer. Here’s a 49 second video demonstrating the skills you need to get this done. Take a look!

Net neutrality – It isn’t a political issue

High Speed Internet on Commercial - Roland in Vancouver 2053
photo credit: roland

The issue of net neutrality is rearing its head again lately. In a nutshell, net neutrality means that anyone who pays for access to the Internet should get full, unfettered access to the Internet. Opponents want to allow Internet providers to charge for priority access to the Internet. In other words, if you forward an email with a funny joke or pictures of your family, it would take longer (albeit not much longer) for it to reach its destination unless you paid extra to have priority treatment.

On one hand, some compare it to shipping or mail services. If you pay more, it can get there faster. However, we have that now already with Internet service. If you pay more, you can get a fasterRead More »Net neutrality – It isn’t a political issue

A Pigeon is faster than the Internet

Zaajil
photo credit: Bu Yousef

I count this as sort of a misleading article, but it is fun none the less. A homing pigeon with a 4GB flash drive took off from a location 80 miles away from its destination. A download of the same amount of data was started at the destination at the same time the pigeon was released. The bird landed with the 4GB of information in just over 2 hours. The computer had only downloaded 5% of the 4GB file in the same 2 hours.

4 GB is a lot of data (1000 songs, or 3000 photos, or a 2 hour movie), but it does wound pretty pathetic that a pigeon can move that information faster than a high speed Internet connection. However, the story also illustrates howRead More »A Pigeon is faster than the Internet

Free & Pay WiFi Hot Spots in Grand Junction, CO

I thought it might be a good idea to make a complete list of open WiFi hotspots in Grand Junction, CO.

A WiFi Hotspot is a place where anyone can access wireless Internet for free and without setting up an account or through the use of a pay account. I also added a few pay sites as well. I certainly don’t know all the spots in town, so please help me make this list more complete with your additions by leaving a comment below.Read More »Free & Pay WiFi Hot Spots in Grand Junction, CO

Mozilla Firefox 3.5 released – Get it!

mozilla-firefoxlogoMozilla released version 3.5 of their  browser, Firefox, less than two weeks ago. I jumped on the update the day  it came out and have had zero problems. You already know that I recommend everyone use an alternative to Internet Explorer for daily browsing. If you aren’t using an alternative browser yet, then now is the time to jump in and start using something other than Internet Explorer.

Mozilla Firefox 3.5 shored up a lot of speed and memory problems that seemed to hamper some with their 3.0 release. I noticed an immeadiate improvement with Read More »Mozilla Firefox 3.5 released – Get it!

Computer Boot Camp – June 2009

HMS Kids' Boot Camp
photo credit: heraldpost

The most common piece of feedback I receive about my monthly computer users group goes something like this; “I love coming to the meetings, but I don’t understand most of what you say.” Or, “Almost all of the information is over my head.”

I dedicate today’s meeting to all you folks who want to learn (and rightfully so) the bare bone basics about computers. This article will give you links to those basics that make computing a much easier endeavor.

And please don’t keep this valuable information to yourself, pass this article on to any and all of your computer buddies/family that could benefit from a little basic training about computers. Read More »Computer Boot Camp – June 2009

Email of the Week – 006

Get a Hold
photo credit: glindsay65

QUESTION

Name: Kathy

From: Grand Junction

OS: Windows XP

———————-
When I go into different web sites I get this message:
ERROR
A runtime error
has occurred?
Line 30
ERROR: Object required
Yes No

This occurs quite frequently can you tell me why and what I can do about it?

ANSWER

This error is usually due to Read More »Email of the Week – 006

CBS News to broadcast online

Spurred on by the success of Twitter and its ability to quickly deliver news and events, CBS announced today that they will begin broadcasting all their evening news content and special news reports online. In an agreement with Ustream.com, CBS plans to begin the online simulcast in the next couple of months. CBS is the first network/news company to simulcast… Read More »CBS News to broadcast online