Friday, March 5, 2010
Remote Support
With all the traveling around I have been doing lately, I am going to start utilizing remote support more frequently, instead of making house calls. The only prerequisite to me being able to support you remotely is that you be able to connect to the internet. If you can do that, then I can support you. I have found that the most successful remote calls happen when we are also connected by phone. The usual sequence is that I will call you at your computer and we will stay on the phone for the duration, although I do not need you to stay on the phone if you have something else to do. We do need to talk while I connect to your computer, and this takes about 5 minutes. Once I have control of your PC I can go about doing my business, while you go about yours, if you wish.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
"Next Blog"
Have you ever noticed th phrase "Next Blog" at the top of this page, right about dead center? This blog is hosted by blogspot and is a Google offering. You can have your own blog too, if you want. There is no charge from Google/Blogspot for this amazing service! Yes, it's free.
From time to time I click on that "Next blog" phrase up top and see some amazing things. It can be lots of fun, and I encourage you to try it if you have some time. You can flip through a lot of blogs very quickly, and from their look and feel and the contents of the blog post right there in front of you. It's easy to decide if you want to click on "Next blog" or maybe stay a while and look it over. I have found that there are many blogs like mine written by people just like me, and the most interesting thing, I think, is that the authors are from all over the world.
So give it a try and click up there and see what surprise you may find in your box of Cracker Jacks!
From time to time I click on that "Next blog" phrase up top and see some amazing things. It can be lots of fun, and I encourage you to try it if you have some time. You can flip through a lot of blogs very quickly, and from their look and feel and the contents of the blog post right there in front of you. It's easy to decide if you want to click on "Next blog" or maybe stay a while and look it over. I have found that there are many blogs like mine written by people just like me, and the most interesting thing, I think, is that the authors are from all over the world.
So give it a try and click up there and see what surprise you may find in your box of Cracker Jacks!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Internet Explorer Version 8
A reader writes:
"Tom, Awhile back you asked for suggestions for topics you could write about in your blog. How about Internet Explorer v8? I exclusively use Firefox. I have IE v6 on my computer because I recall you told us to NOT install v7 nor v8. Microsoft Updates uses IE and sometimes I use IE to verify some strange web page appearance in Firefox. Should I install v8, to be up-to-date, even though I rarely use it?"
My reply:
Internet Explorer Version 7 was fraught with problems and vulnerabilities. On many of your machines I personally uninstalled V7. When one uninstalls V7, one is left with V6 in place. On my Windows XP laptop I still also have V6 installed, having decided to stay away from V7 & also V8.
However, things have changed now. V7 never got much better, but V8, although shaky at start, is now the most stable and secure version available.One other factor: Microsoft has announced reduction in support of V6, so now is a good time to upgrade to V8. Keep in mind that V8 is the current version and is the one that attracts most virus writers and system atackers.
But, Microsoft and Windows operating systems still rely on some of the settings in IE for systemwide operations, so the settings in IE are important and, for the moment, one can't run without having IE installed. In the best world, IE would be completely optional and you wouldn't have to have it installed at all.
How can you tell which version you have installed? Start IE, click on Help, and then About Internet Explorer.
Bottom line recommendation: install V8 but don't use it except when you have to do so (there are still some web sites that require IE). I use and recommend Firefox. You can download IE8 at microsoft.com.
"Tom, Awhile back you asked for suggestions for topics you could write about in your blog. How about Internet Explorer v8? I exclusively use Firefox. I have IE v6 on my computer because I recall you told us to NOT install v7 nor v8. Microsoft Updates uses IE and sometimes I use IE to verify some strange web page appearance in Firefox. Should I install v8, to be up-to-date, even though I rarely use it?"
My reply:
Internet Explorer Version 7 was fraught with problems and vulnerabilities. On many of your machines I personally uninstalled V7. When one uninstalls V7, one is left with V6 in place. On my Windows XP laptop I still also have V6 installed, having decided to stay away from V7 & also V8.
However, things have changed now. V7 never got much better, but V8, although shaky at start, is now the most stable and secure version available.One other factor: Microsoft has announced reduction in support of V6, so now is a good time to upgrade to V8. Keep in mind that V8 is the current version and is the one that attracts most virus writers and system atackers.
But, Microsoft and Windows operating systems still rely on some of the settings in IE for systemwide operations, so the settings in IE are important and, for the moment, one can't run without having IE installed. In the best world, IE would be completely optional and you wouldn't have to have it installed at all.
How can you tell which version you have installed? Start IE, click on Help, and then About Internet Explorer.
Bottom line recommendation: install V8 but don't use it except when you have to do so (there are still some web sites that require IE). I use and recommend Firefox. You can download IE8 at microsoft.com.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Seven Things You Should Do Before & After Your Laptop Is Stolen
This is some good advice for all of us laptop owners. Please check out the article and give some serious thought to following the advice. This comes from a web site known at The Consumerist.
7-things-you-should-do-before-after-your-laptop-is-stolen.
Monday, March 1, 2010
ScreenToaster
This looks like a really useful tool, but I haven't yet found a use for it! Perhaps some of you more creative types can come up with some good uses. If you do, please use the Comments feature of this blog (below this post) to inform us all of your idea.
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