I Hate My PC - we love it when your computer works for you...

Double-click BONUS!

2012-01-31T10:08:00.000+11:00

I don't know if I've tried this before and forgotten it or just never known it at all, but a few days ago I used the CTRL (Control) key to make multiple selections of words inside an email using the double-click.

I suspect that my brain had decided that the "double-click" and the "Control" use were mutually exclusive. I am not sure why.

Of course, thinking about it for a fraction of a second it suddenly seemed logical and obvious to me. Weird.

The success or otherwise of this strategy does depend on your email client and/or the word processing software (or any other text editor) you are using at the time.

Every now and then I'm surprised by the things that surprise me.

Experiment, Compute well, backup better, have fun!

David Moore

Video Capture and Conversion

2012-01-30T10:03:00.000+11:00

Every now and then someone or something wants you video supplied in a format other than the one you recorded it in.

They've all got their own little ways.

Well, a personal hunt a while back brought these two application to my attention and I thought I'd share them with you...

STOIK Video Converter

This program comes in a Lite and a Professional version. The Lite version is free for home use.

It converts a whole bunch of source video types and is fairly simple to use. The best thing is that it is free. It is getting harder to find truly free software these days.

Debut Video Capture Software

I needed this software because my default webcam imaging software doesn't work. I wanted a way of capturing streaming video from my webcam to my computer for upload to the web.

When I got the NCH Debut software I found that it will also capture motion from your computer desktop i.e. movies of your screen, mouse movements etc. and other video inputs. So that's a bonus!

I haven't used all the features yet, so can't advise on how well they work. But, again, this is a free tool (make sure you download the "Lite" version of this one).

It comes with a bunch of "extra features" that can be selected at installation time. I suggest you untick them all unless you know what you are doing. For example, the CD burning option could replace your current favourite CD burning program as the default burning program.

Capture video directly to your hard drive
Record video in many different file formats including .avi, .wmv, .flv, .asf .mpg, .3gp, .mp4, .mov and more
Record from your webcam, screen or video input device (eg. VHS recorder)
Record almost anything - anything you can see on your monitor can be recorded
Record video and audio simultaneously
Create photo snap-shots at any time
Add your own text captions or time stamp your video
Change color settings and video effects before recording
Adjust the video resolution, size and frame rate for capture
Ability to burn directly to DVD with Express Burn Disc Burner
Works with BroadCam Video Broadcast Software to stream over the internet

Were you infected by the Australia Day virus?

2012-01-27T10:27:00.000+11:00

Don't worry. It isn't a computer virus.

I think it is a personal thing that make's Aussies put our flag on everything from surfboards to undies.

I think in most other countries this would be a crime. But in Australia finding weird places to put the flag seems to be a national pasttime.

No matter where you put your flag or how you spent yesterday I hope you didn't turn your computer on and had a good day.

Log on, Experiment, Be Safe, Compute Well, Backup Better, Have Fun!

David Moore

Old computers & tech' blow your mind with the prices...

2012-01-27T09:33:00.000+11:00

During the week I was pointed to a web site that showed a bunch of old computer ad's.

I was blown away by the prices of some of this gear and horrified by the fact that I'd actually forked over cash for some of it.

Look at this modem example. Look at the size of the modem. It is monstrous. These days you are lucky if you can even see your modem (especially those built into mobile phones).

What about the "sexy" claims. The is a very long bow to draw. At least the model's attire has come back into fashion.

If you don't feel lucky about where you are on the data for dollars curve I suggest you take a thorough look at this web site.

My only wish is that I could go back in time with the storage and memory capacity I have now and sell it at yee-oldie prices. I'd be a bazillionaire!

Doing the math, using the hard disk pricing shown, and on the storage available in my mobile phone only, it would be worth $2,718,400.00.

That is worth jumping into the Delorean and going for a spin I'd say!

Using my current computer's hard disk as a starting point, I am sitting on $200,142,200.00 worth of storage.

I feeling quite wealthy all of a sudden :-)

So the world ends this year...again...

2012-01-26T09:19:00.000+11:00

I have decided that, for this post, I am not going to mention a certain fruity technology company.
Suffice to say that if you want your mobile phone to serve some purpose AFTER the end of the world, you may feel like making it look like dinner.

There are many "meals" to choose from and they all look very real and quite appetizing.

Strapya sell all sorts of other wonderful weird Japanese stuff. If you are tempted to buy from them I suggest you try them using PayPal first. That way your purchases are protected.

Compute well, backup better, have fun, eat your phone!

Time Machine for PCs

2012-01-25T09:17:00.000+11:00

The Mac folks out there will know what I am talking about.

Time Machine is a popular backup tool which comes free with some versions of the Apple operating system.

It, like most Apple products, is quite sexy and has a nice user interface which allows users to scroll back in time and get their data back in the event of a disaster.

Apple don't make this for PCs for obvious reasons (or maybe not, I can't follow who's at war with who anymore) but a reasonable semblance of it can be found in an alternate product.

Oops!Backup promotes itself as being like Time Machine for PCs.

I digress, Oops!Backup was trialled at I Hate My PC labs. It was quite straightforward to use. Remember though, this doesn't necessarily get your data off site and away from potential local disasters. A critical part of any backup strategy IS getting the data offsite and safely "somewhere else".

You too can trial it for 30 days free if you wish. The trial is of the full "Pro" version and, if you don't buy it, it reverts to a free version that keeps working albeit with limited functionality.

It is pretty cheap too. At $37 US I'd buy it (if the trial pans out that is, let's not get too hasty:-).

Time Machine for PCs - reader feedback

After this article was first published I had some feedback other options...

Hi David

As an alternative to Oops!Backup have a look at Comodo Time Machine.
Same principles with back-up via image and this one is free.
You can also use Windows Back-up if you have Windows 7.
Allows very fine grained control (if you want it) of which files are backed upand backs up all the program preferences and so on that Windows spreads aroundthe place.
You can also choose to include an image of drive/s as well.
The back-up is slow with Windows both the first time AND on subsequent writes.
I haven't tried a recover yet but probably works and yeah - it's free to if youhave Windows 7.

Personally I prefer Acronis True Image but for novices the other choices mightbe better and cost effective.
Cheers
Matt Dell

As usual I implore that you exercise extreme care and vigilance to ensure successful ongoing backups and recovery capability.

Thanks Matt.

Keeping Kids Safe on The Internet

2012-01-24T09:08:00.000+11:00

Right now I may come off sounding a bit like that "politically incorrect" parenting guy that never seemed to make it to air.

The safety of your kids on the internet is your responsibility. There's no shortcut, no government body who "should" do anything and even if there was an internet filter it wouldn't help. Trust me.

Help is at hand though. An published article by ITWire cites some research which in turn includes information on just what parents need to do.

If you've seen any of my previous correspondence on the subject you will have noticed that my suggestion of good old supervision (not Super Vision like Prince Planet has) is a strong theme in this article and in the reports advice.

We were all kids though. We know we found a way around the stuff our parents didn't want us to see and do. Your kids will too.

Sitting them in the room with you while they do it does, however, make it a bit harder for them to do and a lot easier for you to spot.

You probably don't even need to see where they are going on the internet. You probably just need to watch their faces and you can tell when they are up to something.

Maybe we've just discovered the new technology in parental control. Forget about scanning the web for bad stuff and filtering. Just write some software your kids guilt levels. Face recognition exists. We just have to modify it to recognise guilty faces.

"That's the coolest thing I've ever seen!"

2012-01-23T11:44:00.000+11:00

A grab bag of cool stuff...

Cool Windows 7 downloads. Some free, some not.

Ever wondered what is at the end of an IP address before you go there? Try whatismyipaddress.com. It is not a bad way to do just a little background check on web sites that don't have immediately obvious domain names.

Here's a better flying car. Still only an engineering diagram and still not a Time Travelling Delorean though :-(

How to prevent your computer from overheating and why that is important.

ShareHappy machines use facial recognition technology to discern a person's age, gender and emotion. A big smile is rewarded with a free ice cream. An image of the consumer can be uploaded to Facebook.

Some cool stuff from my mate Scott at Creative Web Designer

Freebiewebsite creation tools your web designer won't tell you about. http://goo.gl/fb/zFoXQ

"TurbochargingYour Google AdWords Campaigns" - http://tinyurl.com/38o6xvg

Hasanyone checked out the Gratitude App for iphone, Pretty neat, there is an appfor everything. Keeping an attitude of gratitude is so important and why nothave an app to remind you. My list turned into a post on my blog. I wanted toexpress my appreciation for all the support in my business from, customers,partners, family and friends. You have all been really helpful in developing mybusiness and the service I offer.

Absurd Absolutes...The NBN...

2012-01-20T10:56:00.000+11:00

Recently, via various social media, I became involved in a discussion about Australian's NBN (National Broadband Network).

Some entity relating to the NBN rollout followed me on twitter. @NBNReview

This person's objective in their twitter profile is...

"I am seeking to create dialogue regarding the Australian NBN rollout. Hopefully we can get feedback from current users, doubters, pro'ers and others with a view"

So I decided I'd help out.

I pointed out, via a series of tweets, that one of the issues with the NBN is that many people, technical and non-technical alike, are of the opinion that it will be obsolete before they get it and that it is therefore a waste of money.

Quite quickly several followers of my tweets latched onto the word "obsolete" and protested vigorously with tweets to the effect of "It is optic fibre. Data travels at the speed of light. How can it ever be obsolete?"

NOTE: The speed of light is not constant. The maximum speed of light everyone assumes to be a constant is in fact quoted in the context of a vacuum i.e. space. When traveling through other materials it slows down, sometimes quite a lot. Here's a note on the note, there's no such thing as a vacuum either and, recent experiments at the Large Hadron Collider suggest that things can travel faster than the speed of light...so there :-p.

There's not much that gets my goat more than supposedly smart people talking in absolutes, except for maybe smart people talking in absolutes about the future (because we all know that is readily and accurately predicted right!?).

NOTE 2: For fun, take a quick look at some previous predictions about technology and the future - top-30-failed-technology-predictions. The arrogance of scientists and technologists is often quite staggering.

“There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable. It would mean that the atom would have to be shattered at will.” — Albert Einstein, 1932

Before we even touch on fibre optics being the ultimate end game in communications technology, let's just look at the construction of the NBN itself.

Australia is spending $36 billion on the NBN at today's estimates. It will surely cost way more by the time it is "done". NB: The Government, read the taxpayer", is kicking in $662 million as a starter. The rest will magically appear from the NBNCo, customers and large loans (it seems).

According to the NBNCo map I've included here, 7% of the NBN will be made up of wireless and satellite technologies. Even to non-technical folk it is obvious that these technologies are eminently susceptible to obsolescence.

Of the $36 billion, this means $2.52 billion worth of gear is actually going to be obsolete very fast.

Now, still assuming that the optic fibre is the best we can ever do as far as moving data from place to place is concerned, the gear at each end of the fibre is quite some way from reaching the theoretical maximum operating speeds of the fibres themselves.

I can't find a breakdown of the cost of the fibre rollout vs the exchange infrastructure cost, and I won't hazzard a guess, but the point is that there's more stuff in the project that can and will be obsolete sooner rather than later.

Let's look at the physical rollout of the fibre itself, not its properties just yet.

Let's say that in 12 years time when the NBN is up and running <#coughbullshit> that one of the fibres gets damaged for some reason. It may be fire (they aren't all going underground by a long way) or a flood or an Earthquake. What do you think the chances are that they replace the damaged fibre with EXACTLY the same fibre? Why do you think that may be IF the fibre we have right now IS the best we can do EVER?

This isn't science. It is pragmatic, gut based experience. 12 years is a long time in technology to assume, no KNOW, that no improvement can or will be made.

So, now, to the fibre itself. If you Google for optic fibre images you'll find that there's not just one type of fibre. There's lots. I wonder why that would be? Could it be that they have varying qualities, attributes and performance? So, for a politically driven project, what do you think the chance is of our team picking the best one as opposed to, oh I dunno, the cheapest?

Bearing in mind the note above about the speed of light, do you think the quality of the fibre itself has an impact on its life and carrying capacity? NAH! No room for improvement there (FFS).

Oh yes, and the politics of the NBN. I have previously mentioned my opinion on politicians getting involved with technology let alone anything they don't comprehend at any level.

If a politician can stuff up the NBN then they surely will somehow. We've already seen delays, arguments, threats to "pull it all down if we get in". The point is, the NBN could be politically obsolete on a whim and that could possibly render the project untenable or just plain dead.

Did I mention GFC 2.0 yet?

The NBN rollout seems to be getting longer and longer. In one 10 minute presentation by the NBN Co themselves it went from 7 years to 10 years. I don't know what they are currently saying.

10 years is potentially 3 different governments. In 10 years most of us will have had between 2 and 5 new computers and 2 to 4 new cars. We have been programmed to expect change and obsolescence from our technology. Why wouldn't we expect a major technological project over that time period to be subject to the same rate of obsolescence?

NOTE 3: It was suggested to me in the twitterverse that the NBN should be considered a major engineering project and not just a technological project. This would help people understand the time scale i.e. because we are happy to see bridges, Opera houses, railways, roads etc. take those time-frames to deliver.

So, I've just scratched the surface on reasons and opinions as to why it is valid to think that the NBN may be obsolete before most of us get our hands on it.

An opinion, in of itself, is a valid thing. It is not enough just to say "they are wrong" (as was said to me in the twitterverse when I pointed out said opinions) and think that makes the opinion go away.

If the NBNCo and the Government want to know why there are doubters and why they are doubting then they need to listen and communicate better.

I have never said I don't want the NBN. I do, oh please I do! Please, please, please...

What I have said is that I have doubts that it won't be a colossal waste of money and that what we get won't be up to scratch by the time most of us get it.

Oh, and here's an absolute for you, I can guarantee that whatever happens it will be different to anything any of us have predicted ;-)

Mapped Drives Speed Tweak/Fix

2012-01-19T11:34:00.000+11:00

If your computer is freezing/slowing when navigatingto a network folder "Initializing folders" to save or open a file then you may want to try the following procedure to fix it:

Openthe File Explorer as shown below...

You will see a list of "Mapped Network Drives" -in the picture above they are H: and Z:
Note the special icon they have kind of like apipe leading to the drive.

The thing that is slowing down your opens andsaves is broken "Mapped Network Drives" i.e. where they are looking doesn'texists at present.

Broken network drives will have the same iconbut it will have a red cross over it.

IMPORTANT: Do not perform the followingprocedure on mapped network drives you still use be they at the office or home(if applicable).

If a mapped drive, say Z: is still in use andshould be working, but has a red cross on its icon, click on it to see itscontents.

Sometimes the icon will show the red cross inerror if you simply not been to that drive recently.
If no contents are displayed and you get anerror message we need to "Disconnect The Mapped Drive".

Select My Computer and the right click to seethis list as shown below

Left click on "Disconnect network drive"

You will be given a list of broken drives asshown below.

Remove them.

The problem should be gone now.

If, however, you have a mapped drive from homeand one from work, then you are ALWAYS going to have a broken mapping becausethe computer can't be in two places at once.

You can choose to live with it, or remove andreconnect the mapping each time at each location as required.

I think most people don't have a networkat home like this so you should be able to remove all broken mapped drives without anissue.

100+ Keyboard shortcuts - OMG! That many?

2012-01-18T11:31:00.000+11:00

It seems that almost since the dawn of computers with keyboards like typewriters that there have been shortcuts to make life easier.

It makes me wonder if there just isn't a better way to start with?

In fact, I know there is, but that is not the point of this article.

This article is about doing more, faster, better with what you've got.

It is a bit like The Six Million Dollar Man or Bionic Woman.

P.S. I could never work out why his Bionic arm just would rip out of the normal human socket whenever he lifted a truck? I think the answer is "it's just a TV show David!"

Sonia Maroun from I Hate My PC forwarded these keyboard shortcuts to me. I've included a selection of the ones I find most useful below and a link to the rest for the curious...

The General Shortcuts

CTRL+C (Copy)
CTRL+X (Cut)
CTRL+V (Paste)
CTRL+Z (Undo)
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word)
CTRL+LEFT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word)
CTRL+DOWN ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph)
CTRL+UP ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph)
CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Highlight a block of text)
CTRL+A (Select all)
SHIFT when you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive (Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing)
CTRL+PRTSCN Copies currently displayed screen to clipboard (then CTRL-V inside your favourite graphic editing program or email etc.)
ALT+PRTSCN Copies currently active program image to clipboard
CTRL+P (Print the current page or active pane)

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows Logo (Display or hide the Start menu)
Windows Logo+ L (Lock the keyboard)

Find a bazillion more keyboard shortcuts here...

WAR - Technology vs Parking Cops...

2012-01-17T11:26:00.000+11:00

This week I read an article about what may possibly be the best portable computer application ever.

The SMH article says "ParkPatrol, developed by Sydney-based software developer Crwdpower, sends alerts to iPhone and, soon, Google Android mobile users when a parking officer is near their car."Apparently councils have admitted that there is nothing they can do to combat this evil.

It amuses me no-end that a system put in place by councils to encourage people to park within the prescribed time limits and move on to share the parking around, is now whinging that this system exists.

As far as I can tell, this system augments and helps users enforce the limits themselves.

Surely the fines aren't about revenue raising but more about training offenders not to overstay next time? Or am I naive? ;-)

Surely if someone needs technology to help them avoid an over-stay in a parking spot everyone is a winner?

In a blaze of unparalled logic the article quotes the council as saying "The reality is that if people park their cars legally and adhere to rules set on local streets, there would be no need for applications like this."

Ahem, yeah, and there'd be no need for fines either dill-weed!

I remember the days when I could have a radar detector to alert me of the fact that the police were sending radiation into my car and my body for the purposes of speed enforcement.

Then they decided it was illegal for me to know what was entering my body without permission.

Luckily along came GPS technology to the rescue and we can once again be notified, mostly, of when the police are trying to catch us speeding. Funnily enough radar is not used so much. The police opt for lasers and induction methods of detection.

Of course they still have their old standby of just making the system illegal. Sure, just try to enforce that. Maybe they could put the internet filter onto it or make ISPs prevent the download - chumps!

When it comes to a war between technology and parking-Nazis I will always side with technology.

Now there's a turn up for the books.

Males and multi-tasking

2012-01-16T11:23:00.000+11:00

I remember having a computer like this.

I was so excited. It was home built and used a black and white portable TV...hang on, he's using a typewriter and an iron for a mouse. I don't think that will work.

Either he has staged this photo or he is the first male of the species genuinely capable of multi-tasking.

Compute well, backup better, have fun!

Web Site security not so secure (just don't go there)

2012-01-15T11:20:00.000+11:00

Until the threats go away I am not going to stop warning you about malware and the importance of
backups.

Research has revealed, and I use the term revealed loosely, that security software vendors took on average two days to block new malicious web sites.

The article on Techworld highlights a few lowlights including AVG who seemed to score fairly low on the web site blocking front. A pity because generally they seem quite good.

I explained before how the whole game with the bad guys is to exploit this gap between finding and securing. Sooner or later you will fall into the gap and get toasted. Too many metaphors?

Anyway, the point is JUST DON'T GO TO BAD WEBSITES. Sometimes this isn't as easy as it sounds, other time people feel the need to be dangerous or rude and wonder why bad things happen to their computers.

The answer to this is to have a sacrificial computer that use you to participate in risky behaviour. Make sure this computer is NOT on your network or connected to you computers in any other way (USB sticks, burnt CDs, external hard drives etc.). When this computer gets toasted you shrug your shoulders, say "oh well" and rebuild it knowing all your work, family photos and private information is perfectly safe SOMEWHERE ELSE!

These days loading a FREE operating system like Ubuntu onto an obsolete PC is very easy and quite fast. The bonus is that there is infact less nasty stuff targetting these type of operating systems. Note I said "less" not "none".

Have fun but wear your digital condom please.

Tree Size, what?

2012-01-14T11:11:00.000+11:00

Have you ever wondered just where all your data, photos, documents, music and everything else you are trying to back up are hiding?

Sometimes it can be a puzzle as to what is chewing up all your hard disk space and exactly where it is hiding.

Never fear, Tree Size FREE is here!

The common analogy as to how files and folders work on a computer's hard disk is that of a tree.

The disk is the trunk of the tree, the branches are folders where files live and the leaves are the files themselves.

TreeSize analyses the branch/folder structure and reports on the accumlated size of the files under each branch.

Tree Size also comes in a PRO version which tells you much more including when the files were last accessed. Very handy for finding obsolete folders and rarely accessed data. It is NOT free but can be tried for 30 days without obligation. Nice!

When did anything on the internet pretend to be private?

2012-01-13T11:07:00.000+11:00

There's been a lot of noise about privacy on the internet.

Now just think about those words for a moment... "Privacy"..."Internet".

Now is it just me or are these things mutually exclusive? The whole point of the internet, as far as I can tell, is to get your 15 minutes of fame.

It IS about the opposite of privacy.

The only way to keep your information private on the internet is to NOT have the stuff you don't want public on the internet.
Full stop, game over! That is it.

I clipped this information and forgot to keep the source (sorry author - let me know if you spot this and I'll credit accordingly) but thought it worth inckluding here regardless.

"Want to see what Facebook is making public? Youropenbook.org takes content fromFacebook that includes the phrase "don't tell anyone" or"cheated test" and publishes it for all to see. It's a statement thatshows that what you think is private isn't really so. The website is a parodyof Facebook and links to thousands of wallpost gaffes."

Please don't ever be surprised if something you said via any medium which transports over the internet (including emails) shows up in the public arena.

If you want secure point to point communications over the internet that is a little harder to achieve than just assuming no-one is reading your emails.

So when the Government starts fighting Google and Facebook over things about which it knows nothing, remember that loose lips sink ships. Your privacy is your responsibility and in your control. Think before you publish/send.

Oh, and by the way, Australian Government I am talking to you, the internet filter is a total and utter waste of time and money. Stop it now.

Politicians a) know nothing about technology and b) never listen to their advisers on technology when they bother to have them.

Rats in the kitchen...I mean office...

2012-01-12T11:41:00.000+11:00

When I was titling this post I thought to myself "you know, I don't give a rats about the latest stolen iPhone prototype".

There aren't many prototypes in any field of technology that end up looking let alone acting much like the eventual product.

In the car industry "mules" (old cars running new technology in disguise) or plain out camouflaged vehicles are regularly captured out and about in the real world.

Sometimes these exposes end up killing the exposed device or functionality. No matter how you look at it the likelihood of useful predictions being made from such events is pretty slim.

I'm not quite sure why we are bombarded with useless information about future gadgets that will be transformed before we ever see them or fail to materialize at all.

That is a lie, I know why we get bombarded with this information. It is because the promise of the future and shiny things (there I go again) is much more alluring than the daily rubbish that our technology leaves us scurrying through.

Every now and then there's a nice story about how some data cabling company users rodents to lay cables through wall cavities and other tight spaces. So that is relevant to the whole ratty theme I started.

Isn't the guy pictured here cute? Don't ask me why he has a saxophone. Perhaps he's in a band.

The Best "Get a Mac" Parodies, can you spot a theme?

2012-01-12T11:03:00.000+11:00

The social media guide Mashable published an article chock full of the best "Get A Mac" parodies.

Mashable said "Whether you're a right clicka, or a MacBook flippa, we think you'll enjoy our humorous collection of the best spoofs spawned from the four-year ad campaign. Let's just hope Apple's next Mac-verts are as ripe with humor as this series was."

This was prompted by the fact that Apple have finally let the campaign go.

Read into that what you will, the videos are a hoot and come from many angles but there is one theme that recurs just a little.
Enjoy! :-)

Flashback to one of my Apple eras...

2012-01-11T16:00:00.000+11:00

A while back I found some old black and white negatives I'd forgotten about. That is one of the nice things about moving, old stuff presents like new.

Among these negatives I found these pictures of my second computer. My brother and I shared the cost of this and Dad chipped in the rest.

It was an Apple II Euro Plus and the love of my life. Well, after all I was a spotty teenager, what did you expect? A girlfriend?

Even though the photo is black and white the representation of the screen shots is quite accurate because I only had a black and white tele plugged into it.

I can't quite remember the specifications of it. Lucky for you eh?

But I do remember that this machine had been upgraded significantly by its previous owner. We got it second hand for $3500 if I recall correctly. OMG indeed!

We had twin 5.25 inch floppy drives, not many people bothered to have two, which meant the operating system could boot off one and we could do stuff with the other without having to endlessly swap disks.

It also meant we could copy programs more easily. Legitimate ones. Programs we had written ourselves and such...of course.

To the left is a screen shot of a flight simulator we had. Yep, I am not sure what it is actually simulating but it was great fun at the time.

These days flight simulators are photo realistic and you can even have a full 3D cockpit and motion simulator in your garage if you want. I want!

Below that is another favourite game. It was quite like an arcade game of the time and this was one of the best parts of having an Apple - you didn't have to fork out endless money at Time Zone and get beaten up by the local tough kids for using their machine.

Of course, those of you old enough may recall a certain trick with electronic cigarette lighters which bypassed the payment option. Sadly this trick also sped up your beating from the tough kids as they too wanted free arcade games.

The idea of this game was to shoot planes and their parachuting occupants before they could overrun your bunker or bomb it. Here you can see two little guys advancing on the bunker while a plane bombs it.

I wish I still had that machine. It would be a museum piece.

But then again maybe not. Fun times!

The well meaning friend who "knows about computers"

2012-01-10T11:35:00.000+11:00

I'm betting you know someone who can help you out with your computer stuff free right?

That is OK, so do I.

I could stop writing here having succeeded in amusing myself :-)

However, continuing, if this person is knowledgeable and maybe works in computers you will probably be OK in this arrangement for a while...until they get sick of you sponging off them and they stop taking your calls.

If this person is merely "better than you" at computers then you are about to enter a world of pain.

Many a well-meaning friend has destroyed important data beyond all repair.

Then we are expected to perform miracles. Sometimes we are successful. Sometimes we aren't.

If it is important call in your favourite computer expert and emphasise to them to take the low-risk route to solving your disaster BEFORE you let your "friend" do anything.

The Difference between Nerd, Dork, and Geek Explained by a Venn Diagram

2012-01-09T11:33:00.000+11:00

If you know what a "venn diagram" is where do you fit in this one?

Reproduced without permission for fun from Matthew Gainfor the fun of it. Who knows where it came from first?

Don't wait for the politicians...

2012-01-08T11:30:00.000+11:00

It seems to me that in small business in Australia you have to be a fan of the Liberals.

Well I'm not.

I hate them all equally. Labour, Liberal, Greens, Democrats (do they still exist), that red haired woman we should have all started ignoring 20 years ago. And so on...

Businesses like to hang their hat with one political party or another for a variety of misguided reasons.

It may well explain why so many businesses go bust in the first three years. They are spending too much time hoping politicians will deliver them a miracle than, you know, working. Is it just coincidence that this time frame is the same as the term of a government?

When your favourite politician fails to deliver - and they will - where does your energy go? Down the toilet? Into another politician? What?
Read the rest of this article here ---->

62 Projects to Make with a Dead Computer: (And Other Discarded Electronics)

2012-01-07T11:03:00.000+11:00

I stumbled on this book some time back and thought it was a good idea.

I've dabbled with making insects out of computer chips, name tags out of circuit boards and so on so this appealed.

You can buy it online from Amazon.

With school holidays coming up (aren't they always?) and the council no longer taking our e-waste away, you can combine the two to fight boredom!

From Amazon and the Back Cover:

"Don't trash it -- Transform it!

It's irresistible geek chic: 62 projects with step-by-step instructions for repurposing old computers, cell phones, scanners, mp3 players-even that nest of useless cables and drawer full of meaningless remotes. There are fashion projects: RAM Money Clip, Capacitor Earrings. Arts and crafts projects: Mouse Pencil Sharpener. Gadget goodness: USB Destop Fan, Postindustrial Nightlight. And great toys, like My First Squiggle Bot and Mr. Resistor Man. Includes the basic tools and techniques for working with electronics and a full-color insert that shows the finished projects."

What do we want? Shiny objects! When do we want them? NOW!

2012-01-06T11:00:00.000+11:00

As I've lived my life I have become more convinced that the entirety of human endeavor is in no way altruistic, mystical, religious, noble, righteous, "a journey" or any other such nonsense.

Humanity is quite simply the pursuit of shiny objects.

I've touched on the "shiny" phenomenon in previous posts and I am by no means the first to suggest this. You don't have to watch too much comedy to spot references to this phenomenon. Google it and see what I mean.

Sure we may get distracted along the way by non-shiny things. We may choose to get a job, have kids, travel or whatever. But the distraction from the main distraction doesn't last long.

All humans want is to touch and own shiny objects....

Read the rest of this article here ----->

Stupid oversight, simple solution

2012-01-05T10:58:00.000+11:00

Many new computers are shipping with keyboards that, for some bizarre and inexplicable reason, don't include a CAPS lock light.

My new Dell keyboard is one such device.

It has been suggested that full capitalization is an obsolete concept and therefore can be safely disabled without any impact.

Yeah sure, try that and see how long you last. Scroll lock on the other hand...even I've never used that one.

The solution is a simple FREE program called Tray Status from Binary Fortress.

It will sit in your system tray or notification area, as shown above, and indicate the status of your CAPS LOCK, Num-Lock, Scroll-lock keys and display hard disk activity.

You can customize what it displays.

Binary Fortress have other software available too. Some FREE, some not, some half and half. Enjoy!

Beating the email cheaters...

2012-01-05T09:26:00.000+11:00

I recently posted about Brand Bullying - being tricked or forced into buying domain names you don't want or need.

I received a good suggestion on how to handle a sort-of related problem, having to submit emails to web sites only to have them abuse them.

John Fraser from Back Of House. John said:

Kind of related to your scam item but also going beyond it.

I run a scheme whereby I very rarely give out my real email address, if I deal with dell the address I give them is dell@xyz.com.au which I set up to be an alias to my real email.

This takes me about a minute for each new outfit I deal with and provides me with a few major advantages

1. If one of these email addresses starts to receive spam I know who has let it out

2. I can cut off any alias that has become a spam magnet without impacting my main email

3. If I want to change my an email address for any reason I don’t have to worry about how many (possibly important) other parties will be unable to contact me.

Anyone who has their own mail domain should be able to do this if they want to.

So far it is working a treat and my spam has dwindled to almost nil … you might want to give it a whirl.

To elaborate, if you own your own domain name, for example I own www.ihatemypc.com.au, any email address that ends in @ihatemypc.com.au is also mine.

So if I visit a web site that wants my email address, such as Dell as in John's example, I can submit Dell@ihatemypc.com.au as my email address and it will come to me.

As the owner of the domain I have a couple of options. I can manage such email addresses individually, through my web hosting console, or I can use a "catch-all" account. It is really up to you.

A catch-all account is an email address that will receive any emails for email addresses that don't exist in my hosting set up.

In this case I'd let the Dell@ihatemypc.com.au go to my catch-all account of david@ihatemypc.com.au until such time as I saw it misbehaving i.e. receiving spam. When that happened I could set up a filter to just delete all emails to that address, ring Dell and complain (see if they'll stop) or create the email account and handle the incoming emails individually via web mail or a client for the problem email address.

Things to note:

1) If you are on email-only hosting you may be charged for extra email addresses

2) You may be limited as to how many email addresses you can create.

3) Storing extra emails/spam may impact your web/email hosting data limits. Be careful about allocate storage to email accounts of this nature.

4) The strategies described here are an overview and somewhat general as hosting end email handling varies from provider to provider.

5) The strategies described here are a little technical and possibly tricky for the uninitiated. To avoid getting yourself in a pickle a) be very careful b) get an expert to help you.

Less humour, more toilet...

2012-01-04T10:50:00.000+11:00

This toilet may just save the world.

It is not a new concept but it is an attractive reworking of systems already in widespread use in Japan (for starters).

The sink at top drains grey water and keeps it for flushing purposes.

I have no idea what this has to do with computers. I just really liked it.

Mouse without Borders - simple remote control of multiple computers

2012-01-03T16:00:00.000+11:00

Reading PC User magazine for January 2012, I found a cool tool called "Mouse Without Borders".

If you are like me, when you've got multiple computers running you often find yourself typing on one keyboard and expecting things to happen on another machine altogether.

MWB solves this frustration intuitively.

It allows you to control multiple computers on your local network amazingly easily.
Once the software is installed on all PCs, your mouse can simply move from one screen of one PC to the next (as if you had a multiple monitor set up) and all keyboard input automatically goes to the other machine.

So if you have more than one computer running side by side, you can now eliminate extra keyboards, mice and unreliable KVM switches from your cluttered working space.

The setup is very easy. Basically just run the installation package, answer the questions, note down the security code and you are away. repeat on additional machines except this time enter the code you noted down. All extra machines on the network are found automatically.

A window shows what computers are connected and you can rearrange the connections so that the physically monitor layout is reproduced on MWB (so that when your mouse slides off the edge of one monitor screen it shows up on the one next to it :-)

It works both ways automatically too i.e. you can use computer A's mouse and keyboard to drive computer B and vice versa. It just depends which one is being used and where the mouse pointer has been dragged to.

I love it :-)

Watch a small video about it here...

I need a server!

2012-01-03T10:46:00.000+11:00

Picture this. You are at a party. You casually mention a problem you've had with your computer. You were probably joking and laughed a little after you described the issue.

Before you know it, someone you barely know creeps up to your ear and whisper the words "you need a server" and then disappears before they ever really showed up... a bit like HD DVDs.

You are left confused and on your own with those words ringing in your ear.

Read more of this on my blog for Anthill Online --->

WARNING: Hoax support phone calls happening right now!

2012-01-02T10:41:00.000+11:00

This may sound like an urban myth but it just happened to me a few times now. I've also had customers caught out and, as a result, some urgent calls to banks etc. to cancel credit cards and close accounts.

Hence the alarmist nature of this post.

I was called by "Kevin", who was clearly off-shore, from "PC Support Services" or some such.

He told me that my computer was sending their system some errors and that is why he is calling me.

He offered to take me through a procedure to rectify these problems.

I played along for a bit just to see how far he got. I was fairly sure the procedure would end with me deleting important files or divulging information they could exploit.

So, before that happened, I asked for his name, phone number and to repeat the company he worked for.
He went quiet.

When I told him I was recording the conversation for the police he hung up. Some of my customers have also tried this and found it quite fun and helpful :-)

So be careful. These guys are quite bold and don't seem to be going away any time soon.

Regards,
David Moore

Brain melting Next G wireless internet

2012-01-01T10:35:00.000+11:00

Telstra, the dreaded empire, a while back announced the doubling of the speeds of their Next G wireless network.

"Telstra has upgraded its Next G network to support speeds of up to 42 megabits per second (Mbps) in parts of Australia and has also released a new mobile broadband device to take advantage of the upgrade."

So you need new gear to take advantage of the speeds but here's what I am predicting...

It won't be too far off before, in my opinion, telco's start dropping old fashioned wired Internet (cable, DSL) in favour of everyone having wireless Internet on the Whatever G network.

If I was a Telstra ADSL or Cable guy I'd been skilling up on Wireless.

My thinking is that at these sorts of speeds and anticipated coverage the whole National Broadband Network in the form of a fibre or a cable is a moot point.

Why would anyone bother maintaining existing copper or fibre cables when all they need is a radio tower here and there? {But they are!?}

My prediction, soon we'll have no choice but to be on Whatever G Internet and our poor old landlines will...eventually...become a relic of a dark and slow past.

The best news is that we'll have something new to complain about. Just imagine all that lovely high speed Internet passing through your head in the form of electromagnetic radiation without permission.

Hey, if they get it right we might not even need a computer to tune-into the Internet.

Mac antivirus software - FREE

2011-12-31T10:30:00.000+11:00

If you have a Mac and have been forwarding bad things to your PC friends then you may want to get your hands on this:

There's a free antivirus for Mac here...

http://www.iantivirus.com/download/

It explains that it is tuned to specifically address Mac viruses.

Strange that anyone would put so much effort into something that doesn't exist ;-)

But then again...

Freaking me out...

2011-12-30T10:24:00.000+11:00

I am easily amused and quite possibly even more easily freaked out.

Last week I found this web site somehow...

http://www.sitepal.com/

As tempting as it WASN'T to create a robot me I have to admit this stuff is pretty clever.

Oh, and it is good for a laugh...briefly.

Watch how the eyes follow your cursor about the screen.

Hello Mr David, how are you today?

2011-12-28T10:21:00.000+11:00

Are you sick of receiving telemarketing and other unsolicited phone calls?

Well you don't need to be any more.

For ages now the Government's Do Not Call register has been up and running.

And most of the time it works pretty well.

Every now and then you get some company ringing you when they shouldn't be. It is quite empowering to be able to let them know they've been bad as opposed to just annoying.

Sign up now, what have you got to lose? Who knows, you may even get a hot dinner every once in a while.

Remember to register all your phones and visit the web site annually. For some reason your registration expires every 1 or 2 years.

Pay now, patch later...

2011-12-27T10:16:00.000+11:00

It seems to be a normal state of affairs in computer when you are asking yourself, or someone else, "what the hell is going on?".

With the Internet this has been ramped up more than just a few notches.

One of the bad things the Internet has given us is "Automatic Updates".

There are two types of automatic updates.

The first is where a piece of software already on your computer is able to check for new versions of itself and notify you in some way. Sometimes the updates just show up without any interaction on your behalf at all.

This type of update can, and sooner or alter will, stuff up the program in questions and sometimes your whole computer.

Best familiarize yourself with the System Restore function now I think.

The second automatic update is the type where the software you bought in a box at a store doesn't work when you install it. The first thing you have to do for most software these days is go to the manufacturers web site and download the update.

For me that is automatic these days. I can't recall the last time I bought any software that just worked.

It begs the question "why are their boxes for software in the first place?".

The same is true for your car, your TV, your mobile phone and so on. Most hardware is run by a large amount of software. Who of us hasn't had a problem with a new car only to be told a software update has fixed it? Wow!

We are being forced to get used to a "we'll fix it later" attitude from manufacturers in all sorts of industries just "because they can".

Instead of such fixes being the rarity, convenient, a bonus and something extra to provide customer satisfaction, it is being chosen as the norm' and given us a whole new lower-level of customer service.

That is just weird.

The driver for this attitude is complexity. If we, as consumers, go for simple best-of-breed devices then these problems are, to some degree, avoided.

When it is clear what something does, as opposed to trying to do everything for everyone, it is easy to test that it works before release to the wide world.

Of course, if you have to have the latest gadget now then you ARE part of the problem :-)

Compute well, backup better, avoid the bleeding edge.

David Moore

Windows XP Still Lives - Virtually

2011-12-26T09:58:00.000+11:00

You may not be able to buy Windows XP anymore...very soon...again, but you can still get your hands on a new copy of it.

What?!?!

In Windows 7 you can use virtualisation to run your Windows XP only programs. NB: but not Home premium.

NOTE: If you are ordering a new Dell PC you have the choice of getting XP Virtual Mode installed with the system free of charge, so you don't even have to download it. Here is the tech note FYI.

Virtualisation means that you run a real version of XP on your Windows 7 PC. Click on the image at left to see what it actually looks like. Kinda spooky I think.

Some computers can't do it but you can download a tool that will tell you if your computer can and get the Virtual PC tools and Virtual XP from Microsoft FREE.

It is really very easy to do. There are 5 steps outlined on the above web site and really that is about it. NB: They list 4 steps, but there are really 5-ish.

They also have video tutorials on some of the slightly tricky things like installing a program to a virtual machine and accessing USB devices.

But really, it is easy and important to know for those critical legacy XP applications where the vendors are slow or gone altogether.

Aren't MS nice? Whatever...

More Wireless/Wi-Fi troubleshooting tips

2011-12-25T09:50:00.000+11:00

Two things that are common traps with wireless networking are:

a) There is usually a smallswitch on the laptop, hidden away somewhere, that turns the wifi on and off.Make sure it hasn't accidentally been turned off. This happens a lot and manypeople don't even know they have a switch.

b) Make sure you are usingexactly the same settings as the source wifi router/wireless-access-point. Nearenough isn't good enough.

There is lots that can go wrong so here's a link that may help if you can't get a tech there.

2011-12-24T09:45:00.000+11:00

You may or may not have heard about the Government's plan to force your Internet provider to put in place a mandatory filter on what you can see.

It is kind of old news now but it keeps rearing its ugly head every now and then when so do-gooder-idiot-politician thinks they understand technology and what people want.

Here The Hungry Beast summarize the problem and present the results of their survey.

Irrespective or your view on censorship and what should/shouldn't be available to you over the web, the fact remains that the Government is not, and never will be, particularly tech-savvy.

They are politicians, not techie people. The Government is good at listening to the wrong people and then throwing money at them.

This is another case. The "Mandatory Internet Filter" is easily bypassed in so many ways as to render it completely useless before it even starts.

Bottom line, it is a waste of money. Nothing more, nothing less.

You may wail about you loss of freedom too, but the thing that hurts most for me is that my hard earned taxes are being wasted...again. Oh the things I could do with that money...my money. :-(

David

P.S. The flow chart at left is from Crikey and pretty amusing too.

Managing the Email Overload

2011-12-23T12:37:00.000+11:00

A common problem for many of us these days seems to be managing the bazillions of emails that we receive and store for future reference.

With Outlook and many email programs they store all emails in their own ever-growing database.

These databases get loaded when you start your email program and can fill your memory and slow your computer to a crawl.

With Outlook you can set up an archive schedule but for some of us the archives themselves then grow to be too large and unwieldy.

This preserves your email folder structure within Outlook by moving old emails to the same folder name and structure but "offline".

Many people I talk to actually go to the effort of duplicating their "My Documents" folder structure in Outlook so they can relate to where things should be.

That is a lot of work, but if you haven't done that yet, then don't. You'll be wasting your time. Let's use the folder structure you've got under "My Documents" to alleviate the pain on your email program.

These days I am suggesting to many clients that they simply drag-and-drop important emails to the corresponding folder under "My Documents". This puts a copy of the email in the folder but outside of the Outlook database.

So now you have that important email from your lawyer in the same folder as the other documents, PDfs and what-not.

There are two great side effects of this;

1) backing up "My Documents" now automatically includes the pertinent emails i.e. you don't have to do anything special to backup emails

2) it allows you to get ruthless with emptying out your Outlook or other email program so it doesn't chew up memory and slow you down.

Of course, you should ask yourself why you are keeping all these emails in the first place? Moving them to a folder helps rationalize what you keep.

Once your emails are at a tiny (read sensible) level you should perform a defrag and compaction of your email program's database...that is a topic for another post though.

David

The scams look more and more real...

2011-12-20T12:14:00.001+11:00

Recently I received an email that made me suspicious:

Dear Principal,
We are a domain name registration and dispute organization in Asia. which mainly deal with the global companies' domain name registration and internet Intellectual property right protection in Asia.
Currently, we have a very important issue needing to confirm with your company. On December 13,2011, we received an application.One company named "FengNin Group Inc" wanted to apply for registering the domain names related to "ihatemypc" and Web Brand through our body.We are dealing with it. After our initial investigation, we found that these domain names and Web Brand applied for registration were as same as your company's web keyword.
I wonder whether you consigned FengNin Group Inc to register these domain names and Web Brand through us?
If yes, we will complete the registration on these domain names and Web Brand. Or you do not even know this company what so ever? I want to confirm whether you are the corporate representative of your company. If you are, I will feedback some problems to you; if you are not, please forward my letter to your company's corporate representative or administor. In order to deal with this issue better, please contact us as soon as possible.
Best Regards
Kevin

I decided to investigate this a little further.

I Googled the FengNin Group and got pretty much no significant result either negatively or positively.

I checked the links provided in the email to the web site of the company that "Kevin" worked for. Strangely they checked out. Kevin's employer had a legitimate looking web site and really seemed to be doing what they say they are.

Theoretically the domain names I have registered for my business are protected by the fact that they are registered through legitimate Australian registrars and web hosts.

However, it still concerned me that some possible third party fraudster could be trying to hijack my domains through an innocent foreign registrar by claiming them as their own i.e. instigating a dispute over the ownership.

Carefully and with some reservation I decided to reply to the email.

I told Kevin that I owned the domains and that I had no relationship with the FengNin group in any way. Any such registrations should not be allowed.

It was Kevin's reply that revealed the true nature of the scam.

Kevin tried to bamboozle me with techno jargon, as he'd already done in his first email, but this time the story changed. This time the story morphed into "protecting related domain names" and how I may want to protect my brand by buying up country specific "IhateMyPC" domains.

He said:

We knew your company have own trademark, this is why we informed you. But now FengNin company wanted to apply for other domain names and Web brand you have not registered yet.
Following are all the domain names and Web brand which are submitted by FengNin Group Inc:
Domain names:
ihatemypc.asia   Asia
ihatemypc.es     Spain
ihatemypc.eu     Europe
ihatemypc.fr      France
ihatemypc.jp     Japan
ihatemypc.sg    Singapore
ihatemypc.tw   Taiwan

It was at this point it became very clear that Kevin was trying to scare me into buying domain names that I don't want and don't need.

I was expecting that Kevin may have then suggested I pay for them with my credit card. There was no ficken' way I was giving this guy a credit card number.

The true nature of the ultimate fraud may have been a few layers away but this is where I stopped corresponding with Kevin. I waited for his next move.

Some days later I did receive another email from Kevin:

Dear David,

I have sent you email, but have not received your reply by now. So I want to confirm:
1, Have you decided to give up?
2, Are you in the process of discussion?
3, Do you have any other question?

I look forward to hearing from you！

Regards,
Kevin

Kevin thought he had a dumb one on the hook. Often just being a "real person" and corresponding with people who doesn't understand the terminology is enough to convince people to part with money.

I have to tell you, I was worried enough about replying to his original email, but he already had my email address and I divulged nothing else along the way. Replying to this last email required some extra care and a new degree of assertiveness.

I considered my response to Kevin. This is what I sent:

Kevin,

It is clear to me that you are just trying to scare me into buying domain names.
I have forwarded your details to the relevant authorities and will take legal action if any of the domain names I presently have registered are compromised in any way by your organisation's activities.
No further correspondence will be entered into.

D.Moore

So far Kevin has gone quiet. If he is smart that will be where it ends. If he's dumb or genuine I may get an apologetic "bail-out" from him. I am not holding my breath. Either way I will stand by my word and not reply to him.

So what is the lesson in this?

For me it was that fraud, as expected, is getting harder and harder to distinguish from genuine activities. Kevin's email, the company web site and all the usual suspect things seemed believable, i.e. not necessarily true, but possibly true.

The alarm bells of the "contact out of the blue" still works when trying to spot fraud. That is, if someone contacts you unprompted then caution is advised.

If someone uses language that you don't understand then seek to understand it but don't act on it. Ask an expert and wait. Time is on your side. Act now at your own peril - undoing such actions can be costly and time consuming.

Sooner or later something will look real enough to catch me and/or you out. A personalized believable lie is a very hard thing to ignore. A lie that impacts upon your reputation, business and ability to live your life is even harder to ignore and does deserve some further investigation and shutting down where possible.

I built the first computer I owned...

2011-12-18T09:00:00.000+11:00

When I was about 13 or 14 I became obsessed with computers.

Strangely the addiction started with a Texas Instruments calculator which could run a moon landing program.

The user typed in a number, which represented thrust, and the program told you how far from the ground the resulting burn had left you. Exciting stuff.

The TI was owned by my neighbour's Dad. A bit later the same person owned a Tandy TRS80 and his brother owned a System 80, neither of which we were allowed to touch. So when they were out we did.

I loved the Dick Smith System 80. It could do so much and even had a flight simulator.

The flight simulator was a white "t" shape over a black and white grid. On one side there was a zig zag line which indicated mountains. It was rubbish and it was easy to fly off the edge of the world, around and then under it without any ramifications.

Over time my school friends started getting computers. One mate in particular, who's family were rich as far as I was concerned, always had the latest and greatest gadgets. This guy owned a ZX80 and was kind enough to let me borrow it one weekend. Oh the ecstasy.

Pretty soon we'd exhausted the capacity of the 4k ROM and 1k RAM machine. Also fortunately he'd not exhausted his Dad's bank account and soon they had the first Apple II clone PC I'd seen.

It was painted silver and did everything an Apple II did only slightly better and more cheaply.

It wasn't long before Apple waged war on the cloners and their PC market penetration has reflected that decision ever since. Some would say for the better, some wouldn't. Let me be clear, I don't care - it is none of my business :-)

It became clear I had to get my own computer somehow, so I worked and saved and kept my eye out for something that had decent performance within my budget. This eventually came in the form of a kit computer by Dick Smith Electronics called The Super 80. It was less than "super" but it was good enough for me and affordable...but I had to put the thing together myself.

Lucky for me I had an uncle who was a partner in an electrical engineering firm. He gave me a soldering iron, chip sockets (which didn't come with the kit but were "advisable" to use), replaced cheap components with quality ones and much more besides.

It was especially beneficial when, after carefully constructing the machine, nothing happened when power was applied. My uncle was able to diagnose the problem using gear that I could never afford and turn the brick into a functioning computer.

The graphics of the Super 80 were, well, crap. It was character based (tell that to kids these days and they don't know what you mean). It had a few other shortcomings like overheating (despite the special massive heatsinks my uncle supplied) and a particularly unreliable data storage and retrieval system (to/from compact cassettes using any cassette player the user could scrounge).

I considered upgrading the storage to a 1MB, yes you read that correctly, hard-disk but the cost was enormous and back then I would have had to type in all the programs before they could be stored to the drive (and there was no guarantee it would work with my Super 80 anyway).

So when an offer for a tricked up but second hand Apple II Euro+ came into view I sold the Super 80 (I am still amazed someone bought it), put some savings into it and my Dad kicked in some money (well lots actually) and then my brother and I had a great computer to be getting on with.

That Apple IIE+ proved very useful in my computer college work. Our major team project required quite a lot of printing and it all fell on me and my Apple (if I recall correctly we had limits on the use of the college printer).

You know I can't remember what happened to that computer. I must have sold it but I can't recall doing so.

Addendum: The photos here are from when I did work experience at my Uncle's company (JNA it was, later bought by Lucent). My Uncle thought it would be good to show me working at the coal face, moving up to computers and then running the place (at his desk). Look at my hair and those clothes. And people wonder why I am a brownaphobe and scared for life :-)

Yummy Yards - Where Ink Cartridges Are Reborn

2011-12-17T09:00:00.000+11:00

Every now and then I find something that makes me feel good about throwing stuff away.

In a strangely satisfying circle my wife and I have purchased some garden beds made from recycled printer ink and toner cartridges.

We looked at making wooden raised garden beds, buying wooden ones but each time we came back to the fact that they'd rot eventually and usually represented the death of an extra tree.

Susan found Yummy Yards at BEST Solutions.

They come flat packed from Victoria. We ordered, paid and they arrived as promised. Always a good start.

If you want some let them know we sent you. They love to get feedback. We've been asked to send through progress shots.

We'll be growing vege's in them, prompted by a show on TV that reckoned, due to the continual reduction in available farming lands, the vegetables of the future will have to be grown in backyards.

The same show also suggested "backyard sharing" so that people who don't have backyards can grow stuff.

Possibly an even smarter solution comes from Replas. They do "Garden Panels". They look like they go together faster than the Yummy Yards ones.

Replas also do more than just garden beds (by a long, long way) and they are recycling more than just toner cartridges.

TechNet Windows 7 Tips from Microsoft...

2011-12-16T09:00:00.000+11:00

Copied for your benefit from the MS web site.

Some of this stuff is quite technical so don't try it if:
a) You don't feel confident
b) You don't have backups
c) You don't know how to create and restore a system restore point prior to "playing"

Windows7 Tips

Remove Accounts and Deny Local Access to Workstations on Windows 7
As workstations are moved around, you might find that previous owners still have access to its resources. Here's an easy way to control what systems users have access to.
Configure a User Account to Log On Automatically on Windows 7
While it's recommended that you require users to enter credentials when the computer starts, there may be times when it's preferable to have an account log on automatically. Here's how.
Create and Use Backups Using the Backup and Restore Center
Windows 7 includes the Backup and Restore Center for creating backups of personal data and entire system images. Find out how to configure backups to protect all your data.
Use Custom Libraries in Windows 7 to Ensure You Backup All your Data
Do you store important data files outside your user profile? Here's a simple trick to make sure you always backup your important data.
Configure Legacy Devices to Run on Windows 7
The Windows 7 driver store includes a small collection of drivers for legacy devices, but will not automatically set up those devices. Here's what you can do to try and keep your favorite device functioning on Windows 7.
Use the Powerful and Free Autoruns Tool to Take Charge of Startup Apps
Autoruns is arguably the most powerful and complete utility for managing programs and services that run automatically at startup or logon. Find out what it can do for you.
Use a Command-Line Utility to convert a FAT32 Disk to NTFS
An overview of the easiest way to convert a FAT or FAT32 disk to NTFS.
Use the Driverquery Command to Take Inventory of Installed Drivers
If you want a compact record of installed drivers in a format that you can review later, use the Driverquery command.
Repair the MBR to restore Windows 7 to your Multiboot Options
You installed Windows XP on a system already running Windows 7, and now Windows 7 is no longer on the boot menu. Find out how to fix the MBR and get Windows 7 back.
Understand Compatibility Issues and why some Apps Fail on Windows 7
Before you deploy Windows 7, you should understand how some applications may break on the new OS. Then you'll be prepared to choose the best solution to fix your broken app.
Get to Know Robocopy for More Powerful File Management
Dragging files between folders is fine, but when it comes to heavy-duty file management you need a better tool. If you need more power and flexibility, it's time you get to know Robocopy.
Use Local Security Policy to customize UAC behavior
FInd out how you can use Local Security Policies in Windows 7 to modify the behavior of User Account Control.
Use Natural Language to Search your Windows 7 System
Not big into Boolean? You can use Natural Language to perform some pretty complex searches using Windows Search. But first you'll have to turn on Natural Language support.
Know What's New for Security in Windows 7
Windows 7 includes some important improvements for securing the desktop. Here's a quick overview.
Remove Personal metadata from Files to Protect Your Privacy
Metadata stored within a file can reveal a lot of information. Fortunately, Windows 7 lets you scrub data from files to protect your privacy.
Navigate Windows Explorer More Quickly with These Keyboard Shortcuts
Learn some keyboard shortcuts designed to help you navigate Windows Explorer more easily.
Assign a Program or Process to a Specific CPU running on Windows 7
On systems with multiple processors or multiple cores, Windows 7 lets you specify which CPU should handle a particular process.
Understand and Control Startup Apps with the System Configuration Utility
If you don't require a program at startup, it's a good idea to get it out of your startup path. Here are some pointers.
Remove a program from the Recommended Programs on the Open With dialog
This simple Registry edit lets you control what applications are included on the Recommended Programs list.
Dig Deep into your system with Dedicated System Information Tools in Windows 7
Windows 7 includes some handy tools for digging deep into the details of the systems you manage. Learn about three tools of the trade every IT pro should know.
Use Windows Firewall on Different Networks
The firewall in Windows 7 maintains different network location types for different networks. Here's what you should know about using these profiles to protect your system on different networks.
How to Restore Data to Windows 7 that you Backed Up on Windows XP
Windows 7 cannot open or restore files backed up in the format used by Windows XP Backup. But your data isn't lost. Here's a look at restoring from older backups.
Configure Your Windows 7 System to Run Legacy Apps in a Virtualized Windows XP Environment
Windows XP Mode is an optional download for Windows 7 that lets you run applications that might not run well on Windows 7. Here's all you need to know to get started.

InstallWindows 7 alongside an older Windows OS for a Multiboot System Want to install Windows 7 on a system, but leave the previous Windowsinstallation in place? Follow these easy steps.

P.S. I only just realised her dress is a "7" and so are the boxes behind her. I wonder why?

Pretty Wallpaper & Digital Photo Tips

2011-12-15T09:00:00.000+11:00

Here are 40 Striking Photography Wallpapers are available fromNational Geographic .

You may need to wait a while for the page to load as it has been quite popular.

Which raises an interesting question. Just how much resolution do you need for desktop wallpapers?
How many Megapixels translate to hi-res images?

Firstly, what is too much resolution for happy snaps?

For day to day shots I am shooting at 3 Mega Pixels (and get 1.37MB image/JPEG files as a result).

This is less than the cameras 5 megapixel maximum but it is more than enough for everything I've wanted to do with photos to date.

Iget brilliant images which fill the screen of my 24" desktop monitor(with some hanging over the edge i.e. they are still too big).

So unless you are shooting for posters, professional publishing orlarger printouts still, you are wasting your disk space and time by shooting photos athigh resolution.

You'll only have to shrink them to email themanyway (I still have to at this resolution).

As a bonus tip, if you are having problems shrinking and emailing your photos, particularly with web mail, I've found a couple of great tools that do this for you. Read all about them here among my Flying Solo contributions...

SETI, not Yeti...

2011-12-14T17:01:00.000+11:00

I've mentioned my SETI@home alien hunting before in newsletters.

It is a proper scientific search for evidence of extraterrestrial life using radio telescopes made famous by Jodie Foster in Contact.

I've been on it for many, many years and not found so much as a whiff of a little grey person.

I did discover, by reviewing my personal statistics, that the average user has processed 685 work units (packets of data SETI send us to crunch and send back). I have processed...drum roll please...165,000!

You'll notice I am taking credit for so much that has nothing to do with me. So please don't applaud.

Mactini -The Peter Serafinowicz Show Christmas Special.

2011-12-14T13:19:00.000+11:00

Mactini -The Peter Serafinowicz Show Christmas Special.
Pretty accurate but his black shirt needs more polo in the neck :-)

YouTube - Mactini -The Peter Serafinowicz Show Christmas Special - BBC Two-CosmoPod.mp4

www.youtube.com

From The Peter Serafinowicz Show Xmas Special - Dec 23rd at 10:55 on BBC2!

iToilet - The Peter Serafinowicz Show Christmas Special

2011-12-14T13:18:00.000+11:00

iToilet - The Peter Serafinowicz Show Christmas Special

iPlop, we all do. It will supplant the iPhone as the device everyone has to have.

YouTube - iToilet - The Peter Serafinowicz Show Christmas Special - BBC Two-CosmoPod.mp4

www.youtube.com

The iToilet from the Peter Serafinowicz Show Xmas Special - 10:55 Dec 23rd on BBC2!

Microsoft Office - is it there or not?

2011-12-14T09:00:00.000+11:00

I've noticed that manyof my clients get stuck thinking they've bought Microsoft Office when actually all they'vebeen given is the 60 day trial pre-installed.

The store monkeys tell you that Office is on the computer, which it is, without elaborating on the fact that it will stop working in 60 days (or whatever) and cost you more to when you have to purchase a license key.

If this happens to you, you can buy activation keys online from Microsoft themselves.

Thisis the cheapest and fastest way to make office work (again).

Of course, make sure you buy the right product suite for your needs. Many people buy the cheapest thing they see only to find out that what they really wanted, Outlook and/or Powerpoint, are missing.

Makesure you know exactly which programs from the suite they use e.g. Outlook,Word, Excel as this will change the pricing and the package you have to buy.

If you aren't sure err on the side of caution and get a key for more rather thanless.
Another of our clients has had the opposite problem.

They been sold an MS Office Licence, given the key, but no disks and no software installed on the computer.

This leaves you to download about about 900MB of program from Microsoft. This can take a long time to do and, if it fails, require some retries before you are successful.

If a computer vendor supplies you with MS Office have them put it on the machine for you AND activate it! Better still, make sure they give you the disks they used!

NOTE: MS Office now comes in a "free" version with reduced functionality and with the inclusion of advertising. If you can live with this and don't need Outlook, then this is not a bad way to go. It is certainly worth trying this option out before spending money on licenses.

30 Tips for using social media

2011-12-13T14:00:00.000+11:00

If you are into it, my mate Matt Gain has 30 tips for using social media.

There ain't no such thing as "best practice"

2011-12-13T09:00:00.000+11:00

Recently I was in a business meeting and the term "best practice" came up.

It wafted across the table and went straight up my nose.

Themeeting was nearly over and I'd made a big enough menace of myself that day tolaunch into my tirade on "best practice", so I'll let you hear it now. It willchange the way you think.

Read the rest of the article in my BLOG for Australian Anthill online...

Funny things...

2011-12-12T18:00:00.000+11:00

During a recentpassword audit, it was found that a person was using the following password:

"MickeyMinniePlutoHueyLouieDeweyDonaldGoofySacramento"

When asked whysuch a long password, the person said they were told that it had to be at least 8characters long and include at least one capital.

Thanks to Matthew Sunn for that one.

A bunch of tips worth hearing again...

2011-12-12T17:07:00.001+11:00

Have you run the windows malicious software removal tool? - Mrt.exe

Here's the techy way to do it...

http://www.pchell.com/virus/malicioussoftwareremovaltool.shtml

And an easier way to do it...

Connect Internet Explorer to the Malicious Software Removal Tool page.
Click the Check My PC For Infection button.
In the resulting Microsoft End-User License Agreement dialog box, read the license agreement, select the I Agree button, and then click Continue.
Follow the onscreen instructions to set up the tool.
Wait while the scan runs in the background.
Review the report once the scan is complete.

Passwords, so you think you are fine...

So you think your password is pretty clever and unique?
Pop along here and see just how predictable and exposed you are.
Thanks to Mark Wayland of The Last 3 Feet for this link.

How to connect to hidden wireless networks

Have you ever had trouble connecting to a wireless network only to find out is is "hidden"? Networks are hidden for security purposes. You have to know in advance their name and how to connect to them. This makes it harder for hackers to lob onto private networks and start hacking. Here's a nice tutorial on how to do it. It has pictures.

When a disk isn't a disk

I've noticed the phrase "boot disks" used in relation to USB thumb drives and Solid State Drives.You may have read other articles pointing out that USB and SSD devices aren't actually disks at all. Sometimes it is claimed they don't have any moving parts (but I'll leave that argument alone for the time being). Actually, they aren't even "drives".

So how can a thing that isn't a disk be a boot disk?

I wish I hadn't opened my mouth now thinking about it.

Well, they are being used in the context were older disk-based technology were once used.

The terminology is being mixed up horribly as technology evolves and we cling on to what we know.

I'm sure someone will come up with a new buzz-word for non-disk non-drive bootable device real soon (if they haven't already).

NB: I thought of NDNDBD or ND^2BD but that acronym is twice as long as any computer person is capable of remembering.

Aunty David - PC Agony Aunt and Weirdo

2011-12-09T10:00:00.000+11:00

Recently my Aunty David got in touch with me to tell me what a load of rubbish my blog was.

Of course I appreciated her feedback and told her that if she though she could do better then go ahead.

You don't have to probe the genetics too deeply to realise that she is incapable of shutting up too. So here's what she has to say about all manner of rubbish.

P.S. If I was you I wouldn't take any of her advice literally. I have to publish it because she threatened to "Rip my bloody RAM out" if I didn't.

I don't even know what that means?

Aunty David on cleaning your PC

I have just three words for you vin-e-gar. If you read the gumf you got with you doova you'll see that you have to clean it but you aren't allowed to use anything even slightly affective to do so.

If there's anything I've learnt from 35 years of Women's Weekly reader's tips is that vin-e-gar will do anything and clean anything. Pour it liberally over your keyboard, invert the keyboard so that it runs out and then spin it over your head to remove any traces left behind. Don't worry about the walls. All wars have casualties.

Vin-e-gar won't froth out of the bottle unless you add some baking soda. So do that and shoot the resulting mix onto your screen like Mark Webber's champagne at his last F1 victory.

Oh I love Mark Webber. He's such a spunk. Don't you think he looks like Superman? Oh God, that chin gets me excited.

Wipe down the screen with some sand paper. Believe me that is the only way you'll get that crap off it now.

Don't worry about the smell either. It will go away after a few months and in the meantime it will keep your sinuses on their toes. Do sinuses have toes? That would be a bit weird but would explain why everying I cook tastes like feet.

Anyway kids, if that hasn't helped you look at my great legs there to the right. I am single strangely enough and on the prowl. Treat my nephew well and give him a big kiss for me when you see him next.

Love, Aunty David

Sonia Says...cool keyboard shortcuts & Outlook appointment handling

2011-12-08T09:30:00.000+11:00

After doing some surfing on trusty old Google, I realizedthat its quite a common gripe, and so readers might be interested in it.

It all started when David sent me David's contact details. Itcame as an attachment called 'winmail.dat', which when I tried to open gave methe message "this is embedded mapi 1.0 blah blah ... Notsupported"

Knowing that David uses outlook, I gathered it was an outlookgenerated attachment, and therefore I could boot up in windows 7 (in which Ihave a trail of outlook) and be able to read it, but I was curious to see howpeople without outlook would open it.

It turns out, there are a fewthird party programs that you can download to use to open these attachments(which reportedly can contain even things like word docs, excel, outlookcontact- even if the receiver of the email has excel and word on their computerit will not open).

The most referenced program was called "tnefenough" - only for mac though.

Delving into the help section from outlook, I foundreference to this issue. It stated that outlook uses should be aware that whensending to a recipient that does not use outlook, they should notsend the mail as 'rich text', and that this would solve the recipientsreceiving mail with the mysterious 'winmail.dat' as an attachment.

I decided not to download any of the programs out there thatwould read it for me, but instead booted up into 7, opened outlook and read theattachment no problem - felt like I had learnt something along the way too.Perhaps outlook users would be happy to learn there is a ridiculously simplefix for this.

As far as keyboard tips go....these are a few I know. I amsure you know them all already.

Windows logo key + E brings up my computer
Windows logo key + L logs off computer
Windows logo key + D minimizes all windows and displaysdesktop. Press again to return
Windows logo key + F brings up search dialog box
Windows logo key + pause/break brings up SYSTEM properties
Windows logo key + U ease of access center
Windows logo key + R (my favorite) run dialog.

For vista uses whowill most likely need therapy from being bullied by the UAC (user account control, that guy that always asks for your authorisation to do something):
CTRL + SHIFT+ENTER from the run dialog box will run inadmin mode
ALT+ C for confirmation with UAC prompt

Shift+ right click on a document will give additionalchoices

For Internet explorer: CTRL + Q view quick tabs

Sonia Maroun

Modem Schmodem

2011-12-07T10:00:00.000+11:00

This one is a little techy, so don't try it on your own if you don't understand what I am saying (there's no real way to simplify it any more than it already is).

These days pretty much all networking gear like modems and wireless access points are managed through a built in web page. You get to the page using the devices Internet Protocol or IP address.

However, this address is not always obvious or even accessible. Usually you can work it out by checking the IP Address of your computer and plugging the Default Gateway IP address into your web browser.

If that doesn't work though, guessing it could take you the rest of your life. You need to Google for something like " default IP address", look in the manual (Dog forbid we should open a manual) or call tech support for that product.

Often fixes like this are not documented in the manual anywhere.

For example, a recent issue with a D-Link Wireless access point could have been resolved easily if D-Link had just put the sentence "The adaptors network address is 192.168.0.50"in the manual somewhere. But they didn't.

Once we've got that number we have something we can work with and start to address whatever issue the device has.

If you still can't get any joy consider performing a factory reset on the device and trying again. This will necessitate setting the thing up from scratch like it was new, but hey, it wasn't working anyway right?

Q: I've lost my Recovery Discs or didn't have any in the box when I purchased my computer

2011-12-06T09:30:00.000+11:00

Most newcomputers are no longer delivered with recoverydisks for your operating system. This is because your recovery media is nowbuilt into a hidden partition on your Hard Disk Drive.

It is also because the manufacturers are lazy and want you to burn the recovery disks instead of them. It saves them a few bucks.

If you need to reload your computer you can buy a whole new operating system e.g. Windows 7, but you may find issues with everything working "out of the box" and need to download drivers etc.
It is also not cheap.

Most manufacturers will actually ship you the disks you need for a fraction of the cost of buying the software from Microsoft or Apple.

For example, you can ring Toshiba with your laptop's serial number and the quote them your Windows license code (on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop) and get replacement disks for about $66. These will put your laptop back to the way it was when you bought it...mostly :-)

Sometimes you can create your own recovery disks by following a procedure like this:
NOTE: If you have been using your computer for a while it may not work.
NOTE2: Use DVDs and not CDs otherwise you'll be doing it for a long time and use lots of disks
NOTE3: Most vendors only let you do this procedure once so make sure you do it carefully and have everything you need, like blanks DVDs, to hand before you start.

1. Click Start

2. Select All Programs

3. Select Recovery Disc Creator.

4. Within the Recovery Disc Creator select Create

5. When prompted enter the first blank DVD and select Ok

6. When prompted enter the second blank DVD and select Ok etc.

Of course, if all else fails you could buy yourself a copy of Windows but that may not work on your old computer and if it did you'd need to manually download all the updated drivers for it from the manufacturer (if they were kind enough to provide them).

Lastly, you could give up and load it with a free operating system like Ubuntu instead (but that is a whole other story). :-)

David

Google Sketch-Up

2011-12-05T10:00:00.000+11:00

A while back an interesting article came across my desk.

It was about 7 top tips for using Google Sketch-Up. What? I'd not even heard of it. Well, it wasn't on my radar anyway. I regularly patrol the Google "Even More" button for shiny new things but it is not listed there.

It caught my eye because I thought some of our customers may find it useful.

For example, a building company may use it to create virtual buildings to show their clients and put them on Google Earth (privacy pending of course;-).
I'll let the article itself take you through some of the cool things you can do with Sketch-Up.

It seems you can create almost any object in 3D. So you can create a chair and put it in the 3D house JWC have made for you. You can download a library a large number of objects already created for your convenience.

You can have fun with it too. The kids can create a level for the game Left 4 Dead and then play it!

If you feel so inclined you can even create photo realistic rendered images though these often require plug-ins from third party vendors at vastly variable cost.

I don't know about you but I'm thinking of creating "the" UFO photo that proves the existence of the little grey guys. Don't laugh. Can you tell what is real or not anymore? It is almost a problem. Seeing used to be believing. This has not been the case for longer than I can remember.

If all this sounds ominous Sketch-Up have numerous online video tutorials that take you through the basics and beyond.

Perhaps this would be a nice rainy day project? Just don't do it during a storm OK?

Credits for the above images can be found inline online with the article.

You can download Sketch-Up free for Mac and PC from here.

Be warned:

1) To get good results you'll need to invest some learning time. I had a go at the first trick. I tried to make my house 3D. While I got immediate results I wouldn't be prepared to show anyone just yet. It is not a substitute for talent and a bit or work.

2) There is a paid version with greater functionality available. Play with the free one first and see if it suits your needs.

3) In case you are interested here is a comprehensive list of Google tools. Warned? well, there's a lot of stuff and you may lose large slabs of your life playing with them.

David

I had cause to revisit this today :-)

2011-12-04T20:25:00.001+11:00

An oldie but a goodie...

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/better-the-broken-windows-than-life-with-the-mac-monks-20091103-huew.html

"... I don't care if Mac stuff is better. I don't care if Mac stuff is cool. I don't care if every Mac product comes equipped with a magic button on the side that causes it to piddle gold coins and resurrect the dead and make holographic unicorns dance inside your head..."

Refurbishing your computer...

2011-12-01T10:10:00.001+11:00

This is a non-exhaustive guide on what you need to prepare if you are having your computers taken away and refurbished.

This will normally involve:

a)    Checking memory andcurrent performance, hard disk space etc.
b)    Advising on whether eachmachine is worth refurbishing and if so...
c)    Formatting the hard disk
d)    Reloading the operatingsystem from scratch
e)    Reloading any essentialapplications eg. MS Office, Anti-MALware, Printer drivers, etc.

f) Downloading and installing all updates and service packs

g) Restoring backed up data where possible and/or desirable NB: data only, not image

This means that anything you wish to keep fromthose laptops should be copied to somewhere else for safe keeping.

The above procedure WILL completelyerase/destroy all data on those copmputers.
This is necessary to regain the "as new"performance of the machine.

If you still want this procedure to go ahead you then need to:

1) Make sure all importantdata is already off them and stored safely somewhere else

2) The CDs and DVDs thatcame with each computer be located and given to me with each machine

a. This will include system recovery disks

b. ...application disks (such as MS Office)
c. ...possibly Windows XP/Vista install or upgrade disks etc.

3) Licence keys, numbersetc. for all machines and software be provided. These are usually on the machine itself and/or the packets that the licensed software came in BUT please check.

We can't install without the right disks AND applicable licence keys

4) Poweradaptors/transformers for each laptop be provided and clearly identified as towhich machine they belong (if you know). Getting this wrong can be fatal to thelaptop so don't "plug them in and try" if you aren't sure.

Then we can get down to it. :-)
David

How much will a web site cost?

2011-11-30T08:54:00.001+11:00

If I had a dollar for every time I was asked this question I wouldn't need to answer it any more.

Usually the person asking me the question is unsure of what they want or need in a web site. As a result my answer is always "it depends".

So here are some tips and ideas for you to investigate before you ask your web designer of choice to give you a quote:

1) Look at web sites within your industry to get an idea of:

    a) The things you do and don't want to do the same
    b) The things your customers will expect you to do
    c) What it is about your business that is unique compared to others in your field

2) Look at some of the web sites you regularly visit:

    a) Note down what you like about them
    b) Make notes about styles, colours, buttons, layouts, pages, functions, look, feel, content etc.
    c) Record the URLs of these web sites to give to your web designer.
        It is easier to shown them what you are talking about than it is to describe it.

3) Prepare a list of things you want your web site to have:

    a) Sort the list so that the must-haves are at the top and the nice-to-haves are at the bottom.
    b) From the web sites you've visited, link the things on your list to what you've seen on other sites.

4) Consider your budget carefully and set it in concrete:

    a) A good business person, in this case web designer, will be able to tell you what they can and
        can't deliver from your list and within your budget. This avoids surprises and blowouts.
    b) Obviously the things at the top of your list, the most important stuff, will be tackled first.
    c) This gives you the option to decide and re-arrange what really is needed and what isn't.

5) Prepare your content:

    a) A web designer still needs input from you to make the web site what you want it to be
    b) If your budget is big and you are happy to hand of all the responsibility then they can
        produce graphics, copy (the words), templates...everything.
    c) It is cheaper for you, and more helpful to your web designer, for you to provide the text,
        images, photos, logos and other content to your web designer.
    d) Often the web builders aren't the most creative people so consider using a copywriter to
        create the text for your web site.
    e) The same applies to logos and graphics, consider using a proper graphic designer to
        come up with logos, styles, colours and the overall look and feel of the site.
    f) The information gathering and creation process is the slowest and the most critical to
        being unique on the web and hence found by search engines. It can therefore be
        expensive to let your web guy hunt around and try to find all that stuff.
g) If you need photos consider paying for good stock images or have a photographer take them.
        Despite how wonderful modern cameras are, sometimes happy snaps just don't cut the mustard.
        Your photographer has an eye for what is important, what is ugly and what should and shouldn't
        be seen.

Remember that a web designer is not an expert in your industry and they'll need a lot of help from you.

They can and will ask you a lot of questions but if you don't have the answers, how do you expect them to deliver what you want?

Time is money in the web site game so if the designer has to extract information from you like blood out of a stone then expect to receive big bills from them.

Offer details, contents, links...whatever you can, whatever you think may be useful, to them freely and proactively and you may be surprised at what you can get for your budget.

Have fun!

Registry Cleaner Snake Oil

2011-11-29T17:33:00.001+11:00

Every so often I get asked about registry cleaners or called up after one has been installed and created a mess.

Once I was given a lifelong FREE license to a well known suite of registry cleaning and system tuning tools. After about a month of persisting, coz I am fundamentally a cheapskate, I uninstalled them all and gave up.

Every other "miracle cure" I've tried or had the misfortune of cleaning up after has proven to be a dead loss...a total waste of money.

In my experience these tools actually precipitate a faster total failure of your PC than restore it to some former glorious level of performance.

The reason for this is that they make assumptions about thousands of pieces of software about which they know very little. They then try to "fix" your computer by doing a raft of "standard" modifications to your computers central nervous system.

This, as it turns out, is a very bad idea.

Here's a comment from one of my clients who was lucky enough to learn this within the guarantee period...

"Had a shot at Registry ******** (I hadalready bought it when you rang back - but it has a guarantee)and it seems to be a waste of space (and money).
I've also done a google search and thereare quite a few comments on it saying (as you did) that most registry tools area waste of effort.
I've requested a refund."

If you are still tempted make sure you buy with a guarantee in place, or, better still buy where you aren't charged until a certain time after purchase so that the money is never taken in the first place. Many software trials work this way now.

The funny thing is, you may well see immediate performance improvements and short term gains. Hell they may even fix the problem they promise to. It is the other stuff they do that will catch you out not much further down the track.

Believe me, I've seen it and been a victim of it.

I can see a place for them where you are already resigned to the fact of a system rebuild or buying a new machine and you just want to "eek out the life" of your current machine a bit.

Whatever you do, there is no need to use a registry cleaner on a new machine. Most modern machines have a System Restore or a facility which rolls them safely back to a previous point in time. If you are vigilant and see problems caused by a freshly installed program, and you can't uninstall it, do a system restore before you try a registry cleaner.

The best way to deal with it is back up all your data and reinstall the operating system from scratch.

It sounds like a cop out. But if you value your time and sanity it is the most practical way forward. The complexity of modern computers and software means that starting from a baseline of fresh software every now and then is a necessary evil.

Even in computer there are NO miracles.

Save money with your computer person...

2011-11-29T17:29:00.001+11:00

Do you wanna know how to save money with yourcomputer guy?

The simple answer is "be ready when they visit".

A visit from your computer person should not come as a surprise to you. In most cases you have probably called them and asked them to visit.

Your technician should not assume you know what the problem is and they should not assume from phone conversations that they know what the problem is either.

However, some things can be prepared for:

1) Have all your disks ready. Whether they are needed or not it is always a good idea to have all of your CD, DVDs and other software sources/disks ready for the technician's visit. For example, if you've rung them about an Outlook problem it is worth having your MS Office installation disks and product keys ready.

2) De-clutter around the computer, if they have togo in, and you are paying by the hour, do you really want them to be movingpencils for you, repositioning documents, files and everything else piled around your computer?

3) Don't lie to cover your tracks...it takes longerto fix the issue. Your computer person should not judge or chastise you (unless you've ignored their specific instructions to backup your data for your own good...and even then they should be light-hearted and amusing about it. After all, it is your data, not theirs, that has gone missing).

4) Have all passwords, usernames, serviceproviders, activations codes, software licenses documented and ready to be accessed. Your technician can retrieve them using"hack tools" but this is not always the case and it takes time.

5) Make sure your internet is working, if this is not the reason for your call, as a good many problems and solutions require internet access for one reason or another.

6) If things change between when you called them and when they are due to arrive, give them a call and let them know. This may avoid the need for a follow up visit or a visit in the first place.

7) Listen to their advice. we don't make the rules, we advise you with your best interests at heart.

Seasonal computing

2011-11-29T17:24:00.001+11:00

I'm sure people think I am mad when I tell them that computers react to the seasons. They could rightly suspect that I am spinning them a story to cover my ignorance.

However, changes of temperature, humidity and environment have an effect on the components inside your computer.

If you are near the sea corrosion will play a bigger part than you may have anticipated.

The various slots, plugs, connectors and other exposed electronics can develop a film of corrosion that impacts on how they talk to each other. When they don't talk your computer don't work.

Our friend "the innernet" is particularly susceptible to wind and rain.

It would be easy to assume that once connected you are always connected, but the various cables and connectors between your computer and your internet service provider's computers provide endless opportunities for signal loss and moisture penetration. Then the blame game starts...
Before I moved house 18 months ago, I had relocated or changed ISP for about 12 years. In that time I had to have ISP technicians out at least 3 times to re-terminate connections and clean up connections because things had just stopped working.

So while a new season is nearly upon us and you may be comfortable that things have not changed with your technology, remember that we can either effect change or have change thrust upon us ;-)

Sacrifices and honey traps...

2011-11-28T17:13:00.001+11:00

I've been advising for quite some time that your business computer be sacred.

Don't let anyone else use it for any purpose.

If you have kids I've been suggesting that you acquire a spare and sacrificial machine for their use.

The natural curiosity of kids and the nature of the malicious software out there means that it is a shorter matter of time before they kill your computer NOT "if" they kill it.

So you don't want anything important on it WHEN it happens.

If you can't afford a spare computer then at the very least set up a separate logon for children and guests to use if they must. Make sure their logon has limited powers to modify your computer and install programs.

As an aside, even if you ARE the only person using your computer, it is a good idea to set up another password protected administrator or BOSS account on your computer. Again only you should have access to this account. In the event of your main administrator account being damaged, this dormant account can be used to overcome problems that only an administrator can address.

Old computers are great for this sacrificial purpose. If the kids needs are confined to web browsing, email and such then you can often give a new lease of life to an old machine by installing the FREE Operating System Ubuntu.

That way, when it dies, it hasn't cost you anything and you've at least put-off that computers contribution to land fill.

The concept of sacrificial computers is obviously not new but probably in use more widely than you suspect.

The anti virus people use computers called "honey traps" to lure new viruses and other malicious software into attacking them and therefore revealing themselves. The data collected from attacks on sacrificial machines helps the anti-virus companies protect you.

While they put all sorts of attractive things on these honey traps you can be sure that they don't put anything real or anything that they can't afford to lose on them.

If it is good enough for them maybe it is good enough for you?

How To Retrieve Lost Passwords, Product Keys and More...

2011-11-28T09:36:00.001+11:00

I'm guessing you've probably lost or forgotten your password to something on your computer or the Internet?

Have you ever lost the product key to a valuable, or costly, piece of software like MS Office?

Have you had to ring the vendor up to beg and plead your case only to have to jump through hoops to get what you already own?

Well, I have some good news for you. Many of your hidden passwords and product keys can be easily recovered using FREE software from NirSoft.

Try their range of magic tools is always growing.

An example of product key recovery for various Microsoft products is shown below.

"ProduKey is a small utility that displays the ProductID and the CD-Key of Microsoft Office (Microsoft Office 2003, Microsoft Office 2007), Windows (Including Windows 7 and Windows Vista), Exchange Server, and SQL Server installed on your computer. You can view this information for your current running operating system, or for another operating system/computer - by using command-line options. This utility can be useful if you lost the product key of your Windows/Office, and you want to reinstall it on your computer."

I've been using these programs for years and only have only had good experiences with them.

An important thing to note however, is that these programs will probably be classified as "Hack Tools" or some other form of malicious software by your Anti-MALware product.

When you try to download them or run them your system protection may well prevent you.

This is normal and the correct response. After all, it could be someone trying to use these things maliciously on your computer.

However, if you are downloading them and want to use them let your security product know that they are safe and then try again.

Of course there will always be passwords that can't be recovered. That is usually not such a big deal these days as resetting and starting again is not so bad.

Take a deep breath and let it go.

→ Google's Android Market estimated to earn just 7% of what Apple's App Store makes

2011-11-26T11:18:00.001+11:00

Another take on "Why isn't it available on Android". Marco Arment is the developer of Instapaper, a successful bookmarking and reading product. Below, some of his thoughts.

This article is re-posted from Marco.org. The original story can be read here.

“Why don’t you make Instapaper for Android?”

“In other words, it appears that Apple has roughly 85-90% market share in dollars spent on mobile applications,” [Gene Munster] wrote in a note to investors. “While Google has closed the gap in terms of app dollars spent over the last year and we continue to believe Android will grow smartphone share faster than Apple, we believe Apple is likely to maintain 70%+ share of mobile app dollars spent over the next 3-4 years.”

Android has a very large installed base, but a disproportionally small number of people paying for apps. Instapaper’s primary business is selling a premium-priced paid app.

Most startups want to gain marketshare at any cost, usually by giving the core product away for free, so it makes sense for them to expand onto Android. But I’m still not convinced that it makes sense for me to double my development costs and slow down my product cycle to enter a market that I’m unlikely to recover those costs from.

∞ Permalink

The X-perience Files - hot stuff...

2011-11-25T11:12:00.001+11:00

Computers don't like heat.

In fact most electronics, unless specially developed, don't like heat.

Often though we don't think about it.

Last week I encountered a pile of networking equipment which had overheated to the point where the white plastic had started to go brown as a result.

That is scary hot...almost catching fire hot.

We've all heard how electrical stuff causes house fires but these little cute computer boxes couldn't do that, right? Wrong!

Most computer equipment needs space around it to cool effectively and thus work at all let alone properly.

If you have a modem, a router attached to the modem, a network switch or any other number of seemingly related devices that you feel may like to live in a stack then think again.

Don't pile them up as they'll simply feed off each other and generate way too much for anyone and anything's good.

Remember,
* make space for moving air around all your electronic gadgets,
* turn them off when not in use for extended periods (use you own definition of extended),
* turn them off when the airconditioning is off,
* don't keep them in small cupboards and rooms without airconditiong where possible.
Check them regularly for temperature - if they are too hot to touch chances are they are too hot to be working properly or safely.

Fed up with spending thousands on printer cartridges?

2011-11-25T11:11:00.001+11:00

This sounds like an urban myth and perhaps just too much work for too, little gain.

However, it is true and if you are keen you can save 20% on your ink usage.
Download the the Sprang Eco Sans font

It is free.
The font usesthousands of tiny circles, and thus 20% less ink. (To the naked eye it looksnormal, but when magnified, you can see the little "holes" in eachcharacter.).

Then set your default font to Sprang Eco Sans in all your programs like Word, Outlook and the operating system itself.

Have you ever had the need to print more than one document at a time?

2011-11-25T10:49:00.001+11:00

Most of us do sooner or later. Did you know that in the windows file explorer you can select all the documents you want to print at once and then simply right-click and choose print?

The applicable program will be opened, the document printed and then automatically closed again.

Are your USB sockets playing up?

2011-11-25T10:46:00.001+11:00

Have you ever had a USB device like a memory stick or a camera just not work when you plug it in? Perhaps it has stopped working?

Here's a tip to try when this happens to you next. Simply plug the device into a different USB socket. It sounds daft but it works quite often.

When you plug a USB device into your computer it sends a "Hello, I'm a camera" type message to your computer. If the socket is worn, the drivers misbehaving or indeed a poorly manufactured USB hub, then this message might not get through and the computer won't know the device is there. The USB device may get power but not much else.

If you are still getting problems with USB devices plugged into alternate sockets, shut down your computer and leave it off for 5 minutes. Then when you restart it give the computer 5 minutes BEFORE you even try to log on.

The drivers for your USB sockets may not load properly if you log on too soon. In fact, lots of things may misbehave if you logon too soon. So be patient.

NOTE: this is mainly an issue for Windows XP and Windows VISTA. Windows 7 is much better but it still pays to log on a few minutes after start up.

Lastly, it may be that the drivers for your USB ports have gone missing for some reason (why? that's a whole other post).

In this case download and install the chipset and/or USB drivers for your computer from the manufacturers web site.

If all this fails then you may just have to face the fact that your motherboard (where the USB sockets most likely live) may well be stuffed. Sorry.

Here's what I want NEXT in Portable Navigation Systems

2011-11-24T10:49:00.001+11:00

Inertial Guidance Assited GPS Navigation - these navigation systems use the changes in acceleration that your navigation system experiences to reckon on changes in direction and distance travelled. When combined with the Global Positioning Satellites it means that tunnels and other satellite signal deadspots don't result in you getting lost. Tunnels, tall buildings, bad weather, delays in satellite acquisition and so on won't leave you stranded.

While your navigation attempts to get back to the accurate GPS location it uses inertial guidance to come up with a pretty good approximation of where you have moved to in the meantime.

The aerospace industry has been using it for years and in fact your old friend the gyro scope is an early implementation of inertial guidance, so it ain't new. For example, stealth aircraft, hiding from radar and everything else, operate in total radio, radar and electronic silence which means their only way of getting to a destination is with inertial guidance and GPS.

Sadly, this technology excites me and I can't wait for my first in-car IGAGPS (Inertial Guidance Assisted GPS).

Stop, reverse it, sorted!

2011-11-24T10:47:00.001+11:00

Have you ever been frustrated after printing a large document?

Have you got tens of pages in your hand that all need to be sorted into the right order just because they've printed from page 1 onwards and come out face up on your printer?

Well, me too!

If you are lucky your printer driver software will give you the option of "Reversing The Print Order" - an example of where to find this setting is shown at right (click for full size view).

Often this option will be discouraged by telling you that printing will be slower as a result. Realistically it isn't any slower than printing it fast and then having to resort the pages manually!

So a big thumbs up for resversing the print order I say!

The secret of tech' support (tell no-one)...

2011-11-24T10:45:00.001+11:00

I am likely to be hunted down and terminated by the nerds, geeks and tweeps of the world for what I am about to tell you.

Fortunately, due to their lack of exercise and familiarity with sunlight and the outdoors I reckon I'll be able to easily escape.

The secret to all tech support is within your grasp.
Here it is...

At right is the flow chart of how EVERY tech support problem is solved.

Click on it to see the full size version.

Of course, if it doesn't work for you, then feel free to give us a call ;-)

Compute well, backup better!

David Moore

Save the clock tower...

2011-11-23T11:17:00.001+11:00

You've probably not thought about how important time is to your computer.

Most of us will look at the clock in the bottom right of our screens and just take it for granted. Actually, everything about your computer is based on time and how the computer's components manage it.

You may have heard technical people talk about a computers "clock speed"? You've probably heard people talk about processor or CPU speeds in terms of Gigahertz (not Gigawatts).

Put simply, all these things hinge off the ability of an object to predictably change state a very large number of times a second. These changes of state are what drive the timings of the worlds most accurate atomic clocks right down to your digital watch. This flipping and flopping is also what drives your computer.

In your computer the speed at which this two-state, or binary, change can take place dictates how much data your computer can move from place to place. All data is made up of ones and zeroes (binary) and everything you see, do and hear on your computer is data!

So the beautiful pictures you see are made up of million of zeroes and ones presented to you through your computer screen. Now imagine how much work needs to be done to change that image 60 times or so a second so you see a movie. Add to that the sound playing in the background, the calculations being done to create the new image in the first place, the other programs running in the background preparing other images, documents, emails, scheduled tasks and so on.

Heaps and heaps of data is being moved around all the time extraordinarily quickly and all based on a simple clock flipping and flopping.

From the micro world we go to the macro world that your computer clock helps you with.

Time and date is a global benchmark on which much of our society runs. It is how we know things are new, old, obsolete, worn, happening concurrently, happened in the past or planned for the future.

Most computers these days synchronise their date and time with a number of atomic clocks scattered about the globe. All computers also need to know where they, their regional settings, so that their local clock is appropriately offset to GMT and can adjust for dalight savings. This level of accuracy is important to programs such as anti-virus and other security software.

If your antivirus doesn't get the right date and time from your computer it can assume that the rest of the world is wrong and try to protect you from it. You computer will start exhibiting weird behaviour. You could visit web sites only to be denied access. yesterday they worked fine, today - not so much, why? When you visit a web site your pc offers up certain criteria to ensure it is getting the latest information from the web site. If your computer lies to the web site then you often won't be given what you are after!

Just try to get money from your online bank with your computer clock set incorrectly.

On your local computer things like emails can go missing, files you've created will lie to you about when and you'll have difficulty tracking them down and deciding which is the latest or current version.

Older computers will perpetually lie to you about the date and time when their battery goes flat. Yes, your computer has a battery inside it, even desktops, and this battery keeps your computer's clock ticking over when the power is off.

When this battery goes flat, and they often do after 2 or 3 years, your pc forgets the time and a host of other settings each time it is switched off. If you are a little brave this battery is easily replaced from inside your computer.

So next time you glance to the bottom right of your screen don't just trust the time, make sure it is right and make sure your computer knows where it is too!

Disaster Recovery - more than just backups

2011-11-23T11:12:00.001+11:00

An article in The Age outlines How To Prepare Your Business For Disasters.

Julia Talevski describes a whole raft of things that can wipe out your business but it seems our attitude is the main thing that will kill our business.

Someone I know has been cursing the failure of their company's backup systems.

I won't name the guilty party, a very large and prestigious global concern, but it seems a double disk failure, poor communications with team members and a backup that didn't recover properly has left them with months of work gone.

It happens to the best of us is what I am trying to say. There's no point rubbing your "Magic Happens" bumper sticker hoping your data will reappear. It won't.

The article says of backups...

"Solutions can be as simple as having back-ups that work and replications in place, along with a whole raft of technology solutions. The first step is the strategic decision to ensure the longevity of the company," Elisha says.
Testing out the data backup plan is also crucial.
"You hear the horror stories of where companies had a fully fledged backup system in place and they've gone to do a restoration and all the tapes are blank because no one ever tested whether or not they could restore the information or whether it was actually working in the first place.

Doing it in a really organised, testable fashion is really important," Elisha says.

Inspuriation

2011-11-23T11:09:00.001+11:00

A while back my pals at Australian Anthill sent out a link to an "Inspirational" web site.

Don't worry, it isn't like those fake inspirational and motivational posters you get as jokes from your friends.

It is a bunch of products and services created by creative business people.

Some of them will blwo your mind, make you laugh or just go "huh?".

Definitely worth a look if you've ever thought to yourself "nah, that is a stupid idea".

10 things you DON'T need to know about computers

2011-11-23T11:05:00.001+11:00

Here's another nice article from Anthill by By Peter Philipp.

Points 8 and 9 are my favourites...

8. I have not had a problem with my computers for the last three years - until an IT company came on board and started fiddling.
The two events are rarely connected. You might have been lucky in the past and your time is up. Or, you just did not recognise that little things (signs, error messages) in the past were pointing to a major issue in the future. Good luck, but your time is running out.

9. My computer is fine - it does not need to be replaced.
In 3 years, the performance of your standard PC will increase over 300%. It can pay for itself with improved performance in under 4 months. And you will have fewer or no hardware and support problems for the next three years.
Note: a three-year old computer is like a 10-year old car.

8 things to know before buying a PC

2011-11-23T11:02:00.001+11:00

The article 8 thing to know before buying a PC by Joel Montgomery is a great starting point for researching any computer purchase. I've reproduced the 8 points below but you'll need to go to the full article to read the details. Hey, I have significant respect for copyright!

1. CPU (Processor)
2. RAM (Memory)
3. Hard drive (Disk)
4. Screen (Flat Panel Monitor)
5. Microsoft Operating System (OS)
6. Other Microsoft software
7. Weight
8. Battery

I'd add this to your buying strategy, don't just walk into a store and ask the kid what computer you need. They'll sell you the multi-million dollar ultimate game machine they want instead of the computer you need.

Instead use this simple strategy come checklist to do it a bit smarter. You'll save yourself money and headaches.

1. Set your budget first and stick to it
2. Choose your priorities from the 8 points above
3. Make a list of essential jobs it has to do
4. Make a list of "nice to haves"
5. Visit 3 stores & see 3 different computers (1 at each store)
doing the essential jobs
6. Buy the most expensive one within your budget that
satisfies these criteria.

RIP PC - data back from the dead

2011-11-23T10:46:00.001+11:00

How many of us have a computer hidden about the house that refuses to turn on?

You are probably keeping it because there's some important data on it somewhere and, much like with cryogenics, you are hoping that the technology will exist one day to resurrect your frozen friend.

Hands up if you are lucky enough to have just one computer in that situation.

The more time goes on the less likely you are to remember or be bothered recovering that data. So maybe it isn't all that important after all?

"Yes it is you cry!" - then the time to give it a go is now.

Quite often it isn't the hard disk that is the cause of the system failure. In a large number of cases simply plugging the hard disk into another computer or external hard disk case is enough to grant you access to your long lost data.

You've probably all heard my hard disk spiel. From the diagram above you can see what goes on inside your hard disk. It isn't hard to join the dots and understand that sooner rather than later gives you the best chance of the drive still working when you plug it into another device.

Step 1 is to remove the hard disk from your dead PC. The hard disk will look similar to that pictured at right and it will have some cables attached to it. Unplug the cables, be gentle because other cables will need to go back into those connectors, and carefully remove it from the PC. These things don't like bumps, drops or jarring so don't chuck it on the table unless you really never want it to work again. Place it carefully.

Step 2 is to take it to your friendly computer store and have them supply you with an External hard Disk case. This is just an empty box that will house your disk drive and allow it to be plugged into a USB socket on any other computer.

There are couple of different types & sizes of hard disk so be sure you get the right hard disk case for yours.

Ask them nicely and they may even install it for you, but it isn't too hard if you want to give it a go for yourself.

Step 3 is to plug it into a working computer and see what of the old data you can find.

Copy everything of importance to your new/working computer ASAP.

After all, we never can be sure just for how much longer this old hard disk WILL keep working. It wouldn't be the first time a drive has really gone completely toes-up after being asked one final favour.

Step 4 is to keep the old hard disk in its new home and make use of it as you see fit. If it proves to be working fine, and most do keep working for a considerable time after the failure of their host, then you now have a backup drive. Remember though, all hard disks are on borrowed time and this one has had a hard life already.

Use it but don't trust it 100% - it should only ever be a COPY of your data NOT the master or only source of your data.

Of course we can help you with all this if it still sounds too hard.

But isn't nice to know that the lump of a PC in your garage hasn't been taking up space for nothing and you can get you data back now!

Belkin EOP Adaptors - nice!

2011-11-23T10:35:00.001+11:00

Before I go any further there are people confused by the acronym. Sorry, I should know better than to do that to you.

EOP stands for Ethernet Over Power. Hmmm, that still means two thirds of nothing.

Belkin EOP Adaptors

Let's just say that EOP is an alternative wireless networks and having an electrician run cabling through your house.

I am not a fan of wireless networks. They never seem to deliver what the dude in the shop promises and then they fail and get confusing - encryption, passwords, limited range, hot spots, cold spots, next door neighbor using your Internet and so on.

Having your electrician run cables is the best option but not so good for renters or the hip pocket.

EOP is a technology that uses the existing power circuits of your house as a means for computers to communicate with each other.

The technology is not new but the concept is still new to many people.

The latest set I've installed for a client are the Belkin ones pictured here.

They are really nice and have a clever trick that most others don't. You can change the way they plug into the wall. They can either plug directly into a socket with a two prong adaptor on the back or they can use a lead adaptor which allows them to plug into a normal size socket and live on your desk.

Most EOP Adaptors just come as lumpy socket dwellers that mean nothing can plug in next to them. Not so with the Belkins.

The best part is that they just plug in and work - only this time it is true. There's no software, no installation CDs, no opening your computer or anything. Just plug them in and go.

You can even add adaptors, one-at-a-time, if you wish to expand your network.

It is IMPORTANT to note that the circuitry of your house or office may impact on the adaptors performance. If your house has new extensions and possibly new circuits as a result, the EOP Adaptors won't be able to jump circuits and hence won't be able to connect computers and devices across these zones. Make sure you can take them back if they don't work.

They either will work or not, there's no grey area here.

NOTE: Often in other brands EOP adaptors come in variable speeds i.e. you pay more for faster ones. Generally, unless you are sharing videos and other media around your house, there's no point to paying for "extra fast" if you are just browsing the web (the EOP adaptors will work faster than your internet connection so it won't be them slowing you down).

The Belkin ones shown currently cost about $100 via Techbuy. Bargain!

Virus Proof

2011-11-23T10:32:00.001+11:00

Lies & arrogance from my industry...I apologize on their behalf...

If anyone tells you or sells you a virus proof computer make sure you read the fine print.

It will probably say things like "never turn your computer on", "never connect it to the Internet", "never put a cd or floppy disk in it", "Never install any software"... in fact, to be sure never do anything with it other than what we say you can do with it.

If you want a computer that is practically unusable and doesn't do what YOU want then YES, you can have a virus proof computer.

Sadly, the whole point of what the virus writers do is to catch the computer industry with its pants down. Smart people trying to, and succeeding at , outsmarting other people who think they are smart. This means that what you or I have been told is "proof" today, they've found a way around tomorrow.

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is (a lie)!

Laptops, Batteries and Power Modes

2011-11-23T10:29:00.001+11:00

The things batteries do to you

Laptops are great...if you need to be mobile.

If you are stationery then maybe the premium you are thinking of paying for a laptop is a bit of a waste.

Laptops, because of their size and ability to cool themselves properly, will always run slower than an equivalently price desktop computer. You may recall reading in the media a couple of years back how people were actually being burnt because they, funnily enough, used their laptops on their laps!

Heat is the enemy of electronics and computers will slow themselves down to protect their central processing unit. The space around the CPU also makes for cooling problems.

Like your car, if you want it to go faster it needs more energy and needs to dissipate more heat as a result.

All this hot talk simply means that if you want your computer to go fast relatively cheaply and you don't need to be mobile, spend your money on a desktop and not a laptop.

Also, because laptops get carted around, they tend to fail earlier than desktop computers. Electronics don't like to be moved either. Those of you who've been subjected to my hard disk analogy will no doubt understand the dangers of moving those guys around.

The other minefield with laptops is battery technology. Oh my Dog! The things that go on with batteries and the problems they occur you wouldn't believe.

For example, many people don't know that the various sleep modes of a laptop still actually use power and if you don't turn them on again before the battery goes flat your laptop will power off completely anyway. So only use Sleep and Suspend modes when you understand their limitations and when you know you'll be returning to your laptop soon to use it again.

Sleep and suspend modes are imperfect beasts too. they are not a substitute for shutting down your computer properly. Do that at the very least once a week. I'd do it daily if I were you!

Also, the fact that your laptop has a battery in it means that sometimes the reverse applies...it may never properly power down. If your laptop goes into a weird sort of limbo try removing the battery for 5 minutes and then restarting it.

Different laptops behave in different ways with batteries. Some refuse to operate without a battery installed while others will happily truck along with the battery out and the power adaptor plugged in.

Make sure you read and adhere to the manufacturers battery cycling recommendations. If you don't your battery may end up just being dead weight you carry around as opposed to a power source. You may think it a cop out that I say that here, but there are so many types that generic advice is nearly useless aside from RTFM.

Reboot well my friends.

David Moore

Just in time - The key to buying computer equipment at reasonable prices

2011-11-22T15:20:00.001+11:00

Just how much is enough when buying a computer?

It is a question I often get asked and the answer is different every time.

If I was to state a number in this article, right away I'd be open for ridicule and the longevity of the information would be microscopic. Sadly, a little further down I'll have no choice but to record some numbers. Worry not though, I have a way around this.

Read on for the secret to buying technology.

The rules I use around buying computers and just how much of anything you should buy are these:

Buy just enough and
Buy just in time

Let's use a simple example to clarify this concept.

Say you need some extra storage, hard disk space in this case. Right now the largest size External Hard disk I've found for $199 is 2000GB (or 2 terabytes).

In today's terms that is quite a lot and I am sure if you hunted around a bit more you could do better.

Now without looking into the crystal ball, let's see what we can get for $399. A quick search shows that the maximum I can get for that price is 3000GB (or 3 Terabytes). You can get that much for slightly less than $399 but that is still the maximum I can get for that price.

So right away you can see that purchasing two 2000GB drives is the same price as buying one 3 Terabyte drive yet it provides you 25% more storage.

But let's think about this further. We all know that storage is getting cheaper. This happens almost weekly. So considering that it is unlikely that you'd fill your 750MBs right away why would you pay for all of them now when, in 6 to 12 months time, you'd be able to get them for half the price?

Thinking further still we realise that every hard disk will fail (yes even your external backup hard disks). It is also generally true that newer drives fail less than older drives. So does it make sense to have one large one with everything on it from the last year or two? No, of course not. So, other backup considerations aside, if you have 6 months worth of stuff on one drive and more recent stuff on a new drive it is clear that the current important data is safer.

By buying just in time and just enough you save yourself money, increase your storage capacity and improve the reliability of your backups.

If that makes sense to you then hold onto your hats.

The exact same set of principles applies to how you go about purchasing your entire range of computing needs. Bleeding edge is always bleedingly expensive. Just enough is just about right. You can spend $2000 on a good computer today or $4000 on a great computer, which is maybe only really 25% better, and still have to replace either purchase in 2 years time.

So here's a rule of thumb that you may find useful:

Ask your tech salesperson to show you the most expensive computer related gadget on the floor. Calculate half to 35 to 50% off the price they tell you for that gadget. Now ask them to show you the best one for that price.

Buy the cheaper machine!

I'll probably be murdered in my sleep for telling you the above but the choice is yours. Of course, budget should be your overriding factor in technology purchases. Never ask a salesman to show you what they think you need. If you can afford to buy in the value band then the above strategy is pretty good.

Buy well my friends.

David Moore

Get on better with your computer

2011-11-22T15:13:00.001+11:00

Below are some quick and simple tips and tricks to get your and your computer on better terms:

Some computer manufacturers, usually laptops for some reason but some desktops too, format the one physical hard disk into two logical hard disks i.e. disk C: and disk D: and never tell you about it.

They usally make the C: drive just big enough for the operating system and not much more.
This means after a relatively short time you get disk full message s and poor performance from your computer.

Often I find that people don't even know they have a D: drive and are battling on trying to squeeze everything they've got onto a small C: drive.

So the tip, check to see if you have a D: drive and see how big it is and start putting your photos and documents onto it.

IMPORTANT: If your D: drive is small and called something like "Recovery" or "System Restore" don't touch it. If it is called data and has nothing on it go for your life!

I've found another internet speed test that I quite like:
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/speedtest

I've also found a nice new FREE File Synchronisation Tool:
http://allwaysync.com/index.html
Use it when Synctoy is letting you down.

The loss of Outlook type-ahead *.nk2 files can be painful for some people.
These are the files where Outlook stores the data it uses to anticipate which email address you are typing in and prompt you before you have to type the whole thing.
Some great information here about how to back them up and migrate them:
http://www.ingressor.com/autocompletetips.htm

Your *nk files can be found here-ish on Vista:
C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook

You should also install this free Outlook backup (pfbackup.exe) program from Microsoft and mnake sure you put the backed up PST files offsite somewhere on a regular basis:
http://tinyurl.com/4s68u

Lastly, here's a nice new tool that allows you to synchronise and share files over the internet:
http://www.dropbox.com/
It is a BETA product at the moment so use with caution, but the concept give collaboration opportunities to small business at no cost.

Quick tips and tricks...

2011-11-22T15:00:00.001+11:00

Below are some quick and simple tips and tricks that should help lift your productivity with minimal effort:

Dragging and dropping

Did you know that selecting an object and dragging it around your desktop, perhaps placing it on another object, will make things happen.

for example...

a) Dragging emails out of outlook and into folders is a good way to save important emails and reduce the size of your PST file

Drag onto program

b) Dragging a picture onto a program will open the program with that picture in it provided that program is capable of showing you the picture e.g. drag a photo onto your Internet Explorer icon and see what happens.

Drag box open to select

c) Selecting some empty space around some icons on your desktop and dragging the result selection box around them will result in all those items being selected.

Multiple Web Browsers

Make sure you always have at least 2 working web browser e.g. Mozilla Firefox AND Internet Explorer.

The reason for this is that if one stops working for any reason ytou can still browse the web to find a solution. If your ONLY web browser fails how do you Google for a fix?

Zipping and unzipping FREE

Sometimes the built in zipping (file compression tools) don't cut the mustard and you may not want to pay for Winzip.

In that case try out 7Zip. It is FREE and handles most jobs pretty well in Vista and XP.

Diary and mobile phone madness

Try synchronising your mobile phone with your calendar and address book of choice. Synchronisng your calendar and contacts can make life very conveneint AND in the event of a disaster with one device or the other you have a backup of your most important people's information.

The Design of Every Day Things...

2011-11-22T14:47:00.001+11:00

Donald Norman wrote this book quite some years back. The books explores how design affects us, why some things never work and why some things behave like pure genius.

If you find yourself always pulling on the door open that needs top be pushed, turning on the wrong hotplate on your stove or always clicking on the wrong thing then this book is for you.

I first read it when I was a software testing consultant and it seemed like pure genius back then and it still does now.

Norman cites fantastic examples of how design has failed us.

Where design for the sake of design makes us feel stupid and how poor design leaves us no choice but to feel cheated.

Poor design is more than frustrating - it kills! Remember when Airbuses were flying into mountains with scary regularity?

Norman idenitifes the root cause of this - the design of a multifunction display where the only visible difference between two vastly different descent slopes was one tiny red dot on a digital read out.

One of the clearest revelations for me was a thing called "Natural Affordances". These are things that can be built into the design of things to make them usable without thought. For example, if you put a flat panel on a swinging door people will naturally push it. If you put a know or a handle in the same place people will naturally pull it. If the door only swings one way guess what happens if you put these things on the wrong side of the door? Sound familiar?

I found the book quite liberating. Where in the past I thought my brain was failing me and embarrased at mistakes I was making with simple objects I began to realise that the failure happened well before I was involved.

Since then it has been quite fun spotting the bad design in the world around me. My favourite example is the all stainless steel lift well in the Macquarie Bank building in Sydney. Everything, every door, every wall is stainless steel. This includes the flush mounted doors to the bathrooms rendering them invisible. To compound the problem the labels on the door are at knee height and just "etched" into the surface. So to find the door you have to bend over and feel your way along until one of the walls moves. Seriously!

The lesson? Stop feeling bad about what your computer does to you and let's get on with making it do what you want.

Same, Same? Oh, no, no!

2011-11-21T14:37:00.001+11:00

Have you ever noticed that what you've sent someone is not how it looks when they get it?

Occasionally I get asked how to guarantee that what one person sends the recipient will see exactly as intended.

The answer is there is NO guarantee because it can't be done.

Creating and sending document's in Adobe's PDF (portable document format) is about the closest you'll get to that guarantee but it is not perfect.

NOTE: The best FREE way to turn your documents and things you want to email into PDFs is with CutePDF -

http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp

The reasons for this are many. For example, the program that created the document s not the same as the one displaying it at the other end, people's personal settings for screen size and font preferences may override those in the document, resources such as fonts and images used at the creator's end may not be available at the recipients end...

...and further still things such as the type of monitor you have and its ability to accurately reproduce colours has an effect.

What about your printer? Did you know that its capabilities have an impact on the layout of your document and, when your document is sent to someone else, their printer similarly makes some demands on layout.

So what is the answer?

Simplicity is always a good idea to help with portability of your documents but in the end you just have to take a deep breath and let it go. Sorry.

Beefing up the broadband you've already got

2011-11-21T14:29:00.001+11:00

If you've been on a broadband for over 12 months you may find that you are on an obsolete plan and, for the same money, may be able to upgrade to a faster plan or one with a bigger download limit OR both for no extra cost!

Just log onto to your ISP's web site and compare plans and choose. The changes are usually implemented that night!

Be wary of paying for increases the fastest possible speeds as these speed promises are rarely ever delivered in the real world.

Read the cavaets on the web site or your contract to see just how many ways the telcos admit they can't deliver what you just signed up for.

Don't belive me?

Check what plan you have, especially if you think you have a fast one, and then test your actual internet speed through the following web sites:

http://speedtest.net/

http://www.zdnet.com.au/broadband/speedtest.htm

http://www.ozspeedtest.com/

Passwords - some extra tips...

2011-11-21T14:24:00.001+11:00

Password creation and changing strategies need some attention from time to time.

A lot of web sites will email you your password in plain text when you first create it, forget it or when you change it.

The problem with this is that email is not secure. The potential for someone else to read your password and then try to use it is increased significantly.

To overcome this use a "disposable" password first, then change it to a real one you like and can remember after you are happy with the web site and service they provide.

This also gives you the chance to see if your new details are emailed to you in plain sight. If you use your favourite password first and you get it sent back to you you then need to chage it everywhere else you've used it before someone else does!

The picture at left is pretty clever.

While including the reversal of words in your password is a good idea, it is not the only thing you should be doing to any single password to make it hard to guess.

Using single strategies in your passwords is risky e.g. family birthdays, anniversary, pet names, middle names, reversed words, all letters, all numbers etc. etc.

It is best to mix up at least two of these ideas to create any one password you may use. For example "lov3HAT3" is better than simple "hate" or lovehate".

The more complex the better and using combined strategies helps you remember the password over writing it down. If you must write it down, write down the strategy and a hint, don't write down the password itself.

Stay secure, David

What is the most valuable part of your pc?

2011-11-21T14:20:00.001+11:00

If you think about it objectively you'll probably decide it is the stuff that you and you alone have created. The proprietary information, the valuable documents, the presentations, the email correspondence, the irreplaceable memories and so on.

So let me ask you this, how long did it take you to create those things? How long would it take you to recreate them...if you even could!? How much is your time worth now as opposed to how much it was worth when you created them? Have you backed the them up? Off site? When?

Did you know that every hard disk, where your data lives, regardless of computer brand allegiance, WILL FAIL! Hard disk have a 100% failure rate - time is the only variable.

Scary huh!

If you don't know what those important things are perhaps you should work out what programs and features you use - keep a daily log for a week or so.

Once you know what important programs you use, find out where their data is...or have someone find out for you.

This is isn't about fear, it is about being prepared for the inevitable.
I want your data to survive the inevitable.

Yes, I am talking about back-ups.

Some final thoughts to ponder and factor into your back-up strategy:

Keep a person in the loop.
Magic doesn't happen in back-up land.
As good as we are we can't always get your data back.

Treat your computer right...

2011-11-21T14:17:00.001+11:00

Treat your computer right...
...or else.

Here's a little video that explains clearly why you should treat your PC with respect.

Ever wondered what these weird squares are?

2011-11-18T18:47:00.003+11:00

Ever wondered what these weird squares are? I have seen them popping up everywhere, including business cards and magazines. The last time I was at my local video store, I noticed they were even decorating the shelves beneath each movie.

They are called QR Codes which is short for 'quick response' codes. If you want to see for yourself how fast the information in them can be accessed, just whip out your iphone (or any smart phone with a camera and a QR code reader app) and point it at the square on the left.
The main advantage is that the QR code carries meaningful information in the vertical direction as well as the horizontal, hence the two-dimensional term. By carrying information in both directions, QR code can carry up to several hundred times the amount of data carried by an ordinary bar code. This makes it ideal to display all your contact details in an interactive manner, or even link to digital content on the web, activate a number of phone functions including email, IM and SMS; and connect the mobile device to a specific web browser. In the movie store where I saw them, they linked the customer to the relevant movie trailer to help people decide which movie to choose
Try generating your own using a website like this: http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
The internet has no shortage of free QR generators. Likewise you can take your pick of free QR readers from Itunes apps. For some great information on possible uses of the QR code in your business, as well as a little background history, here are some starting points:
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-qr-codes-can-grow-your-business/
http://searchengineland.com/what-is-a-qr-code-and-why-do-you-need-one-27588

Why Isn't This Available on Android?

2011-11-18T14:12:00.001+11:00

If you ever wondered why developers always seem to target the iPhone first, why many organisations only develop apps for iPhone and deploy mobile sites for other devices or why the apps on Android for instance never seem as polished as their iPhone counterparts, here is a bit of background for you.

Let's start with how many different models of iPhone are available. Here's a photo from Minimally Minimal (a rather apt name :-)).

As you can see, there's a sum total of four. Three which have the same case. One of which is an older design. The important point however, is that they all have the same screen aspect ratio and run the exact same operating system. So, what this means is that a developer can simply create one version of their application and be confident that it runs on all current iPhone devices. It also means that because the 'canvas' is standard, the quality of the user interface can be much more highly polished. An unknown is removed and coding is not reliant on a lowest common denominator approach. Add to this, though iOS marketshare is about half of Android marketshare, the iPhone takes the top two places in unit sales. Therefore, developing for the iPhone means developing for the highest selling device (as distinct from platform).

Yes, but, Android sells more devices. Therefore the market is larger right? Well, yes and no...

Cocoia blog recently put together an interesting image as to just how many Android devices are available for sale just in the US and just on the AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon carriers.

Now, that's a lot of phones. These are all Android phones. However, the phones differ both in the version of Android that they are running, and generally, it isn't easily possible (if at all) to upgrade the operating system to a newer version. Add to this the custom user interfaces and software installed by both the manufacturer and then the carrier and it makes things even more complex (by the way, the buzzword term for this is known as 'bloatware' or 'crapware' which sort of explains the general consensus).

The most complicating factor of all comes down to the myriad form factors and screen sizes. For a developer, this is their worst nightmare. It means that a project has to be started with a website mentality. Meaning, coding and designing to the lowest common denominator should the developer wish to target the widest possible audience.

A specific device, could, in theory be targeted, but this would mean limiting to a much smaller market. The lifecycle of Android devices is also much more rapid than iPhone, and the replacement device from the manufacturer will invariably run a different operating system, and will have a different form factor. Therefore, the investment in developing for a specific device is also dependent on that lifecycle.

In contrast, Apple's philosophy with the iPhone is keep a standard screen ratio and operating system, that protects the investment of the developer and allows them to easily move forward as the platform advances.

This post hasn't touched on the issues of piracy, security and audience profile, which are three other key factors that also influence a developer's platform decision.

So there you have it. The short answer as to why apps aint apps and hopefully a helpful answer to the perennial Android question of 'Why isn't this available on Android?'.

More desires and fears addressed...

2011-11-17T14:08:00.001+11:00

More desires and fears addressed...

A while back I asked my clients what it was that they feared about having their computer fixed by an "IT guy" or what it may be they wanted from them?

Here I'll address some more of the issues raised by your responses...

"I feel such a dumpty when it comes to my computer. I am badly organised with my folders and how I save things. At times I can not find what I know I have saved.
Can I be redeemed?? Is there any hope?"

A. Don't worry, you are far from alone. People usually feel frustrated and dumb with computers because of poor design. The software or device you are trying to use is not intuitive to use. Some computer geek someone has created something complicated and technical to satisfy their desires rather than your needs.

Often all that is needed is a bit of help with understanding some basic concepts. Ask your computer person to provide you with an analogy that suits you.

There are also simple ways to search for these things because everyone loses something sooner or later.

YES, there is hope :-)

"My main fear is how long it will take to fix and what that will cost me. Particularly that I only work a few hours a week consequently income is static and low!"

A. Quite often what appears to be one problem is actually a conglomeration of accumulated problems. Getting to the root of an issue may indeed take more time than anticipated.

However, your computer person should provide a clear pricing structure, offer you an estimate and clearly communicate any change to that estimate as the work progresses.

In that way you can set a budget up front and decide how you want to proceed without surprises.

Sometimes this may mean changes in the way you work rather than actually fixing a problem.

For example, installing a second web browsing and using it instead of Internet Explorer will bypass issues without needing to solve them.

"My frustration is that I'm in I.T and am supposed to be able to work this stuff out for myself"

A. So much of the population has declared computers and technology "user friendly" or "easy to use" that we all feel a lot of pressure to know everything these days.

We are also trying to save money by fixing things ourselves and quite often achieving the opposite - making things worse and more expensive.

As much as I like to keep learning I am pretty sure I'll never know everything ;-).

So I pay the right people to do the job, free myself up to do the things I do best and get my life back.

TBC...

I Hate My PC - we love it when your computer works for you...

Double-click BONUS!

Video Capture and Conversion

Were you infected by the Australia Day virus?

Old computers & tech' blow your mind with the prices...

So the world ends this year...again...

Time Machine for PCs

Keeping Kids Safe on The Internet

"That's the coolest thing I've ever seen!"

Absurd Absolutes...The NBN...

Mapped Drives Speed Tweak/Fix

100+ Keyboard shortcuts - OMG! That many?

WAR - Technology vs Parking Cops...

Males and multi-tasking

Web Site security not so secure (just don't go there)

Tree Size, what?

When did anything on the internet pretend to be private?

Rats in the kitchen...I mean office...

The Best "Get a Mac" Parodies, can you spot a theme?

Flashback to one of my Apple eras...

The well meaning friend who "knows about computers"

The Difference between Nerd, Dork, and Geek Explained by a Venn Diagram

Don't wait for the politicians...

62 Projects to Make with a Dead Computer: (And Other Discarded Electronics)

What do we want? Shiny objects! When do we want them? NOW!

Stupid oversight, simple solution

Beating the email cheaters...

Less humour, more toilet...

Mouse without Borders - simple remote control of multiple computers

If you are like me, when you've got multiple computers running you often find yourself typing on one keyboard and expecting things to happen on another machine altogether.

MWB solves this frustration intuitively.

It allows you to control multiple computers on your local network amazingly easily.Once the software is installed on all PCs, your mouse can simply move from one screen of one PC to the next (as if you had a multiple monitor set up) and all keyboard input automatically goes to the other machine.

I need a server!

WARNING: Hoax support phone calls happening right now!

Brain melting Next G wireless internet

Mac antivirus software - FREE

Freaking me out...

Hello Mr David, how are you today?

Pay now, patch later...

Windows XP Still Lives - Virtually

More Wireless/Wi-Fi troubleshooting tips

Managing the Email Overload

The scams look more and more real...

I built the first computer I owned...

Yummy Yards - Where Ink Cartridges Are Reborn

TechNet Windows 7 Tips from Microsoft...

Pretty Wallpaper & Digital Photo Tips

SETI, not Yeti...

Mactini -The Peter Serafinowicz Show Christmas Special.

Mactini -The Peter Serafinowicz Show Christmas Special. Pretty accurate but his black shirt needs more polo in the neck :-)

iToilet - The Peter Serafinowicz Show Christmas Special

iToilet - The Peter Serafinowicz Show Christmas Special iPlop, we all do. It will supplant the iPhone as the device everyone has to have.

Microsoft Office - is it there or not?

30 Tips for using social media

There ain't no such thing as "best practice"

Funny things...

A bunch of tips worth hearing again...

Aunty David - PC Agony Aunt and Weirdo

Sonia Says...cool keyboard shortcuts & Outlook appointment handling

Modem Schmodem

Q: I've lost my Recovery Discs or didn't have any in the box when I purchased my computer

Google Sketch-Up

I had cause to revisit this today :-)

Refurbishing your computer...

How much will a web site cost?

Registry Cleaner Snake Oil

Save money with your computer person...

Seasonal computing

Sacrifices and honey traps...

How To Retrieve Lost Passwords, Product Keys and More...

→ Google's Android Market estimated to earn just 7% of what Apple's App Store makes

The X-perience Files - hot stuff...

Fed up with spending thousands on printer cartridges?

Have you ever had the need to print more than one document at a time?

Are your USB sockets playing up?

Here's what I want NEXT in Portable Navigation Systems

Stop, reverse it, sorted!

The secret of tech' support (tell no-one)...

Save the clock tower...

Disaster Recovery - more than just backups

It allows you to control multiple computers on your local network amazingly easily.
Once the software is installed on all PCs, your mouse can simply move from one screen of one PC to the next (as if you had a multiple monitor set up) and all keyboard input automatically goes to the other machine.

Mactini -The Peter Serafinowicz Show Christmas Special.
Pretty accurate but his black shirt needs more polo in the neck :-)

iToilet - The Peter Serafinowicz Show Christmas Special

iPlop, we all do. It will supplant the iPhone as the device everyone has to have.