Vortex Canon

The things we do in our spare time...

That's a Stupid Question!

Wrong!  The only stupid question is one not asked... if you have a question about something, instead of doing nothing about it, thinking it will either get worse at which time you will then worry about it, or it will go away and you won't have to worry about it.  The sooner I  know of something not quite right, the better chance I will have of correcting/repairing the problem before it becomes a bench job.

When it rains it pours and then it floods!

I got an emergency call, only this time it was to my own home... apparently with the recent hail storm we just had, the water from the street decided to make a detour through my garage and basement.. computers are at the other end of the house fortunately!

TIP-Internet Explorer, should I install it? Even if I don't use it?

Should you be installing the Internet Explorer version 8 if/when you are prompted during a windows update?  My answer would be, "yes", but why if you don't ever use it because you use the AVANT BROWSER or FIREFOX or the newcomer CHROME?  The reason is because with any new program, it has options and these options will allow you to customize the use, or non-use of the program and will also help with the built in windows security at the same time, since part of all of the windows operating system (to date) uses the 'explorer' as part of the main frame of the operating system.

Health and Headaches=sleep!

I know I have blogged about how important ones health is and for myself, pretty much doing something technically related all the time I am awake is probably not going to help the health issues when that means cutting in to what is necessary for everyone and that is sleep... Typically I will start to get a headache if I am either tired or hungry and in both cases, I would deal with it, quite possibly taking a nap if I can, for a few hours... 

For the past 6 months I have been able to monitor my sleep by using a sleep app on my iPod touch and it is consistently low... I mean 2 hours below the average 8. I have attempted to work on this by getting more sleep (I thought) but then early Thursday morning I started to get what ended up being what I know was a serious migraine and after a hot bath, 2 extra strength Tylenol, then 2 more after the bath, I was able to sleep..and sleep I did.. waking up with what I would classify as a small headache still but knowing what I did have, it was much better.. only 1 hour awake, I felt it coming back, and so off to bed I went... well, now after a full 13 hour sleep session the pain has subsided... and for me 2 days worth of getting nothing done... but I quickly realize how that is where my all of these problems begin, with the attitude that I can go long periods of time without sleep may be true, but sooner or later it will catch up with you, if you don't also pay attention and get that right amount of sleep, you will be sorry.  So, now dealing with what I would have to say is the worst headache of my life, I recognize this importance. (why is it something bad has to happen before we realize these sorts of things?)...

Anyway if you were waiting for help from me, I do apologize and hope the last two days of what was obviously much needed rest, I will research a much healthier person.. but don't expect any long work sessions for the next while, as I am really going to make an effort to get that sleep average back in to human standards!

Carbonite introduces remote file recovery

I am a firm believer in file safety and that means knowing your files are safe, even if your computer hard drive completely crashes.  This is why I promote the use of the Carbonite backup service.  If knowing your important data on your computer is safe is not good enough for you because you wished you could restore a file from any other computer in the world, now you can!  Carbonite has now got remote file recovery.

Ways to speed up a slow computer-TIP

As the internet speeds increase, with a fast computer you can really appreciate the increased internet speeds, but with an old computer that may not have the processing power of the newer ones, this shouldn't mean you too can't enjoy some of the benefits of faster internet speeds as well.

The obvious malware/spyware issues need to be dealt with on any computer and for this I suggest reading the TIPS on OPTIMIZING and then install the free utilities available through the SOFTWARE/SUPPORT page.  But there are many other things you can be doing from a web point of view.

Firstly, if you have been retrieving your mail through an email program such as outlook express, outlook, thunderbird or other, try using the web-based email. Most internet providers provide this through the use of a web browser, logging in to your email account.  An example in Canada for Telus would be http://webmail.telus.net and for Shaw it would be http://webmail.shaw.ca

You can try "webmail." whatever your email domain is and might get their directly but you can check with your internet provider to be sure.  Next, because you are now using the web browser to get your email, you should be using a FAST browser and for that, you can't get any faster (currently) then the Google Chrome browser with Firefox a close second and Safari as well, although this is more prominent with Mac machines. 

If you happen to be using the other Google products like GMAIL then you will truly enjoy how Chrome works. If this is to be any indication as to where the Google operating system will be in the internet marketplace, I believe they will be a true competitor to the current Microsoft position in the marketplace.

Finally, with the May release of the Windows 7 Beta Public Release Candidate being made available to everyone, and the fact that it will continue to work until next June 1, 2010, there is no better time for an old machine to upgrade, since the biggest hardware upgrade you will need to make is making sure you have a minimum of 512mb of memory and a 1 ghz processor.  This is a great way to get your system up to date with all the latest available security patches and updates, by getting the latest operating system, especially since Windows XP will soon be out of product support by Microsoft.  And, since you will have until next June to actually purchase the new operating system, you might find that you simply end up upgrading your computer next June and not even buying the operating system since you would be buying an entirely new computer, one that comes with Windows 7 installed... it's just a thought, and certain one that can have you enjoying the increased internet speeds.  Oh, and if you haven't already contacted your internet provider to take advantage of the increased speeds they offer, I highly suggest it, as the typical $5-$10 increase in your monthly bill you will find your productivity on the internet increases as you have the ability to multi-task at higher speeds! 

Today's Goal-Get through my Inbox!-Priorities

It seems no matter how hard you try to stay organized and on top of things, there is always one item that gets put aside in order for something else to get done as it has been given a higher priority.  Currently dealing with many lost calls thanks to the great service of Telus Mobility... their days are numbered for me as I believe I am about to make the move to ..one of the other two available.. Bell or Rogers.. but that is another post altogether. 

If you are a Google Email user then you already know of the features, the simple fact is they make it easy to stay organized. With the use of the IMAP server, it not only allows you to use GMAIL directly but also any other email program that supports IMAP server settings.  Their guide for beginners is a great place to start with the GETTING STARTED GUIDE.

I was born for the digital age I guess.

I have been told from those who know me, that I have a very clinical way of thinking about things.. I like to think of it as being logical...when someone says to me, "The world is not just black and white, there are many shades of gray".. and I agree with this but when asked whether something is right or wrong that can also bring up many possible solutions, some right and some wrong, depending on just how much detail you are basing the question on.  But from a digital perspective, it is either right or wrong, or on or off, there can be no in between (directly).  So at any time I am 'teaching' someone how to use some program, it is always the very basics as with any software program, the more you use it, the more you will understand it and, depending on how creative and adventurous you are with that program, you will go searching for what the program is capable of doing by either clicking on things you have no clue what they are for and will find out when you press it or you will look for instruction on how to use it. This is where you should always remember the F1 key as in many cases this will open the programs 'help' but not only that, but the actual help with respect to just where you are within that program. This is a no-brainer if you have tried it within Windows itself, but should not be forgotten when using a computer.  This is why I always suggest looking for the programs 'preferences' or 'options' or sometimes called 'tools' as this will, if nothing else, show you what the program is capable of doing by the way you can configure things from within the preferences. 

Iphone roaming tips for Canadians

Good iphone tips for roaming when I get an iphone that is.

Helping one so that I can help many

It might sound a little like a star trek saying but it is what it is.

I am currently at a retreat (so to speak) in hopes that what I learn
will help hundreds, if not thousands or even millions as I like to set
my goals VERY high!

Unfortunately part of this retreat requires that my ties with the
outside world be shut off, closed, or simply "otherwise indisposed" at
the current time and in no way does this mean your questions and cries
for help will go without being heard. They will however, have to be
answered in the order in which they were received once I return to
this earth/normal programming.

Sleep is important!

So many questions so little time.

It seems I am always so overwhelmed when I stop and think about what there is to be done. There is always something that needs to get done and so it is I see myself constantly making decisions via priority. Depending on how much time you take to come up with a solution and just how long do you go before you realize that you forgot to place "health" in to the equation....

Since I purchased my ipod touch back in January, I also purchased a 'sleep app' which keeps track of my sleep average and it wasn't long before I recognized I was certainly NOT getting the required 8 hours of sleep and was a little shocked to see it just over 6 hours!  Currently it sits at 6.3 so I have a long way to go, but I am aware of this and that is the first step.

Official Google Blog: Introducing the Google Chrome OS

Official Google Blog: Introducing the Google Chrome OS

Time for a Rant-Slow computer?

If there is one thing I CAN NOT STAND is when I have someone complaining that their computer is slower when it is returned to them after I have worked on it. In fact this is so far from the truth that it pains me to even write about it! My entire goal is to not only clean out the junk but to OPTIMIZE the computer to get the most out of it that you can and that would obviously mean it is going to be faster then when you had it last. Without changing the operating system and just performing the various cleaning tasks, utilizing the software tools you can find on the SOFTWARE/SUPPORT page and reading the OPTIMIZING TIPS, can have you providing your own speed tests to confirm what I already know.. but to actually hear people complaining that their computer is slower is just ridiculous and if nothing else, a slap to my face. Do you really think I would return a computer to you if it was SLOWER than when I picked it up?

This brings me to the awesomeness of Windows 7... coming from an XP machine, bypassing Vista altogether, may have some scratching their heads a little, but to think your system is slower? I don't think so.. the problem is that you are having to quite possibly think a little more, since things are not laid out the way you once had things, but to think the system is slower is preposterous! And then I get the next statement that drives me through the roof, "I want to go back to XP" ! OMG are you kidding me? Do you really think Microsoft is just spinning their wheels and not doing anything at all? Do you really think that with all the negative press that Vista received, and the fact that the latest Windows 7 is truly proving to be a serious operating system (in my opinion, the best they have ever made), that they are going to need to hear that people don't like it to the point that they want to go back, and not even to Vista, but two operating systems before the latest one? This is simply crazy talk and in my opinion, (after all, this is what my blog post is all about.. my opinion) if you seriously believe windows XP is BETTER than windows 7, then I seriously do not want to have anything to do with you.. just go away, find some tech. from 1990 that will help you out.

How to get through all of your RSS feeds

Mark all as read!

Yes, it seems even by choosing to read from newest to oldest, I am
having to mark all as read after being about 10 days past today as the
news is just too old. With over 2000 unread RSS news messages how do
you get through it all? I believe there is just too much information
out there and it is up to each individual to choose just how important
it is to read through it all. For me, I have decided I just can't let
it go as long as I have without reading it and have decided I would
only go back 2 weeks, since most of the information older then this is
simply too out dated.