Always Searching . . .

This is an early review.  Firefox version 4 was just released and as with some previous versions outstrips the competition.  It’s fast, recognizes and accepts most add-ins, has no problem with Flash or Adobe Reader and works splendidly on every website I have accessed. . . which is to say that it works better than Internet Explorer 8 or 9 or even Google Chrome. Tabs are cleaner and you can select to keep some tabs open--tabs that you access on a regular basis, like email, news, Ebay or other sites.  Tabs can be grouped so if you’re shopping or researching you can keep similar tabs together however this requires some fine tuning and did not work well for me.  

I checked the new version on popular websites.  Local and national newspapers look fantastic, Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace open quickly and display properly.  Even my cabin site which failed to display properly in Internet Explorer 9, works wonderfully in Firefox version 4 as does my main computer site.   In fact, these pages all function faster and better than they did in any previous browsers. 

Now for the add-ons (extensions).  Off all the add-ons I had installed, the only two which were NOT compatible with Firefox Version 4, were the Norton Toolbar (not important:  the Norton security features continue to work) and the Logmein extension (not essential, the main program continues to work).

Some later news on Internet Explorer.  As much as I applaud Microsoft’s attempts to create a better browser.  I still prefer Firefox.  Some of my clients have had problems printing in Internet Explorer 9, and many experienced a failure to complete the install.  For quick and easy internet, quick and easy install, Firefox version 4 is my choice.

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Adobe has done it again.  Released a new Reader as a separate download without providing it by update.  Why do they continue to do this?  I don’t know.  But to get Adobe Reader X (or 10) you will need to download it.  You can click here to download it.  Its installer runs in your browser, so if the installer is not already installed you will have to assent to its installation.  Once that is finished and your browser has restarted, it will allow you to install Adobe Reader X.  After that, you merely have to wait until it’s finished.

Norton 360 has a new edition, also, and it will not update itself.  You can obtain the new version here.  Click on Start Download on the top right of the web page.  Install is straightforward and your computer will need to be rebooted.  Nothing needs to be changed after it is installed. 

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Internet Explorer 9 has just been released for Windows 7 users.  Sorry, but everyone else can stop reading now.  Internet Explorer 9 comes in two varieties:  one for 32-bit operating systems and one for 64-bit operating systems.  How do you know which you have?  Click on Control Panel, System & Security, System, then look at System Type on the window in front of you.  It will tell you whether you have a 32-bit or 64-bit system.  Download and installation was very fast, but you must reboot your computer to use it.  First use is very fast, also and Internet Explorer 9 informs you if any addons are slowing it down and gives you the option to disable them.  You should not disable Adobe Reader or Adobe Flash, Microsoft Office and any addons for your internet security product.  However, if you disable an add-on but need it later, it’s a simple matter to reenable it.  Where can you download Internet Explorer 9?  Anywhere you see Internet Explorer 9 in this email.

Security. How does Internet Explorer 9 help keep you secure.  When you click on a website link you want to know that it will take you where you think you are going.  Internet Explorer 9 gives you information on web links whenever you move your cursor over one.  The information is displayed on the lower left side of your browser window.  This lets you examine it.  If you are clicking on a link to your bank, it should obviously have your bank’s name in the link.  If you are clicking on a link to Amazon, that name should be in the display.  Please note that I and others use third party referrers which route your link through a third party site.  For instance it may say kqyfzj.com or jdoqocy.com.  The third party sites are used to track usage of my website.  They are not dangerous.  Nothing on any of my websites (http://helpwithmycomputer.net or http://sciotocabin.com or any other website I use carries any danger.  If, however, you worry about where the link might take you, type into your address bar where you want to go and don’t use the link.

The Look.  Internet Explorer 9 is streamlined.  See the picture below. You can see that the top is streamlined with just forward and back buttons on the left.  On the right, are home, favorites, tools.  Everything you don’t see is found under tools.  The only thing you will see on the bottom are downloads when you are downloading.  And speaking of downloads, they are easier to use than ever.  If there is anything else you would like to know about Internet Explorer 9, please contact me.

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LibreOffice builds on OpenOffice, which I have recommended to some of you in the past.  Once again, the major functional difference between these products and Microsoft Office is Microsoft Office’s personal information manager, Outlook. If you need email and calendar and notes and tasks and contacts on your computer, you need Outlook.  Outlook alone costs about $150.  If you can survive without Outlook (I can’t), then LibreOffice is for you. 

 

It improves on the functions of OpenOffice by recognizing and allowing you to edit more formats and even lets you edit Adobe Acrobat (pdf) documents, although this function is not as easy as editing a regular text document.  I first tried to stretch its boundaries by opening a large and roughly formatted document that I had written in Word 2010.  This is my novel and it’s about half finished.  It has headers, double-spacing, embedded pictures, and different justifications within a page.  It’s about 50,000 words, 180 pages, and it is formatted and saved in Microsoft Open Document format.  The book imported properly except the first part, maybe a third of the pages were single-spaced. 

 

I next tried opening several types of pdf documents.  I tried a text document (my novel) and maps and brochures from various sources.  The text document worked well, however editing is much slower than editing a standard text document.  The brochures could only be edited as they were created:  as picture and text boxes.  This was difficult and very time consuming and I would recommend using LibreOffice only for very minor edits. 

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It’s possibly premature to announce my book of the year in January, but this book was published in 2009.  I recently read it and could not put it down.  (OK, I had to put it down a few times to cry or think).  The book covers her past and present all at the same time and you think it would be confusing, but it’s not.  It asks the question, what if you life was on course with no hesitation and God calls you to do something else?  What does God’s call look like?  How do you relate to Him?  If you liked The Shack, this is so much better, they are not even in the same class.  I read one of the author’s other novels and immediately gave it away because I didn’t like it.  This, however, is well written, poignant and if it has any failing, it’s the end where she rapidly covers years that we might wish took another half book.  Even with that fault, if it is one, I recommend this book to everyone who wants to follow God.

The Passion of Mary-Margaret

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How to Restore Internet
A few simple steps

When you lose internet, the world stops. Well, not really, but your access to it might.  Here's what you can do to recover.

1. Unplug your modem and your router (if you have one).  Modems and routers can be out of sync with each other and the internet. 
2. Restore power to the modem.  The allows it to sync with the internet.  When the lights are on and steady (a couple of minutes) then you can. . .
3. Restore power to the router.  This allows it to get settings and give information to the router.  If you still don't have internet after this,
4. Open Internet Explorer 8.  (This will work only in IE8).  Let it try to access the internet.  If it cannot, it will give you the option to Diagnose and Repair.  This often succeeds and restores your internet.
5. If these steps fail, call 614-329-6671 and we will figure out your problem.  Sometimes security is configured improperly, a windows file is missing, or some other configuration has changed.  We can diagnose and restore internet so you can again connect with the world.

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Windows 7 Revealed
What you should know

The biggest complaint about Windows 7 is that you cannot install it as an upgrade to Windows XP.  Some Windows XP computers can run Windows 7 if it is installed as a clean install, but the truth is that many do not meet Windows 7 hardware requirements, such as a discrete video card. So, if Windows XP is working for you, stay with it.  If it's not working.  Then you may be able to install Windows 7, but not without backing up your personal data and reinstalling all sofware you might use.

Another problem with moving to Windows 7 is that your printer or scanner may not be able to come along.  Many printer manufacturers had to change their software to work with Vista, and now, with the economic downturn, they may not have the resources to do the same for Windows 7.  They might prefer just to sell you a new printer.  Major manufacturers will list on their website whether your printer or scanner is supported.  If it is not, then it is highly unlikely that it will ever work with Windows 7.

But what's the good news?  The good news is that old program that would not work in Vista, just might work in Windows 7.  Also, also if you tend to misplace files (don't we all?)  Windows 7 makes them easy to find.  

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Here’s what you can do to make it simple. 

Where you are giving out personal information, credit card information, birth date, and the like, use a complex password of 8 or more letters and numbers and other characters. Pick a line you have memorized and use the first letters of each word.  For example:  Whose woods these are I think I know.   This password would be WwtaItIk.  Then to make it complex, exchange 1 or more letters with numbers.  I will make the a into 5.  Now it is Wwt5ItIk.  Finally add a non-numerical character (something above the number keys on you keyboard.  I will change the 2nd W to a %.  My final password is W%t5ItIk.  This will work well for secure sites where you give out personal information.  (Note: This is not my password for any site.)

For sites that are not important but you need a password to login, use a simple word that you can easily remember, such as “elephant” or “garbage” or raucous or anything like that.  It can be a noun, adjective, or adverb, or even a verb.  Just make it something you can easily remember.  And never use consecutive strings of numbers or letters for any password.

Now these will not be the most secure way for you to work, but for those of you who have trouble remembering, this is an easier way to use passwords:  1 complex password for secure sites; 1 simple password for sites you don’t care about.

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Symantec recently released a major update for Norton 360.  If you haven’t done so already, click on this link to upgrade.  Then click on Start Download.  Follow the instructions, the computer will need to shut down and restart to finish the update.  This sometimes takes longer than expected so be patient.  And don’t worry, all of your settings are saved and it works so much better than version 3!

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We all need to know more.  Here is a listing for a class my friend is teaching at the Vineyard Community Center, 6000 Cooper Rd., Westervile, OH  43081.  Other classes are also available, at this website.

 

Basic Computer Understanding

This program is the first place to start to learn about computers. This course pre-supposes NO computer knowledge. You will learn the basic pieces of the computer, what each part does and where all those wires go! We will spend some time discussing basic computer techniques such as “select”, “copy to clipboard”, and pasting. We will briefly discuss word processing, spreadsheets and email. You may purchase a textbook (optional) for the class, “Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Computer Basics”, (4th Edition), by Michael Miller (paperback) before the class begins. Please pre-register as class size is limited. For more information about this class, contact Dave Holland.

Instructor: Dave Holland
Email: class@sparrowhawkcon...
Ages: 18 & Up
Activity #: SP-6489
Date(s): 4/10/2010 - 5/29/2010
Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Days: Saturdays
Fee: None
Location: CC.204B
Max: 18

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And if you are interested, I am leading a monthly Creative Writing Workshop.  Here are the details:

Creative Writing Workshop

3rd Saturdays

For adults, ages 18 and up.  This is a monthly workshop for the beginning writer as well as long-time writers.  To encourage creative writers and build creative writing skills.  We will meet in room CC.203A in the Vineyard Community Center on the 3rd Saturday of each month (except holiday weekends) from 9-11am to share what we have learned about writing that might help others in the group.  We will start by using the book, "Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies", by Marilyn Chandler McEntyre, discussing one chapter each month.  In addition, each participant will bring a written paragraph, essay, short story, or poem (not to exceed 3 pages or 750 words) to be shared with and critiqued by the group.  There is no cost for this program.  There is an approximate $12 cost for the book which should be purchased before the first class begins.  No need to pre-register.  Just come!

Instructor: Diana Harkness
Email: diana@helpwithmycomp...
Date(s): 4/17/2010 - 8/21/2010
Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Days: 3rd Saturdays of each month
Fee: None
Location: CC.203A
Phone #: 614.329.6671

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