Thursday, November 30, 2006

Google Calendar

With Google Calendar, it's easy to keep track of all your life's important events – birthdays, reunions, little league, doctor's appointments – all in one place.

Using Google Calendar, you can add events and invitations effortlessly, share with friends and family (or keep things to yourself), and search across the web for events you might enjoy. It's organizing made easy.

You will need a G Mail account (don't everybody have one) but that's free, this will let you use all of the Google toys.


http://www.google.com/calendar


http://www.google.com/googlecalendar/overview.html

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Mail for advanced users

When you have more than one email account, managing them all can become a real pain. You either have to do your best to import them all into one place or you have to do the email checking dance and go from Web site to Web site to get things done. I needed a freeware program that would allow me to control all my email accounts at once central location. My solution was found in POP Peeper.

Want to know more? Here is what the people behind POP Peeper have to say about it:

POP Peeper is an email notifier that runs in your Windows task bar and alerts you when you have new email on your POP3, IMAP (with IDLE support), Hotmail\MSN\LiveMail, Yahoo!, Mail.com, MyWay, Excite, Lycos.com, RediffMail, Gmail, Juno, and NetZero accounts. IMAP supports allows you to access AOL, AIM, Netscape and other services. Send mail directly from POP Peeper and use the address book to email your frequently used contacts.
This program is totally free and one way to use it is from your thumb (flash) drive. This means you can read your mail from any Internet connected computer anywhere.
http://www.poppeeper.com/

Monday, November 27, 2006

Can't delete single files

Q: I can't delete single files from cd-rw I've made. when I try to delete a single file from the cd-rw a box comes up saying this file is read-only. I then try to change the read-only attribute and can't do that either. I have to erase all files on the cd-rw to delete one file. Is this with win. xp or am I doing something wrong.

A: You cannot delete individual files from a CD-RW. Unlike a hard drive, a CD is optical media where you etch or "burn" the information on to the CD. The RW is only rewritable in the sense that one can erase all the files and redo the process multiple times as compared to a CDR which is burn once only.

If you are looking for portable storage with the flexibility to add/delete/modify individual files, look into getting a usb flash drive. They are very inexpensive nowadays, and are extremely handy.

From the thepcgurus.com newsletter

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Defending Yourself in the Information Age

Free eBook: Defending Yourself in the Information Age

Most people know how to protect themselves in the real world, but do you know how to protect yourself in the virtual world? Download my free ebook, 'Defending Yourself in the Information Age' and learn how.

This book explains how to protect your: computer, data, privacy and identity from being stolen. Learn about the latest digital scams, and threats that you will face everyday whether your surfing the Web, or sitting at home reading a book.
By: Jason Savitt

Download the book here (1.3M PDF).

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Thanksgiving

Everything you ever wanted to know about Thanksgiving.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving


From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Sunday, November 19, 2006

$400 LapTop - any good ?

Q:
I am seeing news items about several retailers that are selling laptop computers for under $400… are these systems any good?

A.
I am going to give you my honest feeling on this one, but many will disagree. If this laptop will be a second computer that will not be running games or you will not be editing photos with a high end graphics program the low end and low price one will be just fine. I have a HP low end laptop that I have had for about two years and I just love it. I have a WiFi system that lets me set out on the swing outside or on the back deck with about 45 minutes of battery life. When I'm in the easy chair I pug in the AC power supply. I do all the heavy graphics on the big computer and I am not a gamer. I must tell you I use the laptop as much as 3 to 1 over the other 4 tower computers in the house. I have all, including the laptop on a network and this allows me to import documents and photos from the towers to the laptop to work on from a distance. If you are going to have only one computer I would not go for a low end laptop as you will need the extra speed and hard drive storage. I feel it is more important to get repair service if needed, and on a laptop you will most likely need it. Lapetops wear out, yes its true, you will drop it, or the AC power supply/charger will fail, you can count on it. Check out the the manufacture repair policy before you lay down the bucks. HP low end laptops are covered perfect while in the one year warrenty, but after that one year.........Good luck. Plan also on up-grading the RAM. Most will come with 256 but to run much faster and better get 512 or one Meg. If you buy it this time of year (November) check to see if it will run Vista, coming in January 2007. Hope this answer has helped, thanks for your question.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

A small community - Its nice

I just wanted to tell you how great it is to live in a small community. Two days ago I noticed a puddle of water next to my furnace. I looked for something that had spilled and found nothing. I looked up at the flue pipe and it was as dry as a bone. I have a water softener but it was OK also. I scratched my head, I was stumped. I moped up the water and waited a few hours. I checked it and there was more water, where is it coming from ? Do furnaces make water ? I called a heating & airconditioning company in Friendship, just a few miles from my home. I got their answering machine, so I left my phone number and name. In only 10 minutes my phone rang and the man said we are just about 2 miles from your home and could they stop to see if they could see what the problem was. I said sure and began making a path to the cluttered furnace room. They were here in about 5 minutes, had the front off the furnace and said, here it is. A simple hose was pluged that carried the water to a drain. I said what do I owe you, nothing he replied. I said well I think I will just buy your lunch handing a ten dollar bill to him. He did not want to take it, but I insisted by pushing into his shirt pocket. Now, all reading this that live in a big city, how much do you think it would have cost you to have your furnace fixed ? In a small town, everyone may know your business but about everyone will help you if you are in need. And yes, I will buy my next furnace or air conditioning unit from Stutler in Friendship, Indiana. Great people and company.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Veterans Day 2006 Photos

Thank you goes to the students and facility of South Ripley schools for a very memorial Veterans day. A few pictures are from the Legion Post and the Veterans Monument on the Versailles town square. I have posted the photos that were taken that day. You can download or print any of these pictures if you like. See the album here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jack.demaree/VeteransDay2006
As always, you may see all my albums at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jack.demaree

Friday, November 10, 2006

Windows Vista available January 30

Microsoft Corp's Windows Vista, the software giant's first major upgrade of its operating system in five years, is complete and will be available to retail customers on January 30, a senior executive said on Wednesday.

Plagued by a series of development delays, Windows Vista is front and centre of a new product cycle at the world's largest software maker that includes a new version of its Office business software suite.

Jim Allchin, co-president of Microsoft's platforms and services division, said it expects consumers to make a "fast and immediate" switch to the new Windows.

"On Jan. 30, you will be hard pressed to find a machine that doesn't have Windows Vista available," said Allchin in a conference call with reporters and analysts.

In the first year of release, Vista will be installed on more than 100 million computers worldwide, according to research firm IDC. Windows already sits on more than 90% of the world's computers.

Microsoft originally targeted a 2005 launch for Vista, then pushed the release out to 2006 before announcing in March that Vista would again be delayed. There was also speculation among analysts that Microsoft would have a hard time meeting its early 2007 target.

"One of the biggest downside risks between now and year-end was any sort of delay in the Vista introduction," said Romeo Dator, portfolio manager at US Global Investors, a Microsoft shareholder.

"The worst-case scenario would have been if Microsoft had said 'we're delaying it again.'"

Shares of Microsoft rose to their highest level since late 2004 after the news, before paring those gains. The stock, up more than 25% since June, closed up 3 cents at $28.98 in Nasdaq trade after touching a high of $29.23.

Microsoft also said it will put Vista in the hands of large volume business customers on or before November 30 when it will hold a ceremony in New York to mark the availability of Vista, Office 2007 and 2007 Exchange e-mail server.

Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft said Vista has already been completed in five languages including Spanish, French, Japanese and German. By the end of January, Vista will be available in 18 languages and eventually in 100 languages.

Allchin, who will retire from Microsoft after Vista ships, said business customers will be drawn to the improvements in performance, reliability and security.

"In my opinion, it is the most secure system that is available and it's certainly the most secure system that we've ever shipped," said Allchin. "I have incredible confidence in the quality of the operating system."

Among the new features in Windows Vista will be a new user interface with translucent windows and three-dimensional scrolling and a new search capability to look for information on the PC and across the network.

In late October, Microsoft started an upgrade program so customers who buy a PC running Windows XP during the holiday shopping season can get Windows Vista at a discount or for free when the new operating system becomes available.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Remove the >>> from OE

Q.
When replying to an email I get the greater than sign in the original email on each line of the original email and forget where the setting is to remove it when using outlook express.
Thanks


A.
Under Tools>Options> Send tab

Under Mail Sending Format select HTML settings and uncheck the indent message on reply.

Monday, November 06, 2006

New VHS class photos

If you are from Versailles Indiana you may want to look at the Versailles VHS class photo page as I have added four new photos. They are very old, before my time, but I think you will want to see them. These photos were sent by: Sara Wiles
See them HERE
http://wb9otx.com/class.htm