For all those doubting Thomases who attended Dwayne Alton's May digital seminar,
you can e-mail me your apologies.
I'm never one to say I told you so, but didn't I tell you that you didn't have
to buy a mega, mega pixel digital camera to produce outstanding photos? Didn't I
also tell you that you didn't have to spend big bucks on a DeskJet printer with
umpteen DPIs to produce quality prints or that it's not un-American to purchase
a scanner that produces less pixels than your neighbor's scanner?
The point is anyone interested in digital photography should go out of their way
to attend Dwayne's seminars. In my opinion there are none better in Southwest
Florida.
So it shouldn't be a surprise I'm recommending his June 14 seminar, "From Click
to Burn." This is not just because it will be a professional state-of-the-art
presentation or he'll stay until every attendee's questions have been answered,
but because this seminar should be a hoot!
Not only will Dwayne demonstrate how to take an artful digital photograph,
download it, edit it and burn it to a CD, he will do so using photographs taken
at the seminar.
Seminar attendees will be asked to volunteer to be photographed with a
pocketbook-friendly digital camera and then suggest how they want Dwayne to edit
their photo! Perhaps remove a blemish, iron out a wrinkle or two or transfer
their picture to a more appropriate background, or even apply some wild and
crazy special effects.
When Dwayne's finished editing a volunteer's photo, it will be returned sans
wrinkles and blemishes - one suitable for publishing in their high school alumni
newsletter and guaranteed to make their classmates jealous of how young they
still look.
You can register for this seminar at:
www.netoffices.com/seminars/
index.html. If you missed Dwayne's May seminar, while you're there you can
e-mail him for his free digital camera, scanner and printer recommendations.
A heads-up for those considering "going wireless": Please consider having a
qualified tech install your wireless hardware, and most important, tweak it.
Although wireless is an excellent economical way to network your computers
(desktop and laptop) in and around your home or office, there's one important
and often overlooked consideration.
Wired computers are networked by sending radio-frequency signals between or
among them. If your frequency is the same as your neighbors or that of the
computers in the office down the hall, someone just might benefit from free
Internet access or be able to access your computer. A qualified technician will
insure this will not happen.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Relieve doldrums by mastering XP (6/9/03)
It shall be noted in the business section of The News-Press that it was in the summer of 2003 that beleaguered but undaunted Good Booters throughout Southwest Florida gathered together in Estero and North Fort Myers, determined to master Windows XP.
And so too it will be noted this band of courageous Good Booters proved to all novices everywhere that Windows XP could be mastered!
Seriously, Good Booters, summer has arrived. Soon you'll be hunkered down in your air-conditioned hideaway thinking of things to do that'll keep you safe from the heat and humidity of Southwest Florida over the next four, five or more months.
Perhaps you're planning on early-morning-before-the-sun-rises rounds of golf or garden pruning. Maybe a whole lot of TV. Or, if you're truly unfortunate, your significant other is planning on issuing a mandate for you to catch up on all those indoor "honey dos" you've evaded so efficiently.
If these are your plans or the plan of the one you must obey, may I be so bold as to suggest an alternative, one that will ensure a productive, exhilarating summer and will cost not a penny?
Why not earn your Good Boot Master of Windows XP degree by attending my summer seminars to be conducted at our Estero and North Fort Myers chapters?
Designed with the beleaguered novice in mind, I'll introduce you to the wonderful world of Windows XP with enthusiasm, compassion and as with all my seminars, much good humor. But be assured never shall the words "dummy" or "idiot" be spoken.
We'll begin at the beginning and ever so thoroughly proceed seminar by seminar through the labyrinth of learning necessary to assist you in mastering XP. And when there's a topic requiring the expertise of our consulting technicians, I'll sound the clarion call.
These summer seminars are free with absolutely no obligation to join the SWFPCUG or an affiliated chapter. They're my contribution to the welfare of all Good Booters thirsting for computer knowledge and a way for all of us to escape those dreaded honey dos.
Whether you're currently an XP'er or plan to become an XP'er, why not begin your quest to master XP by attending my June seminars at our North Fort Myers Chapter at Del Tura, U.S. 41, North Fort Myers, at 6 p.m Wednesday, June 25, or at our Estero Chapter at South County Regional Library, Three Oaks Parkway, Estero, at 1 p.m Friday, June 27?
No reservation or registration necessary.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Quality downloads available (6/16/03)
Software programs often have free basic versions
For some time the Internet has provided a perk that often goes unheralded: the opportunity to download quality software programs that have a free basic version or, in many cases, a generous period of trial before purchasing.
This perk allows me to recommend programs without fear of receiving caustic "how do I get my money back" e-mails from disappointed Good Booters.
Today I'd like to recommend two: Eye of the Storm and Legacy 4.0 Family Tree.
Eye of the Storm (www.starstonesoftware.com/eots/) is both a hurricane season preparedness tool and an interactive hurricane tracking program. In my opinion, there's not another like it for content, quality and accuracy.
Storm-tracking enthusiasts will appreciate the interactive hurricane tracking program that uses the Internet to automatically download active storm information. Three different kinds of maps are available for tracking.
By default I use the high-resolution satellite image-based color map I can customize to my particular taste and location. I'm able to overlay state and county borders to get a detailed look at a storm's projected path (automatically imported from National Hurricane Center advisories). I also can print color charts of a storm's progress as it approaches Fort Myers.
Perhaps EOS's most unique feature and a favorite of mine is a cleverly animated from depression to tropical storm to hurricane and back again all the way to depression presentation of the paths of recent storms or those of the nearly 2,000 storms dating back to 1851.
And for a historical perspective on current forecasts, you can search a specific year or range of years, selecting only storms that have come near your location.
0 0 0
Legacy 4 Family Tree (www.legacyfamilytree.com/) is a full-featured professional genealogy program that tracks, organizes, prints and can share your family history. Among its features are sourcing, reports, merging, slide shows, multimedia, Web presentations, spell-checking, import and export.
What makes this program so special is it's state of the art and free.
Whether you're contemplating becoming a genealogist or are into genealogy in a big way, Legacy is worth a look. If you like it there's an inexpensive upgrade ($30) that has a plethora of additional bells and whistles that'll seamlessly integrate with the free version.
But be assured, you don't need the upgrade to produce outstanding genealogy presentations!
And while I have your attention, I'm sure I don't have to
remind Windows Me and XP Good Booters to create a System Restore Point before
installing these programs, but best I do it anyway. Always create a System
Restore Point before and after installing any program. Here's wishing you a Good
Boot.
Bring along a sense of humor to summer seminars (6/23/03)
My thanks to all who responded so enthusiastically about wanting to attend my summer seminars "Mastering Windows XP" and "Evading Honey-dos."
However, I was a bit concerned about the e-mails from several Good Booters enthusiastic that I'd be able to teach them XP in one seminar. Although I was sincerely flattered, please know I nor anyone else could accomplish such a Herculean task.
As these seminars begin this week at our North Fort Myers Chapter (Del Tura, U.S. 41 at 6 p.m. Wednesday) and our Estero Chapter (South County Regional Library, Three Oaks Parkway, at 1 p.m. Friday), best I clarify how they'll be conducted.
But before I do let me reassure the doubting Thomases who questioned whether the "free" in free seminars really meant free. Cross my heart - there's no cost or obligation associated with attending my summer seminars.
The seminars are open to all, including former User Group and Chapter members who left in good standing. But be advised, bring your Good Boot sense of humor as I believe "a spoonful of humor makes the medicine go down."
This month I'll begin at the beginning. What should happen when you arouse the Beast that sits on your desktop and how to ensure your Beast doesn't become a behavior problem. Then I'll introduce you to XP's new and improved features.
The features I'll cover in depth in future seminars include a laid-back presentation I hope will make XP less mysterious and one that will encourage novices to participate in the Q&A sessions by demonstrating "that all novices are created equal."
A question or concern for one will most likely be a question or concern for all. And unless you preface your question with "I've a dumb question" (justification for immediate deportation), you'll only need the courage to raise your hand the first time to discover your question will be answered with enthusiasm.
Another feature of my seminars is if you must miss any one, you'll not be left behind. Each seminar will be a complete presentation of a particular XP feature. Should you miss one there will be makeup opportunities.
Our Webmaster has made it convenient for you to discover the XP feature of the month, by listing it on our Web site: www.swfpcug.org.
Click on "Details" next to either the North Fort Myers or Estero Chapter.
No need to register. But although there's plenty of seating at Del Tura, seating at Estero is limited. Know that out of respect for those who arrive on time, I start on time!
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
You can help me help you (6/30/03)
Use e-mail if you need some fast computer advice
One of the first bits of advice I received from The News-Press when I began my Good Boot adventure was always keep in mind that regardless of how novice-friendly I tried to make my column, there will always be readers who have questions.
It's my responsibility to respond enthusiastically to their questions. I believe most of the more than 5,000 Good Booters who've phoned or emailed me will agree I've done my best to follow this advice.
Recently, however, the extraordinary volume of e-mail from troubled and confused XPers has prevented me from maintaining my goal of responding to all e-mail within 24 hours. My old tape answering machine has become obsolete. It often runs out of tape after several "War and Peace"-length "I've a Quick Question" XP narratives.
So to make it easier for all Good Booters to receive expeditious answers to their questions and concerns:
By phone, leave a message or describe your computer's unfortunate happening as detailed as you wish on my new Good Boot Hot Line at 433-0549.
By e-mail, visit www.goodboot.com . Although the site is "under construction," it's ready for you to click on "Help for the Beleaguered Good Booter" and enter your question or concern. It'll be sent directly to me. If I cannot answer it, I'll forward it to one of our consulting technicians.
Internet security has become an extraordinary concern for both private and corporate users. Unfortunately, what most people "know" about the dangers associated with the Internet and Internet security is often a myth, hoax or not enough.
With this in mind, I've persuaded Dwayne Alton, a professional and someone who deals with Internet security every day at its highest level of need, to provide a seminar that will:
Debunk common Internet security myths.
Put the Internet threats you read and hear about into perspective so you can concentrate your efforts on what should be your real concerns.
Besides exposing Internet bad stuff such as hackers, viruses, worms and Trojan horses, spam and spyware, pop-up ads, safe online shopping, identity theft and financial fraud, Dwayne will discuss strategies to deal with them. Each strategy presented uses state-of-the-art multimedia computer and projection equipment.
By keeping his presentations as nontechnical as possible, Dwayne's Internet security seminar is appropriate for both novice and experienced users. If a bit of the techie is required, he'll take the time necessary to ensure everyone has a chance to ask questions.
For information on registering for his 12:30 p.m. Saturday, July 12, seminar at Lee Memorial Hospital auditorium, e-mail Dwayne at dwayne@ netoffices.com
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Additional summer seminars on Windows XP are planned (7/7/03)
I've good news for those who couldn't be seated at the Estero XP seminar last month.
Linda Holland, my library guardian angel, took pity on me and has scheduled the meeting room for two sessions over the summer.
This means those who missed part one of my XP summer seminars can begin at the beginning at 9:30 am. Friday, July 25. At least the first 99 who arrive can, as that's the seating capacity. Part 2 of my XP summer seminars will be at the same time as last month, 1:00 p.m.
I do have a bit of a problem though. The library opens at 9:00 a.m. This means I have to be set up and be ready to go in 30 minutes. So if any of you can arrive by 9:00 am to help me set up, I sure would appreciate it.
For those who packed the house at our Del Tura Chapter in North Fort Myers, keep in mind I'll be presenting Part 2 of our XP adventure at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 23. I call it "Backup and Burn," a classic show and tell.
And now I've a bone to pick with Windows Me and XP Good Booters who didn't pay attention to my article on System Restore. How do I know there are so many Naughty Booters among you? Because when I asked at the XP Seminars for a show of hands of those who faithfully use System Restore, there were very few who raised their hands.
At the July XP seminars I'll revisit System Restore. It's a very important part of what I'll be presenting in my July "Backup and Burn" seminar. For those who have my XP workbook, go to page 160 and read "Returning Your System to a Predefined State With System Restore."
Have a question? Call the Good Boot hot line at 433-0549 or e-mail me at www.goodboot.com
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Have the right stuff to save 'Stuff' (7/14/03)
Don't use Full System Backup to protect your file
For those who cannot attend my free XP Summer seminars (this month Your Stuff, Back it up and Burn it), I'm going to discuss over the next few weeks some of the highlights. Me and 98ers, know these articles will be appropriate for you.
Let's begin with 'Your Stuff' that which cannot be replaced and how to protect it.
Because everyone has WordPad (Programs > Accessories) and its menu is similar to all other programs, let's use it to demonstrate how something becomes Your Stuff. Click on File > Save As. Note how you're encouraged to 'Save As' in 'My Documents'. Note also to the right of 'File Name', 'Document' is highlighted and pulsating. A highlighted, pulsating word or phrase is Windows' way of indicating you can start typing without having to delete what's already there.
If you accept Windows' suggestions and I suggest you do, you'll not only provide your document with a unique name, you'll place it in My Documents, an easy to find System Folder that cannot be accidentally deleted. Windows will also 'Type' (Associate) your document. By giving it a (.) and three letters (perhaps .doc or .rtf), Windows associates your document with the software program that created it.
Now that you've created a bona fide Your Stuff document, how can you best protect and preserve it?
Please trust me when I suggest a Full System Backup (a backup of your entire hard drive) isn't the way to go. Most novices will discover any attempt to restore a Full System Backup with all the required frequent Incremental Backups can, more often than not, be unsuccessful.
Most will discover that should they experience a hard drive failure, their best bet is to reinstall Windows and all their programs. Even if it's only Windows that's been seriously corrupted and must be reinstalled on a healthy hard drive, because the reinstalled Windows is unaware of any other installed programs, those programs also will have to be reinstalled. The point is, if you must reinstall Windows and your programs anyhow, why back them up?
So what is important to backup? My advice. Only 'Your Stuff'.
For many the problem becomes how to be sure all their 'Stuff' is safely located in My Documents. I mentioned above the most common way, but what if a program by default doesn't place Your Stuff in My Documents e.g., Favorites or Quicken? Next week I'll discuss how to do this.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.