Computer club can be salvation for newcomer  (1/5/01)

Santa left you a new computer and somehow you have managed to get all those cords plugged-in correctly (well maybe you have). Now you are ready to "boot" your computer for the first time.

You press the power button and sit intimidated, unsure as to whether you should grasp your mouse in your perspiring hand and attempt to mentally force your computer to boot successfully. Or, perhaps, just hang onto your chair and hope that the Computer Force is with you. If the Computer Force is with you, you are treated to a splendid display of graphic images.

Next, and ever so cautiously, you install your e-mail provider and read your first e-mail. Then, maybe, on to a game of solitaire.

But what do you do next?

May I suggest that you join a computer club.

Until recently computer clubs were perceived as a residence for a bunch of guys wearing beanies with spinners. They sat around bragging about the power of their computers. They spoke computer speak and they consumed extraordinary quantities of cola and junk food.

Today a well-managed computer club can be a beleaguered novice's salvation.

And, I might add, a beleaguered novice could be an experienced user who has recently purchased a more powerful machine or upgraded to a new operating system. Note: I use the term "machine." A computer is just that. It is not intuitive and artificial intelligence is not yet an option.

The average computer purchased today is far more powerful than the on-board computers of the Apollo 11 when it went to the moon. So why should you be embarrassed about seeking reliable assistance?

The computer club you join should provide:
> Resident, credentialed computer professionals and experienced laymen who are knowledgeable of all aspects of computing. They should be able to answer questions and concerns in "King's English." They should ensure that questions asked by the most beleaguered of novices are considered with the same respect as those of more experienced users. One only has to embarrass a beleaguered novice once to destroy the credibility of a user group. Other than qualified technicians, only grandchildren between 2 and 14 should be considered experts. And even they have been known to destroy grandma's or grandpa's computer by installing games.

> Reliable assistance using state-of-the-art presentation equipment. There is no substitution for visual presentations.

> Assistance any time you need it. Unfortunately Windows does not present all its snotty error messages the day of a user group or chapter meeting.

> And it should not suffer from leadership ego. Never confuse organizational talent with computer expertise.  [index]

Font housekeeping key to computer users  (1/12/01)

True type fonts are amazing little fellows. From bold to italic. From billboard to script. They can transform words into a graphic reflection of an author's state of mind.

But they can become rascals if you lose control of them.

Every font in your Windows Font Folder is loaded into memory, every time you access Windows. An application cannot select individual fonts as needed.

Windows insists that all fonts must be available, all the time.

The more fonts you have installed, the more memory you are dedicating to them. For many, this can be a waste of valuable resources.

Unfortunately, most software programs care less about your resources. They want their fonts available for their program. They have to fill up their CDs with something other than graphics! Responsible software programs will ask you if you want all their available fonts installed. Many will install them without permission.

Open your Windows Explorer and go to the Window subfolder - Fonts. If you have any more than 150 to 175 fonts, you are wasting memory. I suggest you get rid of as many as you can.

Do not delete them! You may have used one in a document and will want it back.  Never delete or move a "FON." They are Windows system fonts.

Try this. With Windows Explorer, create a folder on your hard drive.

Highlight your C: Drive and click on File > New > Folder. In the panel type Font Archive. Or any name you want for the folder. This is where you will move unwanted fonts.

Return to your Windows Font Folder. I suggest that you start by moving fonts that are specifically bold or italic fonts. Windows will allow you to bold or italicize, any regular font. If this does not satisfactorily reduce the number of fonts, move on to your regular fonts.

If a font description is vague, double left click on it. A panel will provide a description and an opportunity to print it.

To reinstall a font, if you need it back Click Start > Settings > Control Panel, and then double-click Fonts.

On the File menu, click Install New Font. Click the drive, and then click the folder that contains your font archives in the folder you created. Click the font you want to add. You are back in business.

Your first font housekeeping could take a bit of time.  But you just might be surprised at the memory you save.

If you would like information on how to obtain an inexpensive little program that allows you to preview, load and unload a specific font from any source without having to permanently install it into your Windows Font Folder, contact me for information.

Here's wishing you a good boot.   [index]

Buy all the computer power you can afford (1/19/01)

Recently I have been receiving an extraordinary number of e-mails requesting my advice on purchasing a computer.

The e-mails come in three flavors: Those trying to base their decision on responsible, in-depth research, those prepared to buy whatever is on sale, and, of course, those willing to spend lavishly for a computer in order to be able to subscribe to an e-mail provider so their children and grandchildren will, expeditiously, respond to their correspondence.

Whatever your category, here is my computer buying philosophy:

You are undoubtedly going to want a color printer. Your best bet is to shop at a reputable, local office supply store or electronic super store. Their offerings are usually competitive and their return and exchange policy outstanding. Subtract the cost of a printer from your budget. Keep in mind that the cost of a color printer is based on printing speed, not the quality of the printing. You should be able to purchase a quality color printer and cable for $200 to $300. Subtract this from your budget.

Now, the most important part of my philosophy: Be prepared to spend every penny of the balance of your budget. Purchase the most powerful computer your budget allows.

Disregard the "what do you plan to do with your computer" question asked by so many clerks. They may know less about computers than you do. If this is your first computer, I can almost guarantee you have no idea what you will want to be able to do with it in the future.

Be careful when a clerk seems overly aggressive in recommending a particular system It may be an obsolescent machine. And only purchase an extended warranty on your monitor.

Visit at least three local retailers. I recommend local retailers if this is your first computer. Tell them how much you have to spend. If the cost of their recommended system is less than your budget. Ask what can be added to increase the power and capacity of the system. Remember. You can never have too much power, memory or hard drive space!

Keep in mind that you can purchase a quality monitor anywhere, one compatible with any system you purchase. This provides an excellent bargaining tool for a monitor-computer combination. I recommend at least a 17-inch monitor.

Have the "manager" put in writing what will be included. You are welcome to ask me for my opinion of a recommended system.

And most important, subtract $100 from your budget and have one of our recommended technicians set up and tweak your system, in your home, with all your peripherals, for example your printer and scanner and your phone line attached.

Why one of our technicians? First they talk the talk. If they discover a problem, they can contact tech support for a solution. If there is a need for updated drivers, they know where to find and download them. And most important, there is no conflict of interest.   [index]

Computer driving you nuts?  Find a meeting  (1/26/01)

I truly appreciate the extraordinary number of calls and e-mails I received after last Friday’s Good Boot. I hope you were not offended when Lida ask so many of you to call back. You see, I have a life beyond computers. I am an avid gardener. But sometimes, I am an avid gardening procrastinator. And Lida (she who must be obeyed) informed me that if I wanted to continue computing in “her” house, I had better finish preparing “my” gardens so “her” view of “my” backyard would be a pleasant experience. So when you called, I was probably up a tree, frolicking in the fallen leaves or just trying to keep warm.

However, this article is not about my domestic tribulations it is about your computer tribulations.

Perhaps it was the cold weather or the hiatus between the playoffs and the Super Bowl, but it seemed that last weekend was a very frustrating weekend for Good Booters. And because they were frustrated, I became frustrated.

In addition to my Good Boot computing vignettes, I have tried to provide recommendations on how to tame the “Beast on Your Desktop”. However, whether they were for you: To consider obtaining our workbooks (written for 8 to 14

year old elementary students). To subscribe to our 48 page Computing Journal. To avail your self of the expertise available at User Group or Chapter meetings. They did not preclude a commitment on your part to invest a bit of time and concentration to learn, at least, the basics necessary to make your computing experiencing productive and less frustrating.

But many of the questions asked last weekend, indicated that some Good Booters - are not paying attention! So for them and for all other Beleaguered Novices. How about attending a Chapter meeting! Besides a featured presentation, every meeting provides ample opportunity for you to ask any question - regardless of how basic you may think it to be. In fact, our question and answer sessions are the most popular part of our meetings.

For those of you who reside at the Landings, Fiddlesticks, the Dunes, Orange Harbor, Heritage, Old Bridge and the Forest, there is plenty of room for you.

Unfortunately, most of our Regional Chapters are full - although you might try sneaking-in. However, there is still room at: The Cypress Cove at HealthPark Florida Chapter, 3rd Friday monthly at 7:30 PM. The SHARE Club Chapter, 2nd Saturday monthly at 10 AM at Lee Memorial Hospital auditorium, Cleveland Ave. And I will be at the South County Regional Library, February 20th at 2 PM for one of my Regional Library round-robin presentations.

There is no cost or obligations to attend a meeting. If you do decide to join, the cost is only $30 annually which includes a 12 month subscription to the Journal.

Backing up files requires knowledge, time  (2/1/01)

I have regaled you with articles about why you: Must invest time in learning your operating system. Should purchase meaningful workbooks. Should consider joining a reputable computer club. Should subscribe to our Computing Journal.

Now I am going to provide an example of why. And it relates to an oft asked question I receive concerning how to back-up those irreplaceable files you have created or collected.

In the days of yore, a full or incremental back-up was nothing more than placing floppy after floppy into your A: Drive until everything on your hard drive was copied. To restore your system or an individual file all you had to do was use the Restore feature of your back-up program.

With the arrival of Windows, a rascal called the Registry and hard drives with gaggles of gigabytes. Backing-up has required a user to be more knowledgeable of their system. Why? Because a full back-up is not practical for the average user and can actually be counter productive.

The Windows Registry is a data base that records everything you add and every change you make to your system. Nothing escapes your Registry’s attention. And whether you know it or not. During any computing session, you will make at least a few changes that will be entered into your Registry.

If you experience a crash and must reconstruct your system. Unless you have a back-up that is so current that it contains every change you have made to your Registry, a Restore from any medium will not be current. And the longer the time between back-ups, the less useful the back-up.

So to restore your system, you will first have to reinstall Windows. You now have a new Registry that knows very little about your system. Then you will have to reinstall your programs. If you have to reinstall Windows and your programs anyway. Doesn't it follow that all you really need to back-up are the documents and data you have created. Or photos, etc. you have saved to your hard drive?

But here’s the catch. You must be familiar with and know how to use your Windows Explorer to be able to locate the Folders that contain your documents, data, etc.. And then you must know how to specifically back-up just that information. And, of course, how to restore it.

As you can see, an effective and realistic back-up requires not only a knowledge of back-up procedures. It requires an understanding of your computer's operating system, as well as appropriate individual Windows techniques.

Backing-up is only one example of why you must invest time and should “get involved”. Let us help you. Join the band of brothers and sisters known as the Beleaguered Novices of Southwest Florida. Make you computing experience fun as well as productive. Join a computer club!

Windows doesn't discriminate against lefties  (2/9/01)

Recently, my wife was in a snit because she could not find her left-handed oven mitt. In my house if anything is missing, Lida considers it to be a conspiracy perpetrate by Vickie (my cat) and me. This time, however, it was a moot point as my familiarity with all things “kitchen” is that I have to pass through it on my way to the garage.

But it did remind me of a call I received from a Good Booter, asking where she could purchase a mouse for a left-handed user. I became her hero when I demonstrated just how socially responsible Windows is to the “hand and finger” challenged. In, fact, Windows provides many ways to configure ones Mouse to meet specific requirements.

The first panel provides an opportunity to configure a Mouse for use by southpaws. It also provides a great “I gotcha” opportunity. On April Fools Day, sneak into a friend’s computer and change his or her mouse button settings.

The 1st panel will also allow you to change the speed of your Double-click.  And by clicking on the little Jack-in-the-Box, you can test your selection until the speed of your Double-click is just right for you.

The 2nd Panel allows you to select the way you would like your Pointers to appear. You can check through the many Pointer appearances by clicking-on the little down triangle. And you can see what they will look like in the upper right-hand corner. Save a particular combination by clicking-on the Save-As button and giving your selections a unique name. This feature allows you create individual groups for individual computer tasks. It also allows someone who has a problem seeing their Pointer to increase its size and/or reverse the color of the Pointer.

The 3rd panel allows you to adjust the motion speed of your Pointer. This can be of significant interest to those whose hand-eye coordination is limited and would like to slow-down the Pointer. Or for those who may have a bit of arthritis and would like to speed-up the Pointer. It is also appropriate to use to adjust your Pointer when a task requires Pointer accuracy. Say, editing a graphic or photo.

For those who may have trouble following their Pointer. Try adding a Trail to it.

There is never a need to be concerned about experimenting. You can always easily return to your Windows default settings. Without fear of any Windows retribution.

Spend a bit of time with your Mouse settings. You may find you can make your computer experience a bit easier.

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09/10/2002