Welcome to Computer Clarity's December 2005 newsletter. It looks like the month will fly by so I'm getting this issue out early. Below you'll find news about fish and wi-fi, and a suggestion to start thinking about your 2006 calendar. |
Shop right onlineThere's still time to finish your holiday shopping, or start looking for ideas if you're a last-minute shopper like me. Remember, you can shop online and still patronize your local retailers. Browse web sites, do fast online research, and then buy locally. Call your favorite retailer and they'll have your packages wrapped and ready when you arrive. What could be easier? |
Calendar ChoicesSure, you have a favorite calendar style, with a spiral binding, and tiny boxes to fill in. And, you're used to it and don't want to change. Or you have a gorgeous Letts of London leather calendar that feels softer and better each month. I can't compete with that. But, aren't you getting a little tired of re-writing dates into the calendar each year? There are advantages to having your schedule in the computer: You can look back to see when events were held, set annual reminders for birthdays and events, reminders to order tickets, renew licenses, pay taxes... If you have a PDA, you can synchronize the calendar with your computer and have it in your pocket as well. Have I convinced you yet? If you are ready to banish paper from your office, but don't need a big calendar program like Act or Outlook, Microsoft has plenty of 2006 calendar templates for you to enjoy. They have styles for both the school year and for business, with varying designs for each month. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/CT011653371033.aspx See all of Microsoft's cool calendar templates |
Microsoft Word tip of the month... a new monthly feature to explain a few of the underutilized features in Word and Excel. Use "Track Changes" if you revise a document or pass it on to another person to edit, and then who added what, and decide to accept or reject changes. Even if you're working alone, the Track Changes feature is a great way to edit on the fly, and still be able to back out of the changes. Click Tools / Track Changes to turn on this feature, and choose from among these three options: 1. "Highlight Changes" and you can see your changes while you're editing. 2. With "Accept or Reject Changes" you can create a final document with input from multiple people. 3. I use "Compare Documents" frequently, to look at two versions of a file, to see which is better, or combine the best of both. If you need to keep all all prior revisions, you can also use the File/Versions command, to save a file as a new version every time you close it. |
Press '1' if you're angry...Maybe you missed this report on the local WBBM TV news on November 30th. A young fellow named Paul English has put together a list of telephone commands and extensions to press when you can't seem to break through to a human operator on the phone. He scoured the web and received tips from disgruntled consumers who found the road out of what we refer to as 'voicemail hell.' His list of "steps to find a human" is worth a look, especially when you're phoning banks, pharmacies, and the government. The CBS news correspondent reported a company's cost for a phone support call when speaking to a human averages $1.00, and only 40 cents if you reach an overseas operator who works at lower wages. The cost drops to 15 cents if you can work out your problem by talking to a computer. Go to www.paulenglish.com/ivr for the free list |
Ten things you can do in ten minutes1. Start 2006 with online banking. A recent survey by Keynote Systems Inc. states "Choosing a bank that offers online banking ranks higher (56%) compared to the physical location of bank (45%)." People who try it don't go back to writing checks. 2. Replace old computer equipment before year-end and take the full expense as a tax deduction. 3. 2005 was an extraordinarily sad year, with tragic losses. If you are wondering just how much money you gave to charity, start a simple list in Excel with the date, name, and amount. You'll have the list ready for tax time. 4. Teach yourself something new on the computer. 5. Organize your address book now, while all the holiday cards are arriving. 6. Find a great radio station and listen online while you work. Start with www.music.yahoo.com 7. Read all that old e-mail you've been saving, and then press the Delete key. Now, that feels good. 8. Check your "My Pictures" folder and clean out your digital camera images. Store them on CD by year, so you can find them when you need them. 9. Set your backup system to copy all your folders automatically, and store them in a safe place. 10. Take out the trash (again). |
Something fishy going on with your wi-fi?Lots of things can interfere with your wi-fi signal. Common problems include metal, brick walls, and alarm systems. But did you know water can be the culprit? According to an article in The Processor magazine, wireless internet connections perform badly in the rain. When water clings to exterior walls, windows and roof tops, it can bounce the signal erratically. Other surprising interference comes from having the wi-fi access point near a water cooler, refrigerator, or fish tank. Yes, if you hide your wi-fi behind a fish tank, only the fish will be surfing. |
That's it for nowThe first book signings for "Computer Ease" are underway, and are great fun. Thanks to everyone for supporting the events, and reading "Computer Ease." If you need a copy in a hurry for a holiday gift, it's now available at The Book Stall of Chestnut Court in Winnetka, or give me a call, and avoid the delay of ordering online. Happy Holidays, Helen Gallagher Phone: 847-998-6240 You can purchase "Computer Ease" at The Book Stall |
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