Creative Home Computing

My laptop has been having major issues for awhile now and I’ve probably mentioned that before. It kept on rebooting every few minutes. I bought a fan for it to sit on, thinking overheating was the problem. Didn’t make any difference. I uninstalled almost everything, thinking it was a conflict of some kind. No difference again.

I finally paid a technician to look at the laptop. His recommendation - buy a new one. Apparently, the hard drive was no good anymore and fixing it would cost a couple of hundred dollars. Since it was an old machine, he thought I would be better off investing in a new one - especially since laptops are fairly inexpensive these days.

But I like that old laptop! It has a nice size screen, windows XP, an easy to use touch system, and it’s a pretty blue colour. So I decided to ask my grandson what he thought.

We were visiting my family in the states, so I took the laptop with me. Said grandson runs the family iPod, iPhone, and computer repair business at iRestore.net and is a whiz at fixing things.

The end result: Another hard drive with a much bigger capacity was installed on my laptop for much less than the original quote. You may not have a techy relative that can give you a deal, but it’s always a good idea to get a second opinion before you make another purchase. Now I’ll just keep saving for a netbook someday as well.

Technorati Tags: technical problems, computer problems, laptop repair

While there is really no way to accurately determine how much a blog is worth, it’s still fun to know if all of your hard work has been noticed. And if you’ve got a blog that is worth the price, you still have to find someone willing to pay that amount. So this whole thing is an exercise in unreality, but still something I like to do sometimes.

Usually, the amount your blog is worth should be more than it was last time you checked (unless you only waited a day or two). But for some reason, my personal blog was worth over $500 last year and now is worth nothing. I haven’t done anything different, so can’t figure that one out. If you can tell me, please do.

Anyway, without further ado, here is what I found for this creativehomecomputing blog as of June 2009 (drum roll please):

This week I visited the local computer repair store with my laptop. While there, I fell in love with the Asus Eee Top touchscreen computer.  A one piece system, the entire computer is attached to the back of the flat screen monitor. It was just the neatest thing!

Large icons, easy enough for even my old eyes to see easily. Use of an onscreen keyboard if you like and the ability to touch what you want right on the screen. There’s a keyboard that can be stored behind the monitor if you find you don’t use it much and there’s little need for a mouse. A great feature because older people (and kids) have more trouble controlling the mouse than anything else when starting to use computers.

The computer monitor is an attractive LCD screen attached to a clear plastic stand. I would love to have one of these in my kitchen. It looks so sleek and modern. There’s also a handle on the back if you feel like moving it to another room (although it’s a bit heavy).

With a built-in webcam and wireless capability, the Eee Top is a great home computer for a person of any age. And it comes with Windows XP (Hooray). The price here in Canada is about $750, which is reasonable for a computer and monitor combination. I’m saving my pennies.

Technorati Tags: Asus Eee Top, touchscreen computer

Since this blog is becoming a little hard to manage, even with the search bar and the categories, I thought I would start with some topics and list the corresponding posts related to that topic.

Let’s begin with purchasing a computer. Although not all of the following posts give specific recommendations about what to look for and how to buy a new computer, my trials and tribulations in that area may save you some of the frustration I encountered at various times.

 Buying a New Computer

Acer Aspire Laptop

Windows Vista 

Why Use Two Monitors?

Component Compatibility

It never ceases to amaze me how much a computer can enlarge our lives. Especially if our circumstances limit interaction with other people and with the world around us.

I’ve been reading about something called the Sue Center that provides an environment for those who can’t use a keyboard or mouse to interact with a computer.

Even when severly limited by MS and unable to move from the neck down, disabled people can now control some aspects of their environment. Using specialized free software paired with a device that allows the computer to read head movements,  it’s possible to:

• Keep a journal.
• Read books.
• Consult a dictionary and thesaurus.
• Correspond by email.
• Send text messages.
• Create and view slideshows of pictures.
• Access selected websites.
• Play games.
• Choose music or radio and adjust the volume.
• Control a TV or DVD like a universal remote.
• Keep a calendar of events.
• Read the Bible on the computer.
• Make telephone calls using  Skype.
• Keep in touch with loved ones and feel less isolated.

I encourage you to check out their website at the Sue Center. Besides being impressed with the capabilities of the program and the compassion of it’s creator, I was reminded how thankful I need to be for those little things (like movement) that I take for granted.

Technorati Tags: Sue Center, computer use for the disabled

I’m one of those people who love new gadgets and love to learn new things. That’s all well and good, but there comes a point where I need to use the new gadget or finish the new course before I go on to the next shiny object I see.

I’ve decided one of my biggest problems is that I don’t finish what I start. Don’t ask me why, but once I skim over the course or have a quick look at the instruction manual, I’m looking for something new. I’ve gotten to the point that I’m surrounded by unused gadgets still like new, and half done courses crying out for me to finish.

I’ve got to form a new habit and finish what I start or use what I purchase. I know it takes 21 days before it becomes a part of me, so please check with me at the end of May and hold me accountable.

So here are the things I’m working on for the month of May to help me  accomplish my learning goal of finishing what I start:

1. I’m going  to complete an Internet marketing course I bought at least a few years ago. Some things might even be out of date, but I have to finish it to create my new habit. There are two binders of notes and I’m on the last half of the second one. So every morning lately I’ve been reading at least a few pages.

2. I am going to totally finish my first info product and get it ready for customers. Actually, I have finished the guide, it’s called “Creating Newsletters Your Grandkids Will Treasure” and is 44 pages long. Right now I’m completing the half dozen worksheets that will accompany it. I’ve also recorded audio of the text (had to do that twice because I kept running out of breath and had all these long pauses in it). So just a few more tweaks and then I’m going to burn it onto CD and put it up for sale.

When I write it down like this it seems I’m almost at the finish line for both projects, yet I’m getting slower and slower.

My progress reminds me of a study I once read about. Two groups were asked to keep their hands in cold water. The group that were given a specific time frame were able to do it. The other group, because they had no idea how long it would be until the task was over, were not able to keep their hands in the water.

Guess that means I need to give myself a deadline so I know this isn’t going to continue indefinitely. How much more time should I give myself?

Technorati Tags: creating a habit, finishing tasks, deadlines, creating an info product

I have to thank Hostgator tech support for helping me to ward off a panic attack yesterday. I went to my company home page and it was gone!  The theme was still there, as were all the category titles, but no content. Absolutely none!

I’d put a lot of work into this site and was more than upset that it was gone. I went to the Hostgator site and clicked the ‘live chat’  button. Within a few minutes I was texting back and forth with a wonderful and patient technician. For over an hour he worked with me, telling me where to find things in my cpanel, what to click next to repair my Wordpress database.

Once I finally understand what to do, the repair was fast and easy. And all my content was back up. Thank you so much Kevin and I hope you got a raise!

Technorati Tags: Wordpress repair, Hostgator support, customer service excellence

At the beginning of the year, I received a Flip video camera for my birthday. I’ve been meaning to write about it, so today I went on youtube and found a video about my Flip.

Mine looks just like the one in the video, except that I have one hour recording time. It also comes with connections for your tv so you can watch the videos there instead of just on your computer. The quality, both of video and sound, is excellent. And you don’t have the problem of the sound not being in sync with the picture, so it looks fairly professional.

I love my Flip and use it all of the time. One of my daughters just bought one on sale at Walmart in the States for just over $100, so the price is great. Here in Canada, at least where I live, the Flip is only sold at Walmart and Future Shop. Online there are a lot more choices.

Here’s the video and like I said, I can’t recommend it enough.

Technorati Tags: Flip video camera, Flip review

If you’ve been online much at all these days, you’ve probably heard all about the Conficker worm and it’s ability to totally mess up your computer system. We’re talking Windows pc’s here, as usual Mac computers are in the clear.

I’ve read in some places that it’s nothing to worry about, yet there are people in the forums I frequent that have been infected. The best protection is to make sure your anti-virus is updated and you’ve installed all of the Windows updates on your machine.

But if you’re still feeling a little paranoid, you can perform a Conficker infection test to make double sure. Takes less than a minute and I felt much better after.

Technorati Tags: Conficker worm, anti-virus, infected computer

According to the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in their April 2009 issue, using a computer can increase your brain power. The results of a study on a number of computer using adults 65 and older found that scores on memory and attention tests compared to adults ten years their junior.

Other benefits were increased hand-eye coordination, distraction from aches and pains, and sharpened focus. Lots of reasons to use your computer (or to encourage your parent or grandparent to).

Go online and you’ll find that many seniors, ranging from 70 to 93 years old, are writing  regularly on a wide range of topics from politics, to local  events, to  gardening and nature.

I see the positive  effects that computer skills have on the  lives of seniors every  day. My 84-year-old mother wanders around the house looking  for a sunny spot to settle down with her laptop. Then she works  on creating her newest ebook, or signs up as an affiliate for a  product  she wants to promote on one of her blogs.

Writing  a blog keeps  minds active, introduces new friends  from around the globe, and  gives seniors a renewed interest  in life.

I wonder if a study should be done to see if  computer-using  seniors live longer? They seem to need extra years to finish  all the  things they want to do!

Technorati Tags: seniors and computer use, increased brain power, blogs