SLO Bytes PC Users' Group - September 2012 - PUSH Articles Index

Apple, Google, & Microsoft Create Technology Ecosystems by Sandy Berger, CompuKISS. Today’s technology is being separated into ecosystems. Will you buy into Apple’s ecosystem? Google’s ecosystem? Amazon’s? or Microsoft’s? Or perhaps you have already bought into one or the other without even knowing it? This is a must read for anyone purchasing a piece of digital equipment or software.

Behind the Scenes with Legacy, by Bill Ellis, Computer Users of Erie, PA. Have you ever wondered what the Legacy Family Tree program was doing for you as you keyed in your family data? This article lets you in on what the Legacy program is doing behind the scenes and why.

Customizing Labels in Word 2007 by Nancy DeMarte, Sarasota PCUG, FL. Among special projects users can do with Word is creating labels. The word “label” includes all sorts of things like shipping labels, address labels, business cards, name badges, and fabric transfers. Just look in the office stores at the racks of label paper for the range of products. If your members are interested in learning how to customize labels, this article is for them.

Document Your Life with Photo-Graphic Memory by Phil Sorrentino, Sarasota PCUG, FL. A photographic memory is probably something we would all like. And, just think, you can have at least the effect of a photographic memory just by using your camera and your computer to document your activities….your life.

Follow These Points Before Calling Support by Tom Allen, Mountain CUG, GA. Today, it is possible to contact companies in numerous ways. However, when planning to call or e-mail a computer company, keep this article close by and follow the recommended steps.

Get creative with Text Boxes by Nancy DeMarte, Sarasota PCUG, FL. When you use MS Office, you create and edit text all the time. Word, of course, is dominated by Text; Excel and PowerPoint both use text in many of their functions. All recent versions of Office also include a tool called a “text box” for special uses of text. As usual, Nancy gives us a lot of information on the text box topic.

Q & A – I’m thinking about getting a tablet computer by Bill Armstrong, Lehigh Valley Computer Group, PA. One of LVCG’s members got in touch with Bill saying he had oodles of questions about tablets – rather than bugging sales people until he knows a bit more. Even though Bill doesn’t have a tablet he does have a smart phone and gave the member a lot of good information.

Interesting Internet Finds by Steve Costello, Boca Raton Computer Society, FL. In the course of going through the more than 200 news feeds in his Google Reader, he often runs across things that might be of interest to other UG members – check out his list of interesting Web sites.

It’s almost here…when?...soon…when is soon? by Lou Torraca, HI. So now that Windows 8 is imminent, we have to ask ourselves if it will be that much better than Windows 7 (or even Windows XP, for those of us who never bothered upgrading last time). TECCA asked those same questions and dug through the reviews to find some answers. What can you expect from Windows 8? Is it time for you to make a change?

It’s almost here…when?...soon…when is soon? CONTINUED by Lou Torraca, HI. Windows 8 development is complete! This is a huge milestone and accomplishment for the Microsoft team. They said they were going to do it and it’s done!

Keep your friends by Hewie Poplock, Central Florida Computer Society, FL. When you pass on a funny joke or some information to several of your friends, Hewie wants you to do so without jeopardizing their privacy or upsetting them. In other words, don’t their e-mail addresses.

Mac OS Lion – A Leap Ahead by Sandy Berger, CompuKISS. The newest Mac operating system, Lion, has some really nifty features. It catches up to Microsoft Windows 7 in several areas, and then takes it a big leap ahead. Making Your Computer Easier to Use by Nancy DeMarte, Sarasota PCUG, FL. In these days when almost everyone is using a computer, there are many features of operating systems and software that can help users with physical limitations. This article gives an overview of these features and links to some helpful sites for people interested in making the tools work for them.

Microsoft Windows Telephone Scam (no author indicated) – BEWARE! You hear about these scams, maybe one of your members has received a call, but a member in a UG in California has been the victim of a phone scam involving Microsoft. Not the “real” Microsoft, of course.

Mouse-speak by Jim Cerny, Sarasota PCUG, FL. Using your mouse to use your computer is really quite essential. And being able to understand your mouse is a big part of computer communication. Click on…. Double click on…. Drag and more are covered in this article.

Webpage Font Size too small? – Think about Screen Resolution by Phil Sorrentino, Sarasota PCUG, FL. Everything you see on the screen is not as easy to control as the font of the text of a word processing document. Learn how to customer your display and more.

The System Tray Icons by Jim Cerny, Sarasota PCUG, FL. On all editions of Windows, if you look at the lower right corner of your desktop computer screen – next to time and date – you will see some small icons. Learn about the icons in your Systray and what they do.

Tablet or Laptop, a Popular Question …and "Cool App Reviews" by Greg West, APCUG Advisor / Webmaster, Sarnia Computer User’s Group, Canada. Unless you are a ‘hard core’ computer gamer, you can now officially say goodbye to the laptop. Find out what makes tablets so popular.

Text Messaging or "Texting" – Have you tried it yet? by Phil Sorrentino, Sarasota PCUG, FL. If you are under 20, you probably know all of this, and if you’re over 60, you probably think you have no need for texting (unless you want to keep in contact with someone who is under 20), so for all of you in between, this article will be big help.

The Mac Corner – May 2012, by Danny Uff, Lehigh Valley Computer Group, PA. Danny has never bought a case for his iPhone but has changed his ways….find out why and what he likes.

The Tip Corner – July 2012, Bill Sheff, Lehigh Valley Computer Group, PA. Shift+Space Web Browser Navigation, What is Pinning and how do I do it? What happened to Normal View in Word 2007 and 2010? Should I use Sleep, Hibernate or Shut it down? Windows 7 Autoplay Settings are the tips in this article.

The Tip Corner – August 2012, Bill Sheff, Lehigh Valley Computer Group, PA. Restore Last Tab, CD or not CD which side is up? Expanded Windows 7 Defrag Options, e-mail tips and more are in this article.

Using Menus by Jim Cerny, Sarasota PCUG, FL. You walk into MacDonald’s or Burger King and up there on their nice flat-panel display are their menus. Their choices are limited so their menus are short. But if you go to the Ritz and ask for the wine list - - wow, what a list of choices! And their choices are grouped into categories too. Each restaurant has its own menu of choices. So do computer programs.

Using Virtual Operating Systems by Bob Elgines, Colorado River Computer Club. If you have Windows 7 Pro or better you can use Microsoft’s free Virtual program and a free Windows XP copy. If not, or you wish to add more than one Virtual Disk Drive, then use the free Oracle Virtual Program.

What you can do if your mobile phone gets wet by Tom Allen, Mountain Computer User Group, GA. Many of you get your mobile phone wet by one way or another. In order to save your mobile phone from water damage, you might want to follow Tom’s steps to a dry phone.

Where’s the Technology? by Greg Skalka, Under the Computer Hood User Group, CA. With all the political posturing going in this election year, we should be used to promises that go unfulfilled. In the technical arena, we hear a lot about potential new advances; though often wait a long time to see the benefits ourselves.

Wi-Fi on the Road by Hewie Poplock, Central Florida Computer Society, FL. In the past, finding free Wi-Fi away from home was difficult, if not impossible. However, most of the fast food restaurants and many other locations now make Wi-Fi available. But, there is a growing issue of quality of that Wi-Fi.

Your Own Website by Bill Armstrong, Treasurer, Lehigh Valley Computer Group, PA. Web addresses (URLs) are not just for businesses. Many individuals prefer to have their own family address, such as armstrongfamily.org (made up address). Bill’s article covers some things to think about when considering putting a personal Web site together.

These articles have been provided to APCUG by the author solely for publication by APCUG member groups.