I’ll make some tweaks to your browser and speed up your internet browsing experience without you having to call Time Warner or Verizon and pay more for your Internet. Let me come over and make a few adjustments.
You’ll be amazed at how much faster (and safer) your web pages are loading, all for one $40 appointment.
Call me today to set up a time!
Because I teach people how to use their new gadgets, I’m often asked what I recommend they do with their old ones.
Depending on how old it is and what condition, I recommend that you try and sell it, recycle it, or give it to charity.
Several years ago, I sold my mom’s really old laptop on cash for laptops for $70 and it was really easy working with them. They sent a shipping box and everything. Now, Best Buy has a webpage where you can submit information about your gadget. They will tell you the value, give you a gift certificate or recycle it for you if it has no value.
In any case, you must wipe out your personal information. You might have passwords, tax documents, contacts, personal photos, home videos or other sensitive data that you don’t want falling into the wrong hands.
The most Important thing for you to know is that deleted files are not really gone – they’re just hidden. Anyone who knows what they’re doing can find them.
To keep your information safe, you need to permanently wipe it out. I won’t go into all details here because it’s pretty technical and not of interest to most people.
However, if you want to know all the details, I’ll be happy to teach you. Or, if you don’t want to know, I’ll be happy to do it for you.
I’m sure you’ll have questions about your new device that I can answer as well.
If anyone calls you and says they are from Microsoft and you have a problem on your computer, hang up. It’s a scam! Microsoft does not have the time or staff to monitor your computer. Never let someone access your computer remotely unless you know them. One of my clients was victimized this week so I wanted to remind you again.
External hard drives are not the best solution for your back ups! Hard drives can fail and, if your house were to burn down or be burglarized, you could lose your back up along with your computer. It’s so sad when people lose valuable docs and precious photos. There are many cloud-based back-up options available. Many of them offer free storage. Please be sure you have back-up systems in place.
It is really dangerous to continue to use Windows XP! Recently a local business was held hostage by a hacker who kidnapped their files and demanded a ransom of $500 within 30 minutes or $1000 if it took more than 30 minutes. You must have an operating system that is supported by frequent updates and always allow the updates to install.
Summer’s here and everyone is spending more time indoors and online. Want your internet faster? Want to get rid of those annoying ads? Who doesn’t? I’ve learned some tricks I can pass along to you in my Summer Special (one hour @ $40). If you aren’t in The Desert, we can do it online.
I’ll get rid of those ads and speed up your internet browsing experience without you having to call Time Warner or Verizon and pay more for your Internet. Let me come over and make a few adjustments and before you know it, you’ll be amazed at how much faster (and safer) your web pages are loading. Call today for an appointment!
Before I started my Computer and Gadget Education Business, I worked for Greg Jones who runs Desert Welcome, Locals Choice Printing and The Five Star Guide. One of the techie things I did for him was a “Top Events of the Desert” e-newsletter. I still do it for him every month.
Here is a link to the July issue. Click here. I hope you enjoy it. You might want to forward it to your friends.
If you would like to make comments or suggestions, you can enter them in the “comments” section below.
Since you spend more time indoors in the summer, It’s is an excellent time for you and your friends to learn new computer and gadget tips and tricks. I’m here for you all summer, so just give me a call to arrange a time for private sessions or Playshops.
Thanks!
Mardi
“Restoring Peace and joy in the world through computer and gadget education.”
This Wednesday was my turn to present my business at the Desert Networking Professionals (DNP) weekly breakfast meeting. My topic was “Having a Computer Is Like Having a Car.”
I believe one of the reasons my clients are frustrated by their computers and gadgets is due to unrealistic expectations. If you consider that having a computer is like having a car, you will have a different perspective. First, you don’t even have to have a computer or car if you don’t want to. Really…some people don’t have one. However, you might think it’s a necessity for your lifestyle or your business. If you choose to get one, there will be some training involved in learning to drive it. There are rules you need to follow, or you’ll get into trouble. You have to have insurance (back ups and anti virus protection), and, from time to time, it will need tune-ups, and repairs. You can pay a professional to teach you to drive it and to do the repairs, or you can get a book or do research online and learn how to do it yourself. It’s a choice. If you choose to do it yourself, there is going to be a learning curve, some mistakes, and it’s going to take longer. That’s just the way it is. And you have choices.
I hope that this analogy will help everyone to have more realistic expectations and make peace with the ups and downs of the technology world. I hope that everyone will have the insurance of backups and anti-virus protection. I hope that everyone will choose to learn how to use the gadgets and gizmos and be able to function with ease and joy. And, I recommend that you call a professional when there are problem or questions. After all, having peace and joy in our lives is all about expectations. Let’s be realistic, do the few things that need to be done, and focus on enjoying the many benefits of computer technology.
If you need help with any of these things, please let me know. I promise I will make it as easy, fun, painless and affordable as possible.
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Have you ever done video calling? It’s really fun and I’m finding that many of my clients use it to stay in touch with their children and grandchildren.
You can get loved ones together on the same group video call — in just a few clicks. You can even show your screen. It’s great for making travel plans, group decisions or sharing your holiday photos with everyone on the call. Whether you’re planning a party or just want to catch up with friends and family, group video calling lets you get together with everyone all at once — no matter where they are.
Last Christmas, I was visiting my daughter and her fiancé in Colorado and we opened gifts with his family in Texas via the Skype app on their big screen TV. It was so much fun…almost as good as being together in person. What a great way to bring families together! I highly recommend it.
The Skype app is free and can be downloaded to your computer and all your gadgets. The people you want to video call, have to have the app too and have to accept your invitation. To see how it works on Skype Click here
If you use Apple products you can use Face Time. The people you call, must be Apple product users also so they can use the Face Time app. See how to do it
If you, and the people you want to video call, have gmail accounts, you can do video calls right from gmail, or you can use the free Google Hangouts app. See the instructions here
If you, or someone you know would like personal tutoring to learn how to do this, or if you want to invite a group of friends and learn together in a “Play Shop,” just let me know. Thanks!
This email joke is especially funny to me because it was sent to me by one of my Senior, tutoring clients. She is a very active and involved lady and knows how to use her computer very well, but she gets really frustrated when things don’t work right. She’s always a good sport about it though, and obviously has a great sense of humor. Thanks Florence! You made my day!
Why Computers Sometimes Crash! by Dr. Seuss
If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,
and the bus is interrupted at a very last resort,
and the access of the memory makes your floppy disk abort
then the socket packet pocket has an error to report.
If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash,
and the double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash,
and your data is corrupted cause the index doesn’t hash,
then your situation’s hopeless and your system’s gonna crash!
If the label on the cable on the table at your house,
says the network is connected to the button on your mouse,
but your packets want to tunnel to another protocol,
that’s repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall.
And your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss,
so your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse;
then you may as well reboot and go out with a bang,
‘cuz sure as I’m a poet, the sucker’s gonna hang.
When the copy on your floppy’s getting sloppy in the disk,
and the macro code instructions is causing unnecessary risk,
then you’ll have to flash the memory and you’ll want to RAM your ROM,
and then quickly turn off the computer and be sure to tell your Mum!
Well, that certainly clears things up for me.
How about you?
You may not know that I have another passion as a Spiritual Life Teacher and Facilitator. I’m starting a 6 week class on Saturday at The Center for Spiritual Living and thought I would post it here in case anyone is interested. I encourage anyone who might be interesed to come to the first class, learn more and then decide if they want to take all 6.
Here is the link to the details on my website. Click here
The Desert Computer Tutor 