Computer Info – February 9, 2000

This Week’s Program

        This week – John Watkins is back again. He will discuss Text effects and clipart in MS-Word. If there is time, he will take questions. Next week, we will again review locating our files along with writing to CD writeable and rewriteables.

Find Your Registration Number For Your Windows

        Someday you may need to do a complete reinstallation of Windows 95/98 and you’ll need your registration number for the installation. If you have lost it, right-click on MY COMPUTER and select PROPERTIES. Write the registration number and keep it with your Startup Disk or write it on your CD. The registration number is the last item under "Registered to:"

Faster, Cheaper Memory

        Rambus could be challenged by a new faster version of PC memory. Double Data Rate Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR DRAM) is looking to be the standard for computer memory.
        The technology has one major factor working in its favor -- it is a derivative of current computer memory; therefore most manufacturers and computer designers should be able to incorporate DDR DRAM chips fairly easily and significantly cheaper than Rambus-based memory, assuming problems aren't encountered along the way. DDR is essentially a version of computer memory called SDRAM, but it processes data twice as fast. SDRAM chips being inserted into PCs today provide data to the processor at 100 MHz or 133 MHz. DDR runs at the same speed, but because it can cycle through twice the amount of data in the same period of time, it effectively functions at 200 MHz or 266 MHz.

Buying a New Computer

Should I buy a cheaper, no-name brand?
        With computers, as with anything, you get what you pay for. Cheaper brands may be more prone to act up, but the real difference seems to be in service and support.

Should I buy a laptop?
        Dollar for dollar a desktop will always give you more for your money. In addition, laptops are much more difficult to upgrade down the road, and parts usually cost more. Laptop owners can forget about most do-it-yourself repairs.
        The advantages are – they fit into smaller spaces and are portable.

Should I buy a package deal that includes a printer or scanner?
        Package deals can be good bargains – BUT, you should investigate the individual items before purchasing. Package prices usually include the lowest-priced printer or scanner, which may not be good enough to meet your needs.

Cookies

        A cookie is a piece of data, not program code, sent from a Web server to your browser when your browser requests information from the server. Cookies are stored on your hard drive.
        By reading your cookie file, a web site will know that you have visited before.
        A cookie cannot carry a virus. A cookie is a data file. Only programs or macros can carry a virus.
        Can a server find out my name, e-mail address, or other personal data with a cookie? NO. A cookie is data, not a program. Cookies can take no action on your system.
        Who can read cookies on my computer? Only the site that sent you a cookie can read it. Cookies are readable only by the sites that sent them.
        Can companies use cookies to track my buying habits? Yes, this is one of the unsavory uses of cookies.

Backing Up Your Outlook Express Address Book

        While you are in Outlook Express, choose TOOLS from the top menu and then choose ADDRESS BOOK.
        When the address book is open, choose FILE from the top menu and then choose EXPORT – then ADDRESS BOOK(WAB). This will open up the screen where you determine where you want to save it to. If you place a floppy in your floppy drive, then type A:ADDRESS BOOK.WAB and then click on the SAVE button.
        By the way, this gives you a purpose of what to do with a floppy disk – which many people have ask about.

Firetalk

                                  http://www.firetalk.com
        Firetalk is similar to Yahoo Pager. It is just another way to communicate while on the Internet. The phone calls you make with their program are between two people who are online with their Internet provider and are both running the Firetalk software. The reports are that the voice quality is always high-even on a 28k connection.
        Firetalk users can quickly initiate conference calls where everyone can speak as though they were all in one room together. Firetalk's conference calling service is easy to use, and as natural as talking face to face (full duplex). Click on the telephone icon next to the names of several people in your Firetalk address book (your brothers and sisters or your entire team at work) to start a conference call.
        Send a private instant message to anyone in your Firetalk address book.
        Firetalk's free voice mail service lets users send electronic voice messages to any other Firetalk user (either on-line or off line). Record a brief voice mail message and send it to another Firetalk user with a single click. Use voice mail when you need to communicate a message that simply doesn't come through with text alone.
        Firetalk is easy to download and free to use.

Starting a New Page in Word

How do I begin a new page in Word before the current page is full?
        To manually create a new page in Word, press the CTRL-ENTER. This method is better than pressing ENTER until you move to the next page.

Email Messages in Netscape

        When viewing your messages in Netscape, you can display different columns by clicking on the arrows at the far right of the column names (subject – sender – date – priority). IF YOU HAPPEN TO LOSE SOME OF YOUR COLUMNS OR ALL OF YOUR COLUMNS, try clicking on these arrows – and you might be surprised that your columns return.