Castellini on Computers FREE Weekly Email NEWSLETTTER
July 30, 2007
We think that we may have the newsletter problem fixed. THANK YOU for your patience!
This is a new service we are trying out for sending you the newsletter. Please also remember that you visit the site any time to read the newsletter, including the past 6-8 issues. Just type "Newsletter" in the search box at HelpMeRick.com |
| In this week's issue. . . |
*** TIP OF THE WEEK
*** GEEK SPEEK OF THE WEEK - (Simple definition of common computer terms)
*** COMPUTER NEWS...and comment
*** LAST WEEK'S POLL RESULTS
*** ADAM'S COMMENTS - Stuff from the digital world that is rolling around in Adam's head.
*** Email of the week |
Tomorrow's
show will be our final episode on the radio. After almost 10 years on
terrestrial radio, we will be transforming into an Internet only
experience. We will continue to run a show similar to the version we
have done on the radio but we will add video tutorials, podcasts,
interactive information and chat.
We aren't going
anywhere, Castellini on Computers is just evolving into HelpMeRick.com,
the lone place on the Internet for beginners and basic users to find
the help they need in adapting to the digital world.
HelpMeRick.com has become the site where computer geeks send their
family and friends to get help with their digital problems. We are very
proud of the direction we are taking with the show and we know that
everyone who continues to follow us on the website will be very
satisfied with the new features we will be adding and the new direction
Castellini on Computers is taking.
We want to thank the thousands of listeners who have joined us over the
past 10 years and made the show and website an authority on solutions
to computer problems of the common man. |
Email your questions to us and we will answer them live on the air or on our daily website updates!
|
CUSTOM COMPUTER HELP FROM RICK & ADAM |
We
have been posting a new how-to video every week since November and the
feedback has been tremendous. Now YOU have the opportunity to get your
own customized video tutorial about a topic that you are having trouble
with or just want to learn.
To learn more, visit: www.HelpMeRick.com/videohelp
|
TIP OF THE WEEK
Backup in Ubuntu |
CLICK HERE TO READ THE TIP AND SEE THE VIDEO ON THE SITE
Since I'm in Day 4 of my Ubuntu 14 day trial, I had to do this week's
tip as another Ubuntu tip. I'm learning much about the Ubuntu...some
things I like, some I don't, but overall it's working pretty well. One
visitor this week asked about backup in Ubuntu and since that is one of
my favorite soap box topics, I researched it for Ubuntu. I found a
program called "Simple Backup". It works and the "how-to" can be found
in this week's video tip on our website.
|
| GEEK SPEEK |
 |
 |
| Mac Mini |
iMac |
You may find yourself buying a new computer this year. This could be a
frightening experience as you read the reviews of Windows Vista and
discover that it is the only operating system found on computers at the
local computer store.
Your friends and family may say, "Why don't you just get a Mac?" This
is a very good question. There was a time when buying a Mac meant
learning something totally new. There was a time when Macs were
quadruple the price of a Windows machine. Those days are gone.
Microsoft has made so many changes to Windows Vista that it is actually
more difficult to learn Vista than it is to learn Mac OS X. This is
debatable, but you will be hard pressed to find anyone who knows both
systems who would not consider Mac as a very reasonable, if not
superior alternative to Windows.
When purchasing your first Macintosh computer, you will want to look at two styles of Macs, the MAC MINI and the iMAC.
iMAC's are very elegant. The monitor, DVD and hard drive are all one
piece. Essentially all you have is a monitor with a keyboard and mouse
attached.
If you already have a monitor that you love, you can save money by
going with a MAC MINI. The MINI is a tiny little computer (about the
size of five CD jewel cases stacked). The MINI is just the computer
without the monitor. You can attach any monitor and USB keyboard and
mouse that you want.
Don't let the size of the MINI or the iMAC fool you, these are very
powerful computers and they are also easy to move. Smaller systems also
means more desk space and fewer wires.
When the day comes that you need a new computer system, give the MAC
MINI and the iMAC a serious look before grabbing the first good deal on
a Windows machine |
| iMac & Mac Mini |
|
| COMPUTER NEWS...and comment |
DELL/LINUX NEWS
Microsoft has to be scared of the future. This week, Dell announced
that they are adding to their line of Ubuntu Linux powered systems.
Since Ubuntu is a free operating system, we have been a little suprised
that the price of the Ubuntu systems isn't much lower than the Windows
systems. In a way, this makes it an even bigger blow to Windows. In
other words, people will pay as much for a system without Windows as
they will for a system with Windows.
In other words, people are paying extra NOT to get Windows Vista on their systems.
THUNDERBIRD NEWS
Thunderbird is an excellent email program designed to compete with
Microsoft Outlook Express. It was established by the Mozilla foundation
a non-profit company that makes the popular Mozilla Firefox web browser.
The
Mozilla foundation announced this week that the Thunderbird team will
be breaking off into it's own group so that Mozilla can focus on the
Firefox browser. The groups will still collaborate on their respective
projects, but the change should result in faster and more stable
developments in both programs.
UBIQUITOUS WIFI NEWS
We just can't get enough of this story. Over the past two weeks we have
passed along the reports of how Sprint is leading the drive on WiMax
technology. Last week we mentioned that they have teamed up with fellow
cell service provider Clearwire Corp in an effort to bring wireless
Internet to 100 million people by the end of 2008.
This
week Sprint made a huge step by teaming up with Google for several
WiMax projects they have on the drawing board. When Google gets
involved, you know it's time to celebrate. It might as well be written
in stone. Sprint would have to shoot themselves in the foot in a big
way to keep their stock from skyrocketing in the next year.
|
| POLL Results |
Do you use the movie feature on your digital camera? |
Next week's poll:
How do you feel about the new newsletter format? |
Yes 36%
No 45%
My camera doesn't do that 6%
I don't know if my camera can do that 1%
I don't have a digital camera 12%
|
| |
| ADAM'S COMMENTS |
I
often wonder how I ended up doing what I do for a living. Deep down I
am a showoff, I love making people laugh. Even if they are laughing at
my expense. In school teachers and friends alike would say things
like, "You're going to be famous some day." Someone told me this as
recently as last month.
Earlier this week I ate
lunch with an old girlfriend and her husband (for the record , she
wasn't married when we were dating and neither was I) and we talked
about what I do for a living. We both laughed about how neither of us
ever expected me to become a computer guy.
I wanted to make movies or be a newspaper columnist. Somehow I ended up
as a computer guy. Oddly enough, I have found a way to spend several
hours per week making people laugh and learn at the same time.
HelpMeRick.com and Castellini on Computers has become an outlet for me
to get my wiggles out after spending the days and weeks helping
businesses get back online and families write letters to their kids in
Iraq.
I think it's interesting that wherever I go and whatever job I have, I
always end up doing the things I love most: helping people, teaching
people, making people laugh and buying cool gadgets.
Deep down, I feel that I am unique. I think that when you are good at
something, you should share it and always be willing learn more.
Why am I writing about this? Because Castellini on Computers is more
than a radio show. It is more than tech support with American accents.
Castellini on Computers and HelpMeRick.com is a place where you can
learn and laugh at stuff presented by two guys who love what they do.
There is no better place to learn about your computer. There is no
better resource for anyone trying to get by in the digital world.
We are not, and never have been computer guys. We are guys who love to
teach and help people who happen to have an aptitude for computers. If
we knew auto mechanics or home repair we would have the best website
and show about those topics, but instead we know computers.
I have loved doing the radio show for the past few years. I am nothing
but excited at the direction we are taking with HelpMeRick.com. Anyone
who fails to follow us to the new format will be missing out on
computer help that no computer guy can duplicate. Hang on tight and
enjoy the ride! |
| EMAIL OF THE WEEK |
Rick and Adam,
Any comments on this free software: www.picnik.com It looks good to me
Bob
----------------
Hello Bob,
Interestingly enough, Adam and I just heard of Picnik a few weeks ago
when a caller alerted us to it. During the show, Adam played with it a
little and found it to be pretty easy to use and straightforward for
basics like cropping, resizing, and even making some slight adjustments
to photos. It won't replace or threaten the throne that Photoshop or
Photoshop Elements sits on any time soon, but it does reinforce what
I've been talking about for about a year or so now; none of us will be
using software we buy at the store for basic productivity applications
in the next few years.
The Web 2.0 (search our site for more info) is coming fast, and the
applications available for it continue to get better and better.
Thanks for writing Bob,
Rick |
Castellini on Computers & HelpMeRick.com ©2007
Rick Castellini and Adam Cochran |
