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Castellini on Computers Free Weekly
Email Newsletter
November 7, 2007
Hear
(and see) our show LIVE
Every Thursday night at 9:30 PM MST
or
Visit HelpMeRick.com ANY time to download or hear
any of our shows.
Spelling and
punctuation guaranteed to be at least 78 percent accurate
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In this week's
issue. . .
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*** 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
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Last
week's show was a demonstration of the excellence that Castellini on
Computers can achieve with the new online format. We almost had three
shows going on simultaneously.
As we worked at making a show that would be interesting as a podcast
throughout the week we used the webcam to make an interesting visual
program. All the while the chatroom was buzzing with a great conversation
that ranged from basic computer help to politics and movies.
Whether you are a fan of our past radio show or not you must join in
for the new experience that is the new Castellini on Computers.
Much of our newsletter problems have also
been resolved. Make sure you add the following address to your accepted
or non-spam list (without the spaces and use @ symbol instead of the
word 'at') so that the email will get through to you: response26262629
at zinester.com.
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Email your
questions to us and we will answer them live on the air or on
our daily website updates!
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Custom
Computer Help from Rick and Adam
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We have been posting a new how-to video
every week since November 2006 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
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Tip of the Week
Computers and the
Internet are changing - Video Tip
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View the Video Here
I have written and talked a lot about Web 2.0, new cheaper, safer, and
easier to use computers. Today, I wanted to demonstrate, very briefly,
what some of the Web 2.0 applications look and act like. Watch the
short video above to see how Zoho and Google Docs look and operate. You
WILL be amazed... |
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Geek
Speek |
Open Source is written as one word, two words
and hyphenated.
We have covered this term a number of times in the past, but as a term
gets more popular we like to define it more often for those who are
just discovering it.
Open Source is software that is developed by a community. The one
universal requirement of Open Source software is that the code for the
base program is freely available for modification, manipulation and
distribution.
Typically there is a belief among those involved in Open Source work
that everyone will work together and share their work to improve upon a
program for continued progress, improvement and ingenuity.
Open Source software is often thought of as being free. While a large
share of Open Source software is free, this is not a
requirement.
This week Google announced the new Android platform, an Open Source
operating system based on Linux for cell phones.
Using the above definition, this means that before long, phones that
run on Palm, Windows Mobile, Blackberry and Mac platforms will be
replaced by a new system that can be legally modified and updated by
the user.
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Open Source
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Computer
News...and comment
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Google
Announces New Smartphone Platform
A platform in computer speak is a foundation or standard to which
programmers develop software.
Google announced that they have ganged up with a growing number of
companies (currently the number is 33) to develop an Open
Source platform for portable phones.
Many people do not realize the power of
Google goes beyond searching the web.
Here is a long, yet incomplete, list of everything Google has
to offer. Make sure to check out the labs section, that's
like the Area 51 of Google.
Computer
Festival Draws Out the Geeks
Computers
have officially been
around long enough to become antiques.
Thousands gathered at the Vintage Computer Festival at
the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif. to see and buy
rare old computer equipment.
Here's a link to Cnet's coverage of the event
(4 minute video).
Leopard
is Awesome, but Not Perfect
Apple's newest operating system, Leopard, came out last
week and it offers dozens of improvements. If you are looking to
install it though, you may want to back everything up and do a little
research before hand.
While no one is discouraging the upgrade, there are a
few quirks that can mess up the install and if you are concerned about
security, you may want to wait for Apple to patch some of the wholes
that have been discovered.
Christmas
Computer Sales Have Begun
Walmart.com kicked off the Holiday shopping season this week with a
"secret sale." Among the popular items up for grabs were an Acer laptop
for $348 and an HD-DVD player for $99.
Upon visiting the site for the deals, you can subscribe to be notified
via email on future secret sales.
The Walmart gimmick is already causing a rift as Best Buy tried to
price match on the $99 HD-DVD player which was revealed to be
discontinued. Best Buy kept the competition alive by replacing the
unfulfilled orders with a newer model typically costing $200.
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Poll
Results
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Do you own any Google stock?
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Next
week's poll:
Have you ever clicked on an ad at HelpMeRick.com?
(Please
do so before you vote.)
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YE$
3%
No, but I sure wish I did
71%
Not yet, but I'm looking to buy.
3%
I don't play the stock market.
24% |
Contrary
to rumor, Castellini on Computers will not be affected by the ongoing
Hollywood writers strike. Expect fresh new episodes throughout the
coming weeks. Take a time off from the reruns and visit HelpMeRick.com
often.
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Adam's Comments
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Computer bargains are all over the place! This week I must have seen
two dozen offers that I would have purchased if I only had the funds.
When I think back to all of the computer sales I have seen come and go
over the years that I have been helping our listeners answer
their computer
questions, this will probably be one of the best ever.
I can't help but wonder how much richer I would be if I had actually
been paid for all of the time I have put into the Castellini
on
Computers show and newsletter over the past six years.
I was telling my wife and four small children about some of the great
computer deals this week as they ate their mush and hash goulash.
My son Tim said to my wife, "I don't need an iPod Touch mum, I am just
happy to have my health." My daughter, Pollyanna, added, "I only wish I
had Guitar Hero III so that the kids at school would want to be friends
with me."
I explained that you can't buy friends with material things and money.
"Yes," yelled my wife, from the room without a computer. "We mus'n't
fuss
about things we don't have. But it sure is hard being a good wife and
mum
without a Palm Centro."
I think tomorrow I will sneak away for a while and see if I can trade
my pocket watch for that new electric comb I saw in the Sharper Image
catalogue.
Whenever I get down about the things I am lacking, I just remind myself
and family that the Holidays are more about giving than receiving. For
example, $200 would give a PSP, $300 an iPod Touch, $400 an iPod
Centro, $3000 a Canon Realis X700 HD projector.
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Email of the week
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Hello
Rick,
I have a new HP laptop with Vista Home Premium but do not like it
at all. I have an older HP Laptop that came with Windows Xp Home. How
can I get rid of Vista and use the Recover disk with XP (older
computer) and install Xp on my new computer??
Gary
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Hello Gary,
I can't tell you how many people have called and written with your
sentiments about Windows Vista. You cannot use your old recover disks
on a new computer. However, I would try one of the two scenarios below
to get your new system up and running with XP and dump Vista: Option 1:
Order a Windows XP disk from www.newegg.com and use it to reformat and
install XP on your machine. Before doing so, however, do some research
and make sure you can find Windows XP drivers (instructions) that your
computer needs for the video, audio, Ethernet, wireless, and modem. You
can find these at either the HP support site or by searching the sites
of the manufacturers who created the device. Option 2: Contact
HP directly and ask them if they have an XP "kit" available for your
model of computer. We have read and heard stories about computer makers
who are offering this service for disgruntled Vista owners. Option 3:
I just though of this one...dump Windows altogether and upgrade to
Ubuntu Linux for FREE. Ubuntu is proving to be an extremely capable,
safe, and well supported operating system. Good luck.
Rick
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Castellini
on Computers & HelpMeRick.com ©2007
Rick Castellini and Adam Cochran
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