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Computer Resolutions For The New Year (Part 1)

Notes from today's Seminar:

Address Books

This is a great time to go through your address book and clean out invalid emails (@adelphia.net, for example) and to weed out the addresses of unknown contacts or people who have moved on from our lives.

Take this opportunity to convert your address book from just names and email addresses to a full-fledged contact ledger - you can include addresses, birthdays, spouses and children info, all kinds of information.  Make your address book a real tool.

Finally, almost all address books allow you to categorize your contacts (Friends, Family, etc.).  You should learn how to do that and start taking advantage of this useful utility.

Search Resolutions

We had a long discussion about the definition is of a "browser."  (Remember, a browser is software which converts a web page - which is really code - into something useful for the average person.)  I explained the history behind Internet Explorer 6.0 and how FireFox came about because of the security issues with IE 6.0.  I also gave you the definition of "open source."  (Software code open to anyone who wants to use it, change it, write it, etc.)  I showed the new Google Chrome browser (click to read more).  We concluded that, for most people, with the advent of IE 7 and IE 8, there's little reason for most people to switch from the browser they are currently using.

I explained that, except for Google Chrome, most browsers have an address bar and a search bar.  If you know the address (e.g., www.microsoft.com) then you should type that in the address bar; if you only know a subject (e.g., software companies) then you should use the search bar.

We also talked about the search "extras" sometimes called "Advanced Search."  By using these extra features, you can narrow your search results.  For instance, entering Keystone Computer Concepts in a search bar will give you many more results than if you entered "Keystone Computer Concepts" because the quotation marks instruct the search engine to handle the search differently.  Be sure to experiment with advanced search options and see how they change your results.

Picture Resolutions

We talked about the fact that your pictures are not stored in "Kodak Easy Share" or "Paint Shop Pro" or "HP Photo."  Those kinds of programs allow you to manipulate pictures but the pictures themselves are stored elsewhere, usually in a folder under (My) Pictures.

You should rename folders and pictures names after you take them off your camera.   Organize your camera pictures so they are easily found and simply identified.

You should  resize most photos before you send them.  Some photo and email programs will do this automatically.  Windows Vista will give you resize options IF you are using an email client on your own machine (Vista Mail, Outlook) from the SEND TO menu.

For those still using Windows XP, you can install a neat little tool which will put resizing a photo in the right-click menu.  You'll find it on the following page of Microsoft Tools for XP.  It's called Image Resize.  Go to the site HERE.

Malware Resolutions

Remember - bad people use:
Fear - Example:  You have 765 spyware infections on your computer.  Click here to correct this problem.  Don't fall victim to "scare tactic" pop ups!

Doubt 99%, Trust 1%

When in doubt, say NO!

Thanks to everyone for all the good questions!

Previous Seminars

Someone asked if our previous seminars are still online and available.  The answer is "Yes!"  Here are the links:

Thanks again for coming.  We hope you learned a few things and that you enjoyed our time together!

Please remember to check our website for deals on computer-related equipment - under our affiliate listings:

http://www.keystonecomputerconcepts.com/index2.html is the direct link which will by-pass our animated intro.