I bought a pack of 10 lightscribe CD-R disks. I haven't done anything really fancy with it yet, but I did copy the data from my research project onto one, and labeled the disk using lightscribe. It was fairly intuitive, and made for a nice professional-looking "deliverable".
Where I live, many people are using their computers just for e-mail and a little surfing, and are quick to say they are "computer illiterate", although that is not entirely true.
Although I consider myself to be a computer user of medium knowledge (and not even that much, in this Able Minds crowd!) my friends here in da U.P. think I am a computer whiz.
I can tell that some of my friends around here are motivated to learn more about their computers, but are too intimated to even start. And they don't even know what to ask.
They get the "deer in the headlights" look when I even use terms like "operating system", although they do seem to know which browser they use, although they may not know that it IS a browser.
We all had to start someplace. A lot of these people are senior citizens and I have got to hand it to them to even be trying, much less to not throw the computer out the window when some of these things frustrate them. If I hadn't learned some basic programming (business school evening courses while still attending high school, way back in the early 70s) I would have been just as lost and intimidated the first time I got on a PC. Also, watching my son navigate around a computer system, I have learned a lot, but he does everything so fast, I can't always follow what he's doing.
Is there a book anyone could recommend, to teach myself more about basic operating and troubleshooting, so I could try to help my friends more with these kinds of things?
I can usually intuit my way around my own computer, but when dealing with someone else's computer, especially over the phone, I'd like to get myself to a more knowledgeable level.
Thanks for any constructive suggestions you may be able to offer.
An author by the name of Ruth Maran has a decent series of computer books out. She covers a wide range of computer programs, hardware and the like. Typically they're designed for the start out users, and have a lot of visuals, almost to the point of being a kids book. Still, even with my level of computer knowledge, I found good information in them.
They do seem to be aimed at the intimidated crowd though. It couldn't hurt to check one out and see if you think it would work. I thought they were a decent substitute to a book that labels you a dummy or an idiot.
I think 70% of he problem with "understanding" computers is fear. Kind of like a car engine - the first time you look inside when the engine is running you flinch and slam the hood shut. Eventually you'll know what part is the battery, radiator, blinker fluid, etc...
Computers all have the same essential parts - and once you understand their role - it's not too hard to figure out which is which - even in a model you've never seen before. I just thank God that my Mac can pop open with one lever, and I can change a chip out without losing a finger. 6-7 years ago you needed chain mail gloves to reach inside an pull something out.
Computer SOFTWARE on the other hand, is a complete screw job. The industry as a whole is making software on an actual disk ancient history. Everything REQUIRES internet updates to run, and REQUIRES internet access to work. I cannot stand the idea of having to connect with Big Brother on a daily basis just to operate. One thing that is nice about Mac is you still have the ability to shut off those updates, and time them to only do it when you want to. Windows lost that power years ago - or just buried it so deep its a lost cause.
My parents have a modern computer - but it runs like crap because Dell, MacAffee and Windows just assumes everyone has DSL or faster internet and are on the network 24-7. Another thing I have is my DSL modem is mounted right on my desk - where I can turn it OFF whenever I want and disconnect.
If I can help a few people see computers more basically, this will be well worth my time!
The things I don't have to do very often, I sometimes forget how to do them, or even where to look, but I have the time and inclination to figure them out - most of the time.
But, as you said, for the occasional user, it can get pretty overwhelming, in terms of all the software updates and connectivity requirements today.
One thing I'm finding that this senior group really enjoys is using their digital cameras and then sharing photos online. That is really cool to see how they have taken to that, and perhaps I can use it as a starting point to get their confidence up for trying other things.
Thanks, youse guys, for your thoughtful responses!
I used lightscribe for the copies of the CC photos I copied for people either last year or the year before. I like it, but it is fairly slow and I had to do it a few times to get it really dark. But I was able to put personalized photos on them.
Check out the other products at that KaleCo Auto Site - there's a TON of stuff I never knew I needed - like a Left Hand Metric Screwdriver and a Wiper Blade Sharpener!
Obviously you should still get to restarting your computer eventually, but really, Windows - how many times in an hour do we need to be reminded that you're desperate for our restarting attention? Just let us work. —
That reminds me. Just a general note to everybody. Microsoft will be pushing Service Pack 3 for Windows XP in a few weeks. Those with automatic updates turned on will probably notice. It's different than your normal windows update or security patch, since it's a bigger file to update the OS. That means it will probably take longer to download and install. And yes, most likely it'll force you to reboot the PC.
Ok so I have a question that I need some help with I have someone who has a lap top and has duel monitors for it but it wont allow him to split the signal what needs to be done to have this happen on a lap top I can do it all day on a PC is it going to be the same thing??
So is the idea to have the same display on both the external monitor and the laptop's built in monitor?
If it's two external monitors, and you want One display, it gets more tricky. I don't think you can just get a splitter, there's something more hardware related to make it work. It might need a PCMCIA graphics card to work in conjuction with the VGA output from the Laptop.
he has a Nvidea grapix card in it!! that has duel monitor out put cap. he said And I need to do this I am trying out for a job with him and thats why I am doing it!! he owns his own co. and needs someone that can do this type stuff!! not for a lot of money but it will get me some!!
oh.. Well in that case, it should either have two monitor outputs on the laptop, or it needs an adapter cable that should have come with it?
My next question would be what kind of monitor connection does it have? just a standard VGA? Or is it a DVI?
Unfortunately, there's no way of splitting one standard monitor output into two seperate monitor displays, with the exception of having both of them display the exact same thing. My guess with one output connection, they would use some of the unused pins on the VGA or DVI connection pinout for a second monitor output. Then if you use a specialized splitter cable, you'd get two monitor outputs.
It is just a VGA out on the lap top!! I know in my software for my grapix card I have the option to run duel or single!!
So I figer it would just be something like that!! I have to get going and find out what I am looking at so PM me and I will give you my number and give you a call later and talk about it if you have time to!!
ok thats what I saw on it!! the computer also has a S-vid out and it works with a S-vid to RCA adapter! the card says it has Tv out capability's but it just dosnt seem to want to work!!
yeah, using the svideo connector will be your best bet then. I'm kinda surprised it doesn't have a standard RCA out. But then, when has anything ever standardized anyway?
The CCFL bulb that is used to backlight the LCD screen appears to be out on one side. I can still use it (obviously) but the brightness and contrast control is almost completely gone.
I didn't get any 'warning' signs - no flickering or change of color - turned it on yesterday and had a dim screen. It seems like a simple enough repair, but I don't know If I can find parts. Warranty was over a long time ago - I got it Christmas 2004.
Here's a couple links I found - anyone think I can fix it myself?
My LCD Monitor is Liquid Video Model E19LCD1 (19")
In 2004 the damn thing cost me $400 and that was a sweet deal back then. I'm positive replacing the backlight will bring it back to 'brand new' status. Even if I have to get a new one, I can still link this back up as a dual monitor.
Interesting problem, I'd never heard of it till you posted it. But it makes sense. I suppose in a few years, that will be what repair shops will switch to mainly fixing, given CRTs are going the way of the dinosaur.
I also liked the thoughts on the 1st link about white LEDs instead of CCFLs, hopefully some manufacturers will pick up on that in time and offer models lit by LCDs. That should improve the longevity of a LCD monitor by decades, hopefully anyway.
I did some searching and found they already have some LED backlit screens on the market - but you're paying for it - to the tune of about $1,100 for a cheap one.
I ended up getting the Samsung 22" Best Buy Memorial 2-Day special for about $220.
for the street address, they used the "Dildo Room" at "69 Dick Tard Lane."
Ha hah ha
"If he wasn't such a prick, he could have avoided all of that," says EBK. "I wasn't even really thinking. Plus, I'm just so mad at Comcast. I'm tired of their shitty service."
This guys pretty stupid
"I slept in my clothes, because the last time they came, I was in my underwear with my dong hanging out and shit," says Defiant.
Busted!
Defiant began hacking about three years ago, when he was kicked out of high school for possession of narcotics at the age of 16. "I wound up assaulting the school resource office," he says. He entered a home schooling program, but didn't take to it, and gravitated to the internet. There he "bumped into the wrong people."
not too smart eh?
"Comcast is just a huge corporation, and we wanted to take them out, and we did," he says.
I'm sure the judge will be happy to hear that!
"I was trying to say we shouldn't do this the whole damn time," says Defiant.
"But once we were in," adds EBK, "it was, like, fuck it."
So that's why I had problems with email yesterday afternoon...
Yeah, I'm not a fan of this free macaffee "protection" comcast offers.
"The hackers say the attack began Tuesday, when the pair used a combination of social engineering and a technical hack to get into Comcast's domain management console at Network Solutions. They declined to detail their technique, but said it relied on a flaw at the Virginia-based domain registrar."
Sounds like they just got a comcast admin's password. That would be the social engineering attack. There's nothing technical about it.
Elegant? Pfft, it's the same stupid pranks kids have pulled for years. Odds are the guys were too stupid to pull off anything more than what they did anyway.
I love their screenshot.
Looks like even a "hacker" has time to purchase items on ebay while "hacking".
The damn video player doesn't work on this site for me. I'm getting tired of this update crap. Even high-speed internet doesn't make this easier to swallow.
If Adobe's Flash video is going to be the industry standard, then MAKE it a standard and quit doing these goddamn updates every three weeks! Each 'bug fix' delivers a new bug that's harder to fix! Why do we have to (literally) toss our cookies every few days just so one particular web site works properly?
Its probly not the flash player. Its Norton ad blocking or a pop up blocker. I had the same issues until I didabled it. Some videos would work, others would say I need an update. I went crazy trying to figure it out only to find out it wasn't flash player at all. I finally found the answer by googling the error message and reading hundreds of posts to find the "real" problem.
Mac. No Norton. No Popup blocker. Cookies are all enabled. Firefox 2.0. Adobe Flash version 9 as of this morning.
YouTube has always worked. Metacafe always worked until about a year ago. Any TV network video that did not work, worked fine after a Flash upgrade.
Right now Metacafe videos load and play with audio but a black screen. If you go into the 'edit' menu the video shows fine. Goofy. That AOL video link did not even load at all, even though the rest of the page loaded fine.
A few months ago there was a really weird quirk on Metacafe. The video clip would load and play with a blank white screen. If you scrolled the web page up or down so that the very top/bottom edge of the video screen was out of frame, the video image would show up. Ultra-goofy.
Although I consider myself to be a computer user of medium knowledge (and not even that much, in this Able Minds crowd!) my friends here in da U.P. think I am a computer whiz.
I can tell that some of my friends around here are motivated to learn more about their computers, but are too intimated to even start. And they don't even know what to ask.
They get the "deer in the headlights" look when I even use terms like "operating system", although they do seem to know which browser they use, although they may not know that it IS a browser.
We all had to start someplace. A lot of these people are senior citizens and I have got to hand it to them to even be trying, much less to not throw the computer out the window when some of these things frustrate them. If I hadn't learned some basic programming (business school evening courses while still attending high school, way back in the early 70s) I would have been just as lost and intimidated the first time I got on a PC. Also, watching my son navigate around a computer system, I have learned a lot, but he does everything so fast, I can't always follow what he's doing.
Is there a book anyone could recommend, to teach myself more about basic operating and troubleshooting, so I could try to help my friends more with these kinds of things?
I can usually intuit my way around my own computer, but when dealing with someone else's computer, especially over the phone, I'd like to get myself to a more knowledgeable level.
Thanks for any constructive suggestions you may be able to offer.
They do seem to be aimed at the intimidated crowd though. It couldn't hurt to check one out and see if you think it would work. I thought they were a decent substitute to a book that labels you a dummy or an idiot.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Ruth%20Maran
I think the one I looked through was called "Computers Simplified" or something like that, but there are tons of titles as you can see.
Computers all have the same essential parts - and once you understand their role - it's not too hard to figure out which is which - even in a model you've never seen before. I just thank God that my Mac can pop open with one lever, and I can change a chip out without losing a finger. 6-7 years ago you needed chain mail gloves to reach inside an pull something out.
Computer SOFTWARE on the other hand, is a complete screw job. The industry as a whole is making software on an actual disk ancient history. Everything REQUIRES internet updates to run, and REQUIRES internet access to work. I cannot stand the idea of having to connect with Big Brother on a daily basis just to operate. One thing that is nice about Mac is you still have the ability to shut off those updates, and time them to only do it when you want to. Windows lost that power years ago - or just buried it so deep its a lost cause.
My parents have a modern computer - but it runs like crap because Dell, MacAffee and Windows just assumes everyone has DSL or faster internet and are on the network 24-7. Another thing I have is my DSL modem is mounted right on my desk - where I can turn it OFF whenever I want and disconnect.
If I can help a few people see computers more basically, this will be well worth my time!
The things I don't have to do very often, I sometimes forget how to do them, or even where to look, but I have the time and inclination to figure them out - most of the time.
But, as you said, for the occasional user, it can get pretty overwhelming, in terms of all the software updates and connectivity requirements today.
One thing I'm finding that this senior group really enjoys is using their digital cameras and then sharing photos online. That is really cool to see how they have taken to that, and perhaps I can use it as a starting point to get their confidence up for trying other things.
Thanks, youse guys, for your thoughtful responses!
http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesTitle/productCd-0470240555.html
These guys sell it by the quart: But I swear they NEVER have it in stock:
 Blinker Fluid by the Quart
They DO have a flux capacitor: AND it's on sale!
Flux Capacitor Model FLUX62
Don't forget these essentials:
Car to Tank Conversion Kit
Car to Plane Conversion Kit
Check out the other products at that KaleCo Auto Site - there's a TON of stuff I never knew I needed - like a Left Hand Metric Screwdriver and a Wiper Blade Sharpener!
Thanks!
Obviously you should still get to restarting your computer eventually, but really, Windows - how many times in an hour do we need to be reminded that you're desperate for our restarting attention? Just let us work. —
here is how to get rid of that nag screen
:frown:
joe
If it's two external monitors, and you want One display, it gets more tricky. I don't think you can just get a splitter, there's something more hardware related to make it work. It might need a PCMCIA graphics card to work in conjuction with the VGA output from the Laptop.
My next question would be what kind of monitor connection does it have? just a standard VGA? Or is it a DVI?
Unfortunately, there's no way of splitting one standard monitor output into two seperate monitor displays, with the exception of having both of them display the exact same thing. My guess with one output connection, they would use some of the unused pins on the VGA or DVI connection pinout for a second monitor output. Then if you use a specialized splitter cable, you'd get two monitor outputs.
So I figer it would just be something like that!! I have to get going and find out what I am looking at so PM me and I will give you my number and give you a call later and talk about it if you have time to!!
The same place where all of your IT calls are routed to. :eyeroll:
Oh SHOOT! Now I ruined the surprise! Me and my big keyboard.... :eyeroll:
http://www.antonline.com/p_AUD-2350-NX_504032.htm
"Works with graphics cards that have TV-out function capability through the VGA connector"
This won't work on just any VGA output connection.
The CCFL bulb that is used to backlight the LCD screen appears to be out on one side. I can still use it (obviously) but the brightness and contrast control is almost completely gone.
I didn't get any 'warning' signs - no flickering or change of color - turned it on yesterday and had a dim screen. It seems like a simple enough repair, but I don't know If I can find parts. Warranty was over a long time ago - I got it Christmas 2004.
Here's a couple links I found - anyone think I can fix it myself?
My LCD Monitor is Liquid Video Model E19LCD1 (19")
http://www.inventgeek.com/projects/shorts/overview.aspx
http://www.lcdparts.net/howto/selectccfl.aspx
http://www.lcdparts.net/ccfldetail.aspx?ProductCCFL=MS26413
In 2004 the damn thing cost me $400 and that was a sweet deal back then. I'm positive replacing the backlight will bring it back to 'brand new' status. Even if I have to get a new one, I can still link this back up as a dual monitor.
I also liked the thoughts on the 1st link about white LEDs instead of CCFLs, hopefully some manufacturers will pick up on that in time and offer models lit by LCDs. That should improve the longevity of a LCD monitor by decades, hopefully anyway.
I ended up getting the Samsung 22" Best Buy Memorial 2-Day special for about $220.
It amazes me what people will do for no apparent reason!
Ha hah ha
"If he wasn't such a prick, he could have avoided all of that," says EBK. "I wasn't even really thinking. Plus, I'm just so mad at Comcast. I'm tired of their shitty service."
This guys pretty stupid
"I slept in my clothes, because the last time they came, I was in my underwear with my dong hanging out and shit," says Defiant.
Busted!
Defiant began hacking about three years ago, when he was kicked out of high school for possession of narcotics at the age of 16. "I wound up assaulting the school resource office," he says. He entered a home schooling program, but didn't take to it, and gravitated to the internet. There he "bumped into the wrong people."
not too smart eh?
"Comcast is just a huge corporation, and we wanted to take them out, and we did," he says.
I'm sure the judge will be happy to hear that!
"I was trying to say we shouldn't do this the whole damn time," says Defiant.
"But once we were in," adds EBK, "it was, like, fuck it."
Yeah, I'm not a fan of this free macaffee "protection" comcast offers.
"The hackers say the attack began Tuesday, when the pair used a combination of social engineering and a technical hack to get into Comcast's domain management console at Network Solutions. They declined to detail their technique, but said it relied on a flaw at the Virginia-based domain registrar."
Sounds like they just got a comcast admin's password. That would be the social engineering attack. There's nothing technical about it.
Elegant? Pfft, it's the same stupid pranks kids have pulled for years. Odds are the guys were too stupid to pull off anything more than what they did anyway.
I love their screenshot.
Looks like even a "hacker" has time to purchase items on ebay while "hacking".
its buffering all the damn time...
 :angry:
http://www.spreadfirefox.com/en-US/worldrecord/firefox3
Who the hell am I kiddin? I'm on a Mac. That'll get updated whenever they damn well get around to it!
If Adobe's Flash video is going to be the industry standard, then MAKE it a standard and quit doing these goddamn updates every three weeks! Each 'bug fix' delivers a new bug that's harder to fix! Why do we have to (literally) toss our cookies every few days just so one particular web site works properly?
Mac. No Norton. No Popup blocker. Cookies are all enabled. Firefox 2.0. Adobe Flash version 9 as of this morning.
YouTube has always worked. Metacafe always worked until about a year ago. Any TV network video that did not work, worked fine after a Flash upgrade.
Right now Metacafe videos load and play with audio but a black screen. If you go into the 'edit' menu the video shows fine. Goofy. That AOL video link did not even load at all, even though the rest of the page loaded fine.
A few months ago there was a really weird quirk on Metacafe. The video clip would load and play with a blank white screen. If you scrolled the web page up or down so that the very top/bottom edge of the video screen was out of frame, the video image would show up. Ultra-goofy.