Home > Technobuddy > Archives > 2006 > November
November 2006
The ‘I hate IE 7’ club has a lot of members
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Since I get a lot of e-mail from readers I get a pretty good notion of how a new program is being received.
I hear nothing but dispair when it comes to Internet Explorer 7. Readers hate the way the menu has been partially hidden (you can change that, or you can simply hold down the ALT key to make it temporarily visible).
But the real problem for some of you is the fact that your computer just doesn’t work when IE 7 is installed. The good news is that removing IE 7 is easy. And once you do, you’ll still have the old version of Internet Explorer - after all, it’s built into the operating system. So once IE 7 is gone, you can go right back - with no fuss - to your old buddy.
Here’s a link that takes your through the process of removing IE 7.
There are some things I like about IE 7 - including the (slightly) better security and the use of more readable type. However, you can get the same sort of improvements with Firefox without the hassles of IE 7. So some of you might decide to remove IE 7 and move over to Firefox - you can download that browser here.
After all, not all changes have to be painful.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: General
Another serving of anti-spam
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
E-mail spam has interested me for a long time. Almost everyone hates the stuff and dozens of companies offer solutions.
But nothing really works. You can slow down spam but it’s almost impossible to stop.
The most foolproof method I know is to use software that requires senders to prove that they are humans (hey spammers aren’t human). It’s called challenge and response. You send an e-mail to me. My anti-spam software automatically sends one back to you before delivering your e-mail. You’re asked to copy down some letters and numbers and send that back. The notion is that a spammer - sending out hundreds of thousands of e-mails - can’t do that. Once all that happens, your e-mail is delivered.
It works but it’s sure clunky. I know - at work where I literally get hundreds of e-mails a day - I just don’t take the time to deal with that extra hurdle.
One of the latest anti-spam technologies - you can read about it here - uses still a different technique. You are offered ‘disposable’ e-mail addresses. So when you post on a blog, or order a widget, you use a disposable address, not your own. Mail to that address is delivered to your real e-mail account. But when the spammers start using that address, you discard that disposable address.
I see how it works - and the link is to an article that raves over the service - but I doubt that I’d go to all that trouble. I hate spam but - for me - it’s another case of the cure being worse than the disease. But you may see things differently so take a look at the article. And, as always, if you have tips on avoiding spam, I’d be glad for you to post them.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Viruses, spam, adware, etc.
Still another holiday gift list
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ll offer some candidates for your high tech holiday shopping in my column that will appear here Friday. But one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to consumer electronics. Some of the gizmos that I crave may not do much for you at all.
That’s why it’s a good idea to check out some other points of view.
Here are some high tech holiday gift suggestions from Cnet for your consideration.
Truth is that gift lists like this are a dime a dozen this time of the year. Everyone who writes about technology does one or two of them - it’s as traditional as turkey at Thanksgiving.
What I’d like to see is a column about how a person can afford all this stuff.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Shopping
All you really need to know about Vista
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You may love Microsoft. Or hate it. And I can make a decent case for either point of view.
If you are a PC user, you’ll move to Microsoft Vista some day. But make that day a couple of months later than the earliest adopters.
I’ve been saying all along that waiting a while is smart. And early reports of beta users seem to support that point of view.
While it’s too early to move to Vista, it’s darn near too late to start learning about it - given the fact that it’ll be a part of your near future.
I’m linking to a great collection of information about Vista. You can read the basics like system requirements and you can also check out some reports of installation problems.
Bookmark the site, if history is any judge you’ll need it.
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Here’s how to be well-connected
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When I started messing with computers, connecting to another machine or network online was an exciting and unreliable affair.
It sounded like a convention of drunken ducks as the dial-up modems squealed and squawked. Back when modems worked at 300 baud the connection was so slow as to be practically useless. Text often appeared on the screen one letter at a time — like watching the typing of a slow-witted ghost.
Nowadays, connections are instant and fast. It’s practical to download large files — even entire movies — using the high speed connections that have almost become a given for home users.
That change has transformed the online world from an impractical place for hobbyists into a nearly essential tool for working from home, keeping in touch by e-mail, ordering from online merchants and banking and bill paying. It’s a true home emergency when there is a slow connection or you are unable to connect at all.
Today we’ll explore ways to keep your high speed connection working reliably.
Before we are done we’ll get into some fairly technical ways to help slow connections.
But the first tip, and it’s my favorite, is anything but technical. We’ll use it to tackle the most important problem — no connection at all. You should consider it the Holy Grail of fixes.
If your connection stops working, simply turn off the high speed modem, let it sit for a moment, then turn it back on. In most cases that will restore your Internet service. The why of this is fairly easy to understand. The two modems — yours and the one on other end — must operate in synchronization. When that synch is lost the connection goes away. By turning the modem on and off, you are forcing it to re-establish that synch.
Now — empowered with that one tip — you are almost a network engineer. So, lets expand your newfound skills by working on slow connections.
There are a lot of what the techies call “tweaks” that can improve the speed of your connection. But before you start tweaking remember that, like a physician, your first rule should be “do no harm.” Blindly making changes that you don’t understand can take a slow connection and quickly turn it into a no connection.
That’s why I recommend that you go to this Web page
It provides a service that is very much like having a technician check out your computer and connection and then recommend fixes.
Using it is simple: Just press the start button on the page and let the Web site’s software check your settings and connection speed. That takes about 20 seconds. Once done, simply press the button labeled “results.” You’ll be asked to fill in some information about your computer and then get a page of data and recommendations.
Do me a favor, though. If the test says your system is working fine, do not try to make things finer. Also, if you don’t understand some of the results or tweaks, then use the clickable links on the page to get advice and help. You’ll find all sorts of links, including a section that explains the various terms. So besides testing your system, you’ll learn enough to explain your problem in case you need to call in the professionals.
There are other things you can check at home before asking for help.
For instance, you need to know that the most common cause of a slow computer and slow connection is adware and spyware. It’s easy to understand why this nasty software is a prime suspect.
These are tiny programs that run in the background while you go about your business. The best of them simply provide marketers with an anonymous record of the sort of sites visted. The worst of them literally spy on what you do.
Since these programs are constantly running, they slow down your computer. And since they are constantly reporting back - using your Internet connection - that added traffic slows the speed of the data that passes over the connection.
That’s why eliminating spyware/adware can make a huge difference. There are plenty of choices when it comes to programs that do this. I use SpyBot Search and Destroy which can be downloaded here. Microsoft also offers a free tool called Defender, you can download it here.
There are also some quick checks you can make when it comes to hardware.
If you are using a wired router (as opposed to a wireless one) make sure there are no sharp bends in the ethernet cable. Crimping the tiny wires inside the cable can slow down, or even kill, a connection. Wiring can be tripped over or stepped on and a connection that was fine one day can be a bad one the next.
If you use a wireless router, make sure the antennas on it are vertical and that it is close enough to the computers that use the connection to offer a decent signal.
I’d estimate that these tips will cure balky connections about 70 percent of the time. But the best tips often come from my readers. So if you have suggestions on this topic, please share your tips here.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Columns
Christmas in High Def
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My guess is that many of you are considering buying an HDTV as a holiday gift.
That’s what I did a couple of years ago. I ended up with a Sony rear projection LCD set. In part, I was guided by price. Back when I made my purchase, there was a large spread in price between plasma and LCD. Prices have dropped for both technologies nowadays.
While LCD can’t compete with plasma - at least to my way of thinking - for picture quality, especially when it comes to rendering deep blacks, it still offers a terrific picture.
You can take a look at reviews of some top LCD sets here, if you’re pondering spending Christmas morning setting up your new HDTV.
If you want to broaden your search to plasma and other technologies, check out this page.
For those of you have been waiting for the price to be right, this may be the year.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: HDTV
Creating Web pages that attract attention
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ve had a personal Web page for years.
I can say - without blushing - that it is ugly and hard to navigate. That doesn’t matter to me since it is there for family and friends.
But many of you have small businesses that depend on a Web page to promote your services and even as a way to market them.
I’m no expert in creating pages that score high with the search engines or have content that is ‘sticky’ enough to keep people around.
If you’d like to learn how to do that, there’s a free course over at Cnet that offers help. I’ve skimmed through some of the material and it seems interesting and - best yet - was simple enough for me to understand.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: General
Help me make a gift list
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s a yearly ritual - I end up writing a column and sometimes a news story about high tech holiday gifts.
There are the obvious high ticket items - computers, HDTVs, digital cameras and camcorders.
And in the middle there are iPods and competing players, as well as DVD players, and satellite radio.
It’s all fairly predictable and that’s the problem - I’d love to come up with some high tech gift ideas that are new … something besides GPS systems and game consoles.
If you have high tech gift items to add to my list, then I’d sure be glad to have the help.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Shopping
Tools not toys
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My favorite gadgets are ones that solve a problem. But I never expected to find one that helped in my bedroom.
Today we’ll talk about blue-collar technology that makes a difference in how you live. There’s very little glamour or glitz here. Instead, these are practical devices that work without much glory.
Let’s start with the gizmo that helped in my bedroom — I suspect you may be a little curious by now.
It’s a set of wireless headphones. Here’s the deal. My wife loves to watch TV in bed. I like to read in bed. It’s hard for me to enjoy a book while “Law & Order” is blaring on the TV. And, in my neighborhood, I’m never sure if the gunshots are coming from the TV or my backyard.
Until recently I would read in the den until Mary’s program was over. But a set of wireless headphones has reunited us. I can read, or go to sleep early, while she watches TV with audio provided through the headphones. They are light enough to be comfortable, but the sound quality is heads above what the small speaker on the bedroom TV can produce. And the stereo sound is incredible.
You may be able to read while the TV blares, but wireless headphones still offer advantages in your home. If you have kids who watch TV or videos at ear-splitting volumes late into the night, a set of wireless headphones can be a lifesaver. I’m using headphones made by Koss. But that’s not the only choice. Any large retailer, especially one that specializes in consumer electronics, will have a wide selection. My headphones use Bluetooth to communicate with the TV, but I’ve seen both infrared and regular radio used as a way to connect for other headphones. Bluetooth gives my headphones a range of about 30 feet.
That’s just the first item in a long list of gizmos that can make life easier. Many have been around a while, and none of them is going to impress your neighbors like a big plasma TV. Think of them as tools, not toys.
Catch it later
My next problem-solver also involves my sleep habits. While equipping my wife with wireless headphones lets me go to sleep when I like, this technology lets me record shows that come on after my bedtime.
And it is easily the most useful device in my home: a digital video recorder. In my case, the DVR is built into my Comcast HDTV cable box. There are other options including the original in this category — TiVo. Or you can buy software that lets you use your computer as a DVR.
The real beauty of a DVR is the ability to pause a live broadcast when you answer the phone or need to take a break.
But a DVR can also serve in the same way as a VCR. That came in handy last week. My brother and I wanted to watch a college football game but also needed to go to a family dinner. We set up the DVR to record the game and got back before the end of second quarter.
By skipping through commercials and halftime, we were able to finish the game in real time. That happened even though we used the ability of the DVR to watch some close calls in slow motion. And, unlike an old-fashioned VCR, my DVR faithfully records and plays back an HDTV signal.
Since there are so many sources for DVRs, let me offer a terrific Web page that goes into way more detail than I can here. It also lists most of the major manufacturers:
I’ve already told you that my most useful items are far from glamorous. My next nomination underlines that point.
Superduper juicer
Many of my devices have a strong hunger for battery power. Over time, my digital cameras, flashlights, portable radios and other battery-powered devices go through enough batteries to stock a small store. There are no small children in my home, but if there were kids and battery-powered toys that appetite for batteries would double or triple.
So rechargeable batteries can save real money. However, older-generation chargers take hours to charge a battery. That means they aren’t a practical solution when the batteries for your digital camera die on Christmas morning.
That’s where my new battery charger comes in. It’ll get your devices running again in the time it takes to brew a cup of coffee.
It does the job in just 15 minutes. I use a charger made by Rayovac. But there are plenty of other models on the market that will work just as well. I paid about $30 for my charger. (It takes four batteries at a time). You can read about the charger here
Whatever brand you choose, make sure the batteries you buy are made to work in a 15-minute charger. And keep in mind that any rechargeable battery will lose its charge over time, whether it’s in use or not.
That means rechargeable batteries should not be used in devices like a TV remote control. And they should never be used in a smoke or fire detector.
That’s it for today. It’s time for a nap. And thanks to our wireless headphones, Mary can turn up the TV as loud as she wants.
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Go slow when it comes to Vista
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ll be telling my readers that it’s not smart to be first in line when it comes to moving from Windows XP to Windows Vista. There are plenty of reasons for doing that. Even if Vista is rock solid, right out of the box, support lines will be jammed. And tech support people - like other folk - learn by doing, so the advice will be faster and more accurate as time goes along.
I say all this knowing that I’ll be moving to Vista right away - in fact, like some of you, I already have a beta copy on one of my machines. But, for most users, slow is good when it comes to changing from one operating system to another.
While XP is getting old, it isn’t a bad OS.
And there are ways to tweak and tune it to work even better. You’ll find some advice on how to do that here.
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More on the PlayStation 3
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CNet had a review up on the PlayStation 3 so I’m posting it here.
In a nutshell, this was the reviewer’s opinion:
*The bottom line: Sony’s PlayStation 3 may be the most expensive next-gen game console, and its launch titles are not all that impressive, but its swanky design and bevy of features, including a Blu-ray drive, make it hard to resist—even at $600. *
I’m a gamer but mostly play PC-based games - lately that’s been Guild Wars Nightfall. So all the fuss, on both sides, is interesting to me. I also noticed that our posters were pretty much on target - or at least agree with the reviewer - on the lack of good games at release.
Permalink | | Categories: Computer games
Will you be standing in line for a PlayStation 3?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The new - and pricy - PlayStation 3 is supposed to be on shelves Friday.
I’m hearing reports that some folks are going to camp out to be through the door early since supplies are scarce (or that’s what the PlayStation people are saying).
I know that someone - not me - will be doing a story about the fuss over the PlayStation. If you know of people who will be camped out to buy one - or if you plan to do it yourself - or have other stories regarding the PlayStation 3 release, let us know.
You can sure post something here. But if you or a friend d plan to be standing in line for PlayStation, please send an e-mail to me at bhusted@ajc.com. That way you can include a phone number and e-mail address so that a reporter can contact you.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Categories: Computer games
Grisoft’s free software isn’t going away
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When I returned from a visit with my mom, my work e-mail in-box was flooded with questions about Grisoft’s free anti-virus software. Many of you have been contacted by Grisoft saying that the version you are using will be discontinued. It’s a great product - one I use at home - and the e-mail caused a lot of concern. There were worries that an excellent - and free - product was going away.
Here’s the deal: Grisoft’s current version is not compatible with the soon-to-be-released Microsoft Vista. So the company is releasing a new version. It’s also free. An earlier poster noted all this but since there were some questions posted here, I am pasting in the official word from the Grisoft Web site:
GRISOFT is announcing a new version of the AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition. This new 7.5 version with improved performance and full compatibility with the latest Windows Vista version is available. Users that are using AVG Free 7.1 will be provided with a specific dialog, within the next few weeks, with the opportunity to choose the right option fulfilling their needs. AVG Free 7.1 version will be discontinued on 15th of Jan 2007.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Viruses, spam, adware, etc.
Confusion about computers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Several years ago I spent days getting ready for a costume party. I ended up dressing as the dictator of a South American country.
It was a pitiful effort — sword, pith helmet (hey, I know that dictators do not often wear pith helmets, but I found one in a closet) and a high school band uniform. It was the closest thing I had to a flashy and over-decorated uniform.
I made a big entrance at the party, and I could tell everyone was impressed. That’s because the guys were wearing tweed jackets and the women were wearing ordinary dresses.
I’m not sure why I thought it was a costume party. But it wasn’t. It was just a party.
I have spent a large part of my life being confused and mistaken. So don’t get your feelings hurt when I talk about some common sources for confusion and mistakes about computing — based on telephone calls and e-mails from readers.
Don’t feel too secure
Many of you think your anti-virus program is the Swiss Army Knife of computing — something that protects you against all threats. The name should offer a clue. It protects you against viruses. So you still need a firewall. Use the version that comes free with Windows if nothing else. You also need a program to hunt down adware and spyware and, if you wish, a program to stop spam. Unless your software is a “security suite? that includes all these programs, you need one of each.
Lightning does strike twice
There are enough misconceptions about lightning strikes to fill a small book. And, yes, it can strike the same location twice. You knew that, but there may be a few surprises in store.
For starters, your surge protector or your Uninterruptable Power Supply may help if lightning strikes at a distance. But it won’t protect your computer if lightning strikes a power line coming into your home. If lightning hits close enough, it will fry your gadgets. The only foolproof lightning protection is a simple one — unplug your electronic gadgets when there is a severe lightning storm. Do I always do this? No. But I should.
Here’s another misconception. Many of you believe the most common way for lightning to find its way into your home is over the electrical power line. But damage is done more often by lightning that follows the telephone line into your home. So — if you really want to be safe — disconnect telephone and cable connections to our computer in a big lightning storm.
Bill Gates wants to give you money
You’ve seen these e-mails, along with the ones from African nobility, that claim you’ll get all kinds of wonderful stuff if you forward a message to 100 of your closest friends. Then there are the e-mails that warn of a new virus so powerful that it will destroy your computer and maybe even give you bad breath.
Most mass e-mails, even from friends and family, are wrong. If something sounds too good to be true, or offers you huge amounts of money for doing something really simple, then take my word: It’s not true.
Hard disks provide permanent storage
You hard disk will fail. This isn’t an “if? it is a “when.?
If you do not make back-up copies of the information stored there you will eventually lose it — telephone numbers, e-mails, tax records, Aunt Emily’s recipe for spaghetti sauce, everything.
At the very least, copy essential records to a CD once or twice a week. Using a back-up program — either the one furnished by Windows or one from the software store — is even better.
Internet coffee shops are safe
It’s a convenient way to work while on the road — grab a cup of coffee while your laptop connects to the wireless connection in the coffee shop or hotel. Since so many business people use these connections, it’s bound to be safe. Right?
Wrong. Most of these wireless networks are wide-open. To prove it, I sat down in a coffee shop with a security expert. With a couple of mouse taps we were watching passwords and user names scroll by on the screen of the expert’s laptop.
You don’t need to be an expert to peek at stuff like that. I could list Internet addresses that offer free programs that let you do what the expert did. Plenty of crooks use them. That’s why it’s smart to use a VPN (virtual private network) connection if your employer furnishes it, or to rely on a wired connection.
I’d like to hear your own nominations for this list.
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I can’t wait - literally
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
How patient are you when it comes to waiting for a Web page to load?
If you wait longer than 4 seconds, you’re among the patient elite. You can read about it here - most of us move on if a page takes longer than that to load.
It jives with my own experience by the way.
I’ve been away - in the wilds of Arkansas visiting my mom - and I was forced to use a cellular modem several times during the trip. While it was great to be able to connect, even in areas where I didn’t have access to a regular Internet connection, the relatively slow connection sure made me yearn for high speed.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: General
Consumer victory over Microsoft
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sometimes the consumer wins.
This is one of those times. Microsoft has given into consumer and industry pressure and has changed its licensing agreement for Vista, the operating system that will replace XP.
Reversing an earlier decision, the company said Monday that customers now may uninstall the OS from one machine and install it on another as many times as they want.
You can read about the background behind this consumer-friendly change of course here.
Permalink | | Categories: General
Pitfalls of online shopping
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Shopping online is a fact of life and - for me and millions of others - a good one.
However, anyone who has done a lot of shopping online will tell you that there are plenty of pitfalls. Some companies offer unbelievable prices - and you’d be right not to believe them. I’ve seen grey market goods - with no U.S. warranties - sold without the disclaimer that you can’t get warranty repair service.
And if you buy from an online merchant based on the glowing reviews from other consumers on the site, be warned that those reviews are often made up by the merchant.
There’s a great article at PC World about all this and more. Think of it as basic training for online shopping. You can read it here.
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Laptops that last - durability study
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Stylish laptops are fun to carry, super light laptops are handy, and powerful ones are useful.
But one of the most important attributes for any computer - desktop or laptop - doesn’t show. And, at least in my memory, there hasn’t been a lot of reporting on it. That attribute is durability - how long does the sucker last, how often does it need repairs.
So this blog item on that very topic caught my eye. It’s based on some work done at Consumer Reports.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: General
The elderly PC and me
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When I wrote a column about shopping for a new computer for my father-in-law, I got an unexpected reader reaction.
My aim was to explain how to shop for a cheap computer. Some of you wanted more details. But many others were interested in how to create a computer system that is friendlier for older users. There are a lot of people who fit into this category. Heck, I’m one of them.
My father-in-law is 86 years old but still as feisty and curious as when he tried cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Like a lot of others in that age group, he’s still busy in retirement. He wants to keep up with investments, send e-mail, read about the ship he served on during World War II and view family pictures.
It’s hard, of course, to generalize about the needs of any group, as all of us age differently. But there are some things that can make computing easier for those near or past retirement age.
Seeing clearly
Many of us need a bright and clear screen to make reading e-mails and the type on Web pages more comfortable. For my money, that means an LCD monitor and a fairly large one. I’m impressed with the clarity provided by LCD screens, and prices have dropped fast.
You can find 19-inch LCD screens for just a bit over $200. Brands with 19-inch screens in that price range include ViewSonic, Sony and HP.
Software can help too. The new Internet Explorer 7 does a much better job of making type clear and crisp. It also has a magnifier that can temporarily enlarge a Web page — look toward the bottom right of the screen for an icon that resembles a magnifying glass. You can download it using a link on the main Microsoft page here.
That’s for Web pages. Windows itself has the ability to make the screen more readable with its own utility program called Magnifier.
To get to that program, click on Start, point to All Programs, then Accessories, then Accessibility, then Magnifier. You’ll also find other programs designed to make using Windows easier for older users or for those who have some physical limitations.
In fact, lets take a look at one of the other features offered by Windows. Follow the same procedure to get to what Microsoft calls the Accessibility Wizard.
A computer physical
Once you’ve opened that program, you’ll be taken — step-by-step — through what amounts to a mini-physical that can help recommend new settings that may help you.
You’ll first encounter a vision test that asks you to identify the smallest type you can easily read. Then the system will automatically make the adjustments for you.
Next you’ll be asked about your hearing, and whether you have difficulty using the keyboard or the mouse, and about other limitations. Each answer leads you to a solution. The best thing about all this is that the computer will make the changes for you based on the answers to your questions.
The Web is full of answers when it comes to making your computer a helper instead of a hinderance. One good Web page here. You’ll find a list of programs and devices designed to help with everything from minor vision problems to major limitations.
Aging with Mac
As readers often remind me, not everyone uses a PC. So Apple users can check out a page provided by AARP. If you go here you will find a link called Computer Accessibility for Mac OS X. There also is general information for older computer users.
Sometimes the problem isn’t caused by a physical limitation at all. Instead, some older users may need training in using software and computers. After all, many people didn’t grow up in a wired world.
One of my favorite groups is called Senior Net. There are chapters around the country, including Atlanta and surrounding towns. If you go here you’ll be able to find a group near you.
I’ve made speeches to Senior Net groups on several occasions and found that there’s a huge range of skill levels in most groups — there are advanced users who could run circles around the brightest 13-year-old geek, and others who are just now learning to use a computer. That mix of skills makes for an easy-going environment where members teach each other.
The main thing to keep in mind is that, no matter what sort of physical limitations you face, there are ways to make computing easier. If you have tips or tricks that help, feel free to tell me about it.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: Columns
Beware of Pirates
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Microsoft is continuing its fight against online sites and retailers who sell counterfeit versions of its software.
Readers of this newspaper know that several civil suits have been filed against local firms and individuals.
One acquaintance of mine, a local retailer, has privately expressed concern about Microsoft’s crackdown. Since this retailer sells both new and used computers, he often buys machines that claim to have legitimate copies of Windows installed. He says he tries to get the complete manual and documentation - and asks for assurances from the person selling the computer that the copy is legit. But still he worries.
It’s hard to be critical of Microsoft on this one - pirated and counterfeit software is basically stolen merchandise. On the other hand, I do think there’s a lot of confusion out there and wonder if Microsoft should be doing a better job - especially with retailers - of explaining its policies.
You can read about Microsoft’s anti-piracy program here.
Permalink | | Categories: General
Viruses are hitting online video
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Maintaining this blog has been a odd and revealing experience for me. For one thing it helps me see the differences that age makes - I’m an old guy - in how we use technology. Just a few days ago I wrote about my inability to enjoy books in electronic form. And I got another reminder that my online habits are no longer typical this morning while reading a news item - I’ll link to it in a bit - about online videos.
Online videos are a big big deal on the Net, of course. But I seldom watch them. YouTube is booming but it doesn’t owe any of its success to me, smile. I happily watch video on my large-screen HDTV and my stepson is making his start in the movie business in Hollywood. So I’m a fan of videos - everything from short art films, to documentaries, to mainstream movies. But - just as is true with e-books - watching a video on my 19-inch computer screen doesn’t really do much for me.
For once, maybe that’s a good thing. The news article - located here - talks about another trend … one that isn’t as pleasant. Virus writers are increasing concentrating on some of the computer code needed to play videos.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: Viruses, spam, adware, etc.
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