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Help Desk
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CYBERGURU NEWSLETTER - AUTUMN 2009
Welcome to the CyberGuru newsletter!
This has
been sent to clients, prospective clients, family and friends who have
used or shown an interest in CyberGuru's computer solutions.
Information on how to unsubscribe appears at the bottom of this email.
We hope you enjoy this email and look forward to serving your computer
solutions needs in the future.
In this issue:
A Word
from the Chief Guru: Happy New Year, Happy Easter!
Welcome to the first CyberGuru newsletter of
2009, and a happy new year to all of our readers!
This year will mark several important changes to CyberGuru and our online
operations. Over the past few months, CyberGuru has been a
hive-of-activity behind the scenes, which we believe will enable us to
continue to provide award-winning, professional and affordable computer
solutions to our clients.
NEW
CYBERGURU WEBSITE:
We have been working on improving and upgrading our
website for sometime.
The current website as been in place for a number
of years and were looking to improve the website layout and structure, as
well as navigation and accessibility to meet today's requirements. Keep an
eye on our website for more information.
NEWS-STYLE BLOG TO REPLACE NEWSLETTER:
We are looking to replace the
CyberGuru Newsletter with the launch of a new blog (also known as a "web
log" or online diary) which will provide more updates on a more frequent
nature than we currently do. This will change how the website integrates
with the newsletter. Because of the large amount of information developed
for this newsletter, it has become quite a lengthy task to produce and
regularly maintain the content.
One
thought was to introduce the articles in an email which can be accessed
into a news-style format, however we would like to seek your thoughts
before any changes are made. We are looking for your feedback on what you
like and don't like about it.
We hope
you all had an enjoyable and restful Easter season, and would appreciate
any feedback you may have regarding these topics.
Chris Jeffery
Proprietor/Chief Guru
News: Microsoft Windows 7
announced
Microsoft has
recently announced the successor to Windows Vista will be named "Windows
7", as it will be the seventh version of Windows. It doesn't seem long ago
since Windows Vista arrived, however Microsoft is keen to forget about
this faux pas.
Many computer users
haven't upgraded to Windows Vista due to a range of concerns and issues
with the product, particularly do to with compatibility of hardware as
software drivers weren't available for all devices when it was originally
launched. Even the release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 didn't result
in a larger uptake.
Windows 7 hasn't
made too many major changes to the interface so moving across from Windows
Vista will be fairly easy, but there are a number of minor improvements
that add to the ease and functionality of the product. We have been
testing the software out since the first public beta arrived. From both
interface and performance perspectives, we have been thoroughly impressed
with how Microsoft has improved itself following the feedback received
from Windows Vista, showing it has learned from some of their mistakes.
There are some new features,
including larger icons on the taskbar with jump lists, enabling you to
right click on an icon and its frequently used options will appear, as
well as the inclusion of the "Device Stage", where hardware have a central
and consistent location for their settings and other information. Other
features include "Libraries" for linking files between various locations
on both a single and multiple computers on a network and "Home Groups"
enabling home users to share the Libraries over a network easier than
previously. Windows also includes the latest version of Internet Explorer
recently developed, 8. For more details on this, please read our next
newsletter!
Personally, we are
expecting this will be released around October or November this year, in
time for a Christmas release. We'll hope to get our hands on a copy around
that time to provide you with a review to see if it will be right for you
to upgrade. In the meantime, visit Microsoft's "What's new in Windows 7"
page at
http://www.microsoft.com/australia/windows/windows-7/whats-new.aspx.
Hints, Tips and Tricks: Time to upgrade to Norton 360 3.0!
Symantec recently launched the latest
versions of its' all-in-one automated security and maintenance suite
Norton 360 3.0.
Some readers may not
be aware that subscriptions include free upgrades to the latest version
during the entire period of subscription and is able to be downloaded as a
free upgrade to those with current subscription licences for Norton 360.
Norton 360 provides "pulse updates"
meaning updates to the program are applied every 15 minutes, additional
protection via Norton SafeWeb when surfing and shopping online, integrated
anti-spam and as well as performance and compatibility improvements and
support for newer web browsers such as Firefox.
If you haven't upgraded to version 3.0 yet, the free upgrade is available
by going to Symantec's website at
http://www.symantecstore.com.au. Norton Internet Security 2008
users can also upgrade to Norton Internet Security 2009 for free at the
same website.
If there's anything we
can to do assist when you upgrade, please let us know.
This article is available from our
Hints, Tips and Tricks page at
http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_hintstipstricks.htm.
Hints,
Tips and Tricks: Suggestions for "green computing"
There has been a great deal of mention in the
media of late to do with saving energy. Increasing numbers are opting to
saving energy, reducing costs on bills as well as to protect the
environment.
Whilst going "green" is
becoming more widely practiced, especially with events such as Earth Hour
and others promoting their benefits, the term "green computing" is
becoming more prominent and many suggestions have been put forward to
reduce our carbon footprint. We felt we could add a few suggestions though
to the list:
TURN OFF YOUR PC AT THE
END OF THE DAY:
By turning of your computer at the end of the day, you
will save over 15kg of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.
However, we advise it may not always be best to regularly turn your
computer off and on continually, especially if it used several times in a
day. It is best to turn it on in the morning and turn off your computer at
night - rather than on and off throughout the day as this can be more
harmful to both to your computer and to your bills than the reduction of
energy!
DISABLE SCREENSAVERS, TURN OFF
MONITOR INSTEAD:
It is recommended that you disable screensavers as
they can stop the computer from entering a low power state when you are
away from your desk.
Windows' Control Panel Display properties can
enable or disable these features.
RATHER THAN USING GOOGLE, USE BLACKLE:
According to their website (http://www.blackle.com),
it saves energy because the screen is predominantly black. Research from
Roberson et al, 2002
(http://enduse.lbl.gov/Info/LBNL-48581.pdf)
states that "Image displayed is primarily a function of the user's colour
settings and desktop graphics, as well as the colour and size of open
application windows; a given monitor requires more power to display a
white (or light) screen than a black (or
dark) screen."
PRINT PAGES IN DOUBLE-SIDED BLACK AND WHITE RATHER THAN SINGLE-SIDED
COLOUR:
Save trees and ink by printing black and white double-sided
pages, rather than in colour on single-sided. Also, why not recycle the
paper once you are finished with the page, you can use it as scrap paper
for taking messages!
Windows' Control Panel Printer properties can
enable these features.
DONATE/TRADE-IN
COMPUTER EQUIPMENT NO LONGER REQUIRED:
Whilst computer usage in homes
and businesses is becoming more prominent these days, community groups
don't always have the privilege of having such technology readily in use.
Why not donate your equipment to a charity that could use the computer for
their own business, or even to train their employees or clients in the use
of computers. Some computer manufacturers also provide a trade-in service
and offer a discount when you purchase a replacement computer from them.
RECYCLE COMPUTER ACCESSORIES FOR OTHER
PURPOSES:
Contrary to belief, computer accessories can be recycled even
past their use by date (although we don't recommend refilling ink
cartridges). For instance, a common use of a disc is some office cubicles
is as a reflector on your computer screen to see if someone is
'eavesdropping' over you!
Another one is to just donate it to a
recycling place that will pull apart the accessories and build or upgrade
a computer from scratch.
For
additional resources on green computing check out the Wikipedia article,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_computing.
For more information on saving energy in your home and office, visit the
Queensland Government's ClimateSmart Living page at
http://www.climatesmart.qld.gov.au/your_home/studyoffice (Some
actions you can take to improve your home's carbon footprint are also on
this website.).
This article is available from our
Hints, Tips and Tricks page at
http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_hintstipstricks.htm.
Hints, Tips and Tricks: Uncovering Easter Eggs in Computer Games
As well as hidden features in many
computer operating systems and applications, Easter Eggs feature in
computer games*. Long before CyberGuru existed, Chris, our
Proprietor/Chief Guru used to provide game "cheats" to win in computer
games. Whilst those days are long gone, and seeing we are in the Easter
Season, we thought instead we would provide some more Easter Eggs!
If you feel it would be worthwhile to
provide some cheats for some games, drop us a line and let us know!
EASILY WIN AT WINDOWS' SOLITAIRE GAME:
To instantly win a game of Solitaire in Windows XP or earlier versions,
press [Alt], [Shift] and [2] together.
FLY A PLANE AROUND GOOGLE EARTH:
Press [Ctrl], [Alt] and [A] together
to enter or Exit the Flight Simulator.
A manual is available from:
http://earth.google.com/userguide/v4/ug_flightsim.html.
PLAY TETRIS ON YOUR MAC:
Open the
Finder, click Applications, then click Utilities, then open Terminal. In
the window displayed, type "Emacs" and press [Enter], then press [Esc] and
[X] together. Type "Tetris". Use the arrow keys to move and rotate the
blocks, and press the space to make the blocks fall. To find other games,
enter "ls /usr/share/emacs/21.2/lisp/play" in the Terminal window.
*Easter Eggs are also found in DVD
movies, TV shows and music.
This article is available from our
Hints, Tips and Tricks page at
http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_hintstipstricks.htm.
How-to Guide: Using Microsoft Office Document Scanning and Imaging
Microsoft Office Document Scanning and
Imaging comes with all versions of Microsoft Office since 2003. As is
given away from its name, with it you scan files using your Multi-Function
Centre (MFC) or scanner, as well as perform OCR (Optical Character
Recognition) on text, enabling you to easily manipulate text on a scanned
page.
This how-to guide is available from our How-to Guides page
at
http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_howtoguides.htm.
Joke: You Know You're Too
Hi-Tech If...
* You
haven't played solitaire with a real deck of cards in years.
* You have
a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
* You call your
son's beeper to let him know that it is time to eat. He emails you back
from his bedroom, "What's for dinner?".
* Your daughter sells Girl
Scout Cookies via her web site.
* You chat several times a day with
someone from South Africa, but you haven't spoken with your next door
neighbour yet this year.
* Your daughter just bought a single CD of all
the records your college roommate used to play.
* Your grandmother
clogs up your email inbox asking you to send her a JPEG file of your
newborn so she can create a screen saver.
* You buy a computer and a
week later it is out of date and now sells for half the price you paid.
* The concept of using real money, instead of credit or debit, to make a
purchase is foreign to you.
* You consider next-day air delivery
painfully slow.
* Your reason for not staying in touch with family is
that they do not have email addresses.
* You hear most of your jokes
via email instead of in person.
* You've printed this out and are
reading it in the "library".
Last but
not least...
* You try to withdrawal money out of your bank account
with your ATM PIN...using the microwave!
Thanks!
Thanks again for your
interest and custom in our solutions. You are receiving this newsletter
because you contacted have CyberGuru, use or have used our solutions in
the past or signed up for the mailing list.
You are welcome to send this newsletter to your friends, family,
colleagues and associates. However, please send the entire message
including this message.
Archives of the newsletter are available
at
http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_newsletter_archives.htm.
If you wish to stop receiving these newsletters, please email
cyberguruDONOTSPAM@cyberguru.com.au
with UNSUBSCRIBE NEWSLETTER in the subject line or fill in the
unsubscribe form at
http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_newsletter.htm.
If we can assist you in any way through our solutions, please
contact us.
Christopher Jeffery trading as CyberGuru
Web:
http://www.cyberguru.com.au
Email:
cyberguruDONOTSPAM@cyberguru.com.au
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