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October 31, 2005
Win $25,000 Home Theatre...Instantly
Be one of the first to play HiWired's Instant Win Game where you have the chance to win $25k Windows Media Center Home Theatre, iPod Nano, and many other prizes. Along the way, you can learn a little more about HiWired and help us with information for new products and services. To play the game click here or go to www.hiwired.com/instantwin.
Posted by troy at 02:38 PM | Comments (1)
October 30, 2005
Particularly useful tomorrow night and Wednesday.
This accessory for the Shuffle is likely the one used by these people.
Hat tip the Curt Jester who had to inform people that it was not a parody.
Posted by Peter at 12:51 PM | Comments (0)
October 28, 2005
We'll take it
Topaz partners blog links to us today and calls it a blatant plug. Well you know what. I'm not proud so we'll take it.
They do call this blog unique but for more than one reason:
HiWired has created a corporate blog written by their tech support team that explores a variety of issues, open to everyone.(emphasis mine)
This is not entirely correct, our blog is not just written by our techs. Unlike any other business blog I'm aware of not only do the techs, but management and ownership also blog here.
I'm not aware of any other company where the entire crew has blogging rights.
UPDATE: BTW we can help you on that IPOD issue with our "I Need Help" plan.
Posted by Peter at 08:45 PM | Comments (0)
One more thing about temp files
This is worth an extra entry.
If you are running a system with low ram say 128 or 64mg or have a pretty full hard drive, the need to clear temp files is MUCH greater.
Any temp files loaded in active memory will slow down currently runnig programs, in addition a hard drive that is very full will have less swap memory available for virtual memory (the use of HD memory as ram).
If you have such a system remember an older system like an older house needs more regular cleaning to keep it running.
Posted by Peter at 08:38 PM | Comments (0)
Not just a music group
You have likely heard about "syncing" in the computer world.
What is "syncing" and what kinds of devices do it.
The answer will be next week (assuming things don't remain too flat out here). Here is the answer to our last tech question:
What are temp files?
Temporary files (temp files for short) are files generated for the use of a program or operation that can be discarded after the operation is completed. They are sometimes known as scratch files as well.
A good example of temp files (and the one most familar to people) are temporary internet files that are generated when you visit a web site and are stored on your pc. Lets say you leave this site and go to another, if you look in the temporary internet files on your system you will find the graphics of this page there.
The Microsoft office suite uses temp files in most of their products as scratch files. When you are editing a document or a spreadsheet the files you are doing the editing on is actually a temp file. Once you save it the temp file is written to the actual file name. You might notice some files called "`WRD...." on your system. Those are the scratch files not cleared due to a crash or program error when using word.
The problem with temp files is this: If the program that generates them doesn't clean them automatically they can clog your system and slow it down. Of course as the parent of teenage sons temp files can be a useful tool to see what they are up to.
Both our Worry Free PC plan and our PC checkup service include the cleaning of temp files.
Posted by Peter at 08:00 PM | Comments (0)
October 27, 2005
Goodbye Verizon hello Comcast
After her sons called and ended up getting the same great service I did; my elderly friend has dropped Verizon and switched to Comcast.
Not clear if she is keeping AOL, likely she will if at all possible. It is not a bad interface for the older crowd and can be a cheap free connection in a pinch.
Posted by Peter at 02:38 PM | Comments (0)
Extra string to your bow
Anybody who has been reading this blog for any length of time (and if you do we thank you) knows that I am a big believer in extra items, backup browsers, extra e-mail addresses, spare accounts etc....
We had a customer who this week who was on vacation, she had no internet access but had the built in modem that every laptop has. Much to my shock there was no sign of an AOL or any other free trial software available on the system.
As you might have read before AOL doesn't right my chimes but they DO offer a 30 day trial and their CD's are everywhere, most pc's and laptops have a copy available on it.
I hate to say it but instead of totally uninstalling the "free AOL" keep it hidden somewhere. I know (and we have reported) that wifi is becoming the norm (but not quite a right) but the ability to access a dial up connection when nothing else is out there can pay off in a pinch, and the space it takes on your cd to keep that software on it isn't much.
Posted by Peter at 02:03 PM | Comments (0)
October 24, 2005
Technology preserving the real draft of history
Instapundit links to this Times of London story that is incredible but not surprising:
The confidential changes were revealed by an extraordinary computer gaffe because an electronic version distributed by UN officials on Thursday night allowed recipients to track editing changes.
In the pre electronic age those notes would simply have been burned.
But the furore over the doctoring of the report threatened to overshadow its damaging findings. It raised questions about political interference by Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary- General, who had promised not to make any changes in the report.
This feature in word is used a lot in business, most people do not bother for home use. A nice little tutorial is here.
Combine this with the use of word do debunk CBS's documents last election and the march of technology is correcting the drafts of history in a way that has never happened before.
Posted by Peter at 09:47 AM | Comments (0)
October 23, 2005
No power no plug
Just got off the phone with a customer who's power went out so we can't continue debugging his issue but it seems like a good time to give some advice concerning power outages.
Most people know that electrical surge is a dangerous thing to a pc and will have their items plugged in through a surge protector, however I would go one step further. I'd unplug the computer, the ethernet cable , and the phone line (if you are using dial-up or a fax) particularly if the power issue is due to a lightning storm.
Also consider doing the same for devices such as your cable modem and printers. The few minutes you save by not doing it might make the difference between replacing a part or not.
We all know that most times your system isn't going to crash and burn over this, but it only takes once and that once will cost you a lot more money and time then the few minutes you will lose.
Posted by Peter at 08:20 PM | Comments (2)
Why I hate technology/internet support reason 468,511
You might remember our links to Jeff Jarvis and his Dell Hell. I have one to report on my own involving Verizon and AOL and an elderly lady that I know.
There is an elderly lady at my church who is a HiWired customer but also asks me to take a peek at her system now and again. She was having a connection problem to her AOL broadband and asked me to stop down.
I ran through a ton of tests and couldn't buy an IP or a connection, I was thinking it was her broadband connection. After only 1 hour on the phone and a half dozen transfers I was able to establish that Verizon hosted her AOL broadband. I ran out of time and she said she would call them.
A few days later she called me again, she had received a new modem and install disk for Verizon DSL. She mentioned before her problems began she had called Verizon about a local phone issue and was asked about switching to pure Verizon instead of AOL. She said she declined asking to talk to her son (she is 84).
I tried the verizon modem and was able to get an IP and was also able to get an IP from the old broadband, however AOL still wouldn't connect and the broadband connection was looking for a Verizon password. To wit it is being directed to a Verizon server instead of the server that verizon uses for the AOL connection.
I tried calling AOL for her as she had already tried them but as she is elderly and not tech savvy I figured I'd do it.
AOL bounced me to four different departments before telling me I had to go to Verizon to resolve this. When I called version the wait time was too long for that moment so I went into work and called back when I was off duty after midnight.
For the next two hours I navigated Verizon who sent me back to AOL, who sent me back to Verizon again. AOL insists it is a Verizon issue. Verizon insists that:
A: She is not in the database and has not been switched over since it is against federal law to do that without her consent.
B: That VERIZON/AOL is different from verizon and their department doesn't cover it.
The second may be correct they know more about their internals then I do, but the flaw in the first argument is the arrival of the Verizon software and modem with "Welcome to Verizon DSL" stuff with it.
My final call was the morning of my Son's party. Being experienced with this stuff I can just imagine how it would have been if I left it to her, however as of right now. Sunday Oct 23 3 p.m. EST. My elderly friend doesn't have any internet and neither AOL nor VERIZON seem inclined to do anything about it.
She is going to give them one more call, she had her password auto saved but I'm having her call AOL check it (she doesn't remember it) on the off chance it was corrupted.
I have a had time blaming the techs I talked to since they have particular scripts and instructions to follow. I suspect that by the end of the calls I was a bit short with them. I know that feeling but it was 2 a.m. at one point or first thing in the morning afterwards and I was not a happy camper. I'm glad that our bosses here are very open types.
I'm giving it till this Friday for AOL and/or VERIZON to sort this out. If they don't my advice to her and anyone else who asks me about either will be to drop them both and go with COMCAST. (My provider).
The one bright side is this kind of quality support will keep us in business for years.
Posted by Peter at 02:39 PM | Comments (0)
Why I love the internet/technology reason 468,511
It's been very busy here, as I've said. But yesterday was a day off for a birthday party and a chance to see a bunch of people. I saw my old friend Nate for the first time in nearly a year(part of my original gaming group from college back when I had hair). During conversation I found out that he also has Civ III Conquests, which has online gaming software, built in.
Last night after all the kids and relatives left I talked to a pal of mine how couldn't come (his father had a birthday) we thought about getting an online group together for a CIV III game. We usually plan on a local LAN but when at home wil play on the net. I called up Nate in New Hampshire to see if he was interested (he was but his DSL modem was shot) but it reminded me that we have a pal Roger who moved from New Hampshire to Oregon after he got married. He is a big programmer so I figured I'd give him a ring and see if he had the game.
Rog was thrilled to hear from me, he doesn't have the game but will buy it this week (even though CIV IV is due as we've said).
So starting next week the old group of guys who can rarely see each other will be able to enjoy gaming together without leaving the wife's and families, or without an expensive plane ticket.
This is what is wonderful about technology and the Internet. What it allows you to do.
Posted by Peter at 01:51 PM | Comments (0)
October 21, 2005
Flat out
Blogging has been light lately due to big things happening here. Regular blogging will resume ASAP.
Meanwhile check out this story on "Blackberry Thumb" via Drudge.
Posted by Peter at 02:00 PM | Comments (0)
October 17, 2005
Computer Enemy #1 or symbol of the American dream?
One of the best known spammers in the country Alan Ralsky is in trouble with the law:
...an FBI raid has closed what some consider one of the world's largest houses of spam.
It seems this fellow is very well known in these circles:
The raid is the latest episode in a cat-and-mouse game between anti-spammers and Ralsky, 60, a gregarious, heavy-smoking ex-convict considered Public Enemy No. 1 in some pockets of the Internet.
It may make him unpopular on the net but it's a job that's treated him very well:
In the late 1990s, Ralsky sold his used car, bought two computers and reinvented himself on the Internet. He makes money sending bulk e-mail on behalf of clients selling products or services -- a gig he's said puts small merchants on equal footing with giant companies.
It is always harder to stop spam and ad-ware because unlike virus' these people make their living (and in this fellows case) his fortune on the net so they change their tactics faster. I must confess I have less dislike for spam then for ad-ware. At least you have the option to filter or delete the spam.
Via Michelle Malkin
Posted by Peter at 11:25 AM | Comments (0)
October 16, 2005
Yeah that's write
I had a customer with a print issue using a program called Yeah Write.
I'd never heard of it so I downloaded and played with it a bit. I created an example file that you can view here. The formatting is yeah write's and the HTML was added in the upload to see it in the web page. Just stip it out and import it the program if you wish.
The most interesting thing seems to be that the program stores created files internally. You have to use an export command to have it saved outside of the system.
It seems to have a lot of functions for the price ($29) and the free version looks like an excellent choice for people who don't have a lot of computer oomph.
I'd say it's worth a download.
Posted by Peter at 05:59 PM | Comments (0)
October 14, 2005
And the block goes on
The New York Times follows up on the internet filtering for dictators parade:
But a new report from the OpenNet Initiative, a human rights project linking researchers from the University of Toronto, Harvard Law School and Cambridge University in Britain, once again raises tough questions about the use of filtering technologies - often developed by Western companies - by autocratic governments bent on controlling what their citizens see on the Web.
What's even more interesting is the pass the buck reactions of the manufacturers and not just the big ones....
For its part, Fortinet says that it uses "a two-tier distribution model," according to a company spokeswoman, Michelle Spolver, meaning that the company sells all of its products to resellers, who sell to end-users."Our intent is to fully comply with the law, and Fortinet does not condone doing business with U.S.-embargoed or sanctioned countries," Ms. Spolver said.
Well that makes it all right then doesn't it? sigh!
Via Glenn
Posted by Peter at 10:39 PM | Comments (0)
October 13, 2005
Police arrest 3 on suspicion of operating a network of 100,000 'zombie' PCs
"Police arrest 3 on suspicion of operating a network of 100,000 'zombie' PCs." Hey world, heres a compelling reason to make sure you have the latest antivirus, anti-spyware, and security updates on your computer. You never know when someone could be using your machine for an illegal purpose. Windows, MAC OS or Linux, it doesn't matter, there are security exploits and they can and will (eventually) be exploited.
The link is here
The Dutch authorities accuse the three men of using a virus called W32.Toxbot, which was released in February 2005, to infect home computers with "bot" software in order to create a distributed "botnet" of machines all over the world.
Posted by at 03:02 PM | Comments (0)
Why do you need your computer connected to a surge suppressor?
You hear a lot about surge protection but why do you need your computer connected to a surge suppressor rather than directly to an outlet?
In short, power coming from a typical power outlet is full of spikes and dips. These come from the power generation and transport equipment, neighboring houses, and sometimes from lightning strikes. These power fluctuations can cause damage to sensitive electronics. Your computer has a power supply built into it which takes incoming AC power and converts it to DC for use by the motherboard, CPU and other system components. Most of these components have electronics on them that are very sensitive to surges. The power supply itself does do some regulation of the current, smoothing out the spikes and dips. A lot of the individual components in the system also have their own protection against minor surges. That is not the primary function of the power supply however, so it should never be relied on to act as the sole protection against surges.
Large surges will get through, and the components that protect against surges also get less effective the more they are used, so more and more will get through over time.
The effects this can have on electronics in the computer can be devastating. Parts of microchips can burn out so that the computer just won't start again. Possibly even worse, parts could slowly start to fail instead of outright dying. You could end up with memory that fails to correctly store information some of the time, causing small but critical errors that can cause bizarre behavior like random restarts, odd visual artifacts on your screen, or even corruption or loss of files you thought were safely saved.
To prevent this, it is very important to have your computer, or anything else with delicate electronics, connected to a good surge suppression strip. Don't get a plain old power strip confused with a surge suppressor. A surge suppressor should specifically advertise itself as such on the box and will have a rating measured in Joules. It is also important to realize that surge suppressors wear out over time based on how many surges they actually encounter. Most modern ones will have a light on them that will go out or even an audible alarm when they have worn out and need to be replaced. Some will simply cease functioning when they reach the end of their lifetime. It is important to read the documentation that comes with your suppressor so that such behavior will not come as a surprise.
More on this tomorrow...
Posted by at 02:45 PM | Comments (0)
Quite a difference
When the IPOD Nano came out and I was looking for reaction it was very plain that my lack of desire for this device was a minoriry opinion.
This time when I take a peek for raction on the IPOD video it seems to be a different story.
We see the not so excited such as Pat Gallant:
The new video iPod looks cool, but probably not cool enough to make me want to abandon my current 60GB iPod photo.
We see the unimpressed such as Richard Holiday:
And Apple, shame on you! The iPod is now as old as Windows XP. Where's your Vista, Apple?!
But for the nitty gritty we have to quote Edge who asks the right question:
The question is - will the market pay $1.99/episode to watch it on-demand, with no commercials, and be able to keep it?
The most interesting about the whole thing is it took me no time to find people unimpressed as opposed to the Nano.
Just call me cutting edge!
Posted by Peter at 01:49 PM | Comments (0)
October 12, 2005
Oh boy another one for the eyeballs
Now we have the IPOD with video
The video iPod, which sells for as much as $399, marks the second time in a month that Jobs has debuted new designs to tap demand for the players, Apple's fastest-selling product. Jobs last month added the pencil-thin Nano and said yesterday Apple can't make the devices fast enough to fill orders.
The story is here, but that seems a contradiction to this one:
New York markets were mixed after Apple Computer's quarterly report disappointed traders and raised concerns about other companies. "I think the market to some degree is bracing for some disappointment in the earnings season," said John Johnston, chief strategist at Harbour Group at RBC Dominion Securities.
Those dire words seem to contain a mixed message:
Apple Computer Inc.'s quarterly net income surged more than 300 per cent to $430 million US, fuelled by record sales of its IPod players and strong back-to-school computer sales. But investors were disappointed in its revenues, which came in below forecasts, and with pre-holiday-season IPod shipments.
Maybe it's just me but if you are making record earnings I wouldn't be all that disappointed. I guess perception is still the biggest part of the day.
As far as the pod itself, it is better than the Nano in that you have a lot more space. Now instead of pictures too small to see you have have videos too small to see.
I guess I'm just a big killjoy.
Posted by Peter at 06:40 PM | Comments (0)
October 09, 2005
Just what a game addict needs
Between Pirates, 1830 and Civilization III I already spend much too much time playing computer games.
Now Civilization IV is on it's way on the shelves, most likely another Sid Meier’s masterpiece. Knowing me I'll hold off at least six months because:
1. Any new software will have bugs and patches, I'd rather wait till I know they're fixed
2. I'm Cheap.
Full details are at the Civ fanatics page. If you are just interested the specs they are below the fold:
Here are the specs directly from the fan site:
The Minimum System Requirements for the game are: 1 GHz CPU, 256MB RAM, and a 32MB video card with hardware transform and lighting capabilities. The recommended Specifications are: 512MB of ram, Pentium4 processor, and a recent graphics card (like the Radeon 9800).
BTW yes I know 1830 is an old DOS game, it is still in my opinion one of the best board or computer games out there and I enjoy it! Wanna make something of it?
Posted by Peter at 02:00 PM | Comments (0)
The difference between Delaware & China
Here is a different story coming off the Yahoo fiasco:
In a case seen boosting the credibility and profile of blogs as sources of news and opinion, the Delaware Supreme Court this week found that four bloggers accused of defamation had the right to remain anonymous.
This is a rather big ruling from a small state
Steele also called the Internet as a "unique democratizing medium unlike anything that has come before," and went as far as to liken anonymous writings in blogs and chat rooms to political pamphleteering, which helped jumpstart the American Revolution.
As there are a fair amount of bloggers out there who post anonymously this is a very big ruling for the entire blogosphere in particular and for the internet as a whole.
Posted by Peter at 10:26 AM | Comments (0)
October 07, 2005
Fall is the time for Carnivals
This week's Carnival of Computing (ver 1.0.2) is up for your viewing pleasure.
Posted by Peter at 11:34 AM | Comments (0)
October 06, 2005
Now THAT's tech support
After lunch today I am forced to conclude that if you combine this with a roast from here you find the way to a tech's heart. At least that appears to be the reactions of the techs here who ate it.
I know this is a puff post but I was behind on my Romano's blogging.
Posted by Peter at 01:04 PM | Comments (0)
October 05, 2005
With Liberty and Wi-Fi for all
Google has offered to provide city wide wi-fi to San Francisco as it's mayor advances his goal of wi-fi for all in the city:
The offer by the popular Mountain View search engine was one of more than a dozen competing bids received by the city before its deadline Friday. Officials will review the submissions and decide which, if any, of the candidates gets the green light to build the so called Wi-Fi service, which would be free or inexpensive for users.
This could have profound effects on the nationwide market and how this issue is handled by different cities. However some of the speechmaking is a bit over the top:
Wireless access can be seen a basic right that should be available not just to business professionals but also lower-income citizens. "This is a civil rights issue as much as anything else," Newsom said.
I think it is a bit of a stretch to call it a civil rights issue, it's a great idea if the voters and taxpayers want to do it but a civil rights issue? Apparently until I had my wireless network last year I and all my family for all time was oppressed and never knew it.
At least Foreign airlines are ending this oppression:
While American carriers continue to be hesitant, European, Asian, even Middle Eastern airlines - which rely heavily on business travelers, particularly on long-haul flights - are taking the plunge in increasing numbers...But thus far, domestic and foreign carriers have viewed the potential for Internet service much differently. While the American airlines, with their much greater concentration of leisure travelers, have focused on cutting costs on domestic routes, "a lot of foreign carriers see this as a way of increasing the appeal of their premium international service," said Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group. "U.S. carriers are just starting to think about that strategy."
Wi-Fi is not a civil right, but it looks like it will be a basic part of ordinary life sooner rather than later.
Via Roger Simon
Posted by Peter at 10:06 AM | Comments (0)
October 03, 2005
Pay no attention to that man behind the internet
The Australian comments on online curbs in China:
Since 1994 the Chinese Government has introduced numerous measures in its desire to maintain centralised news and opinion in the online environment. The police have dedicated an entire department, estimated at 30,000 to 50,000 people, to censoring cyberspace. The BBC reports that 47,000 internet cafes were shut down in 2004, and Amnesty International estimates that more than 60 Chinese are in prison for the peaceful expression of their views over the internet.Yet the attempt to retain central control of information is likely to fall on the wrong side of history. Technology will always find a way.
Rosen encouragement is tempered by the following:
Ironically, it is large US technology companies that are aiding the Chinese Government in its efforts. A recent Harvard University study reveals that automated filtering technology, equipment and software from US companies are enabling China to block political content. In a notorious case last year, information provided by US multinational Yahoo! to the Chinese led to the arrest of Chinese journalist Shi Tao for comments made about Taiwan using his email Yahoo! account.
We've talked about this many times on this web site.
Posted by Peter at 05:39 PM | Comments (0)
October 02, 2005
Temps for hire
Many times you hear about temp files.
What are temp files?
The answer will show up next week go into the extended entry to read last weeks answer.
Why is heat so deadly to PC's?
You are bascially dealing with high voltage going through a small area that is enclosed. This generates tremendous heat. Like any machine it it overheats electrical failure and disruption will follow. As the machines become more powerful, the parts smaller and the loads larger the heat production and cooling needs will also increase.
Posted by Peter at 11:22 PM | Comments (0)
October 01, 2005
3 years? try 6 months but not in the US
The $100 laptop predicted for 3 years from now here has come 2 years and 6 months early:
It has been engineered to be very tough with a rubberized exterior. It can be powered by AC or by hand crank. One minute of cranking yields ten minutes of power. It has four USB ports and is wifi capable. How can this be offered for only $100?Among the key specs: A 500-megahertz processor (that was fast in the 1990s but slow by today's standards) by Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and flash memory instead of a hard drive with moving parts. To save on software costs, the laptops would run the freely available Linux operating system instead of Windows.
It turns out the device is for the 3rd world to get them up and running. At that price (or even slightly more) I'd buy one for each of my kids even if it was a B machine.
Hat tip Glenn
Posted by Peter at 07:40 PM | Comments (0)