Email Newsletter - 12-03-08

Castellini on Computers Free Weekly Email Newsletter
December 3, 2008

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In this week's issue. . .

*** Tip of the Week

*** Geek Speek of the Week - (Simple definition of common computer terms)

*** Computer News...and comment

*** Last week's Poll results

*** Email of the week
I didn't see any truly outrageous deals on either Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but if you found some, leave a comment on my web site and let me know. In this week's edition, I have a great time-saving tip for you, some interesting news stories and of course the email of the week. Have a look!!

Did you visit HelpMeRick.com last week? Yesterday? Today? Did you refer all your computer buddies to HelpMeRick.com? Remember, studies show that computer users who visit HelpMeRick.com at least twice per week are 36% smarter than those who don't and their computers are 88% safer than those who don't visit!

READ ALL PAST ISSUES OF THE NEWSLETTER HERE

Email your questions to us and we will answer them via a weekly YouTube video or on our daily website updates!

Custom Computer Help from Rick

We have been posting a new how-to video every week since November 2006 and the feedback has been tremendous. Now YOU have the opportunity to get your own customized video tutorial about a topic that you are having trouble with or just want to learn.

To learn more, visit: www.HelpMeRick.com/videohelp

Tip of the Week

Microsoft Word's Auto-Complete and Auto-Correct Functions - Video Tip
If you use Microsoft Word, you may notice that at the end of a letter, if you start typing 'Sin', a little yellow box flashes up with 'Sincerely' in it. Likewise, if you start a letter with 'To whom', the box flashes at you with 'To whom it may concern'.

These little yellow boxes are part of Word's Auto-Complete and Auto Format functions. Microsoft Word tries to guess what you are going to type next and flashes suggestions to you. If the suggestion is correct and you press Enter on your keyboard, Word quickly enters the word or phrase in your document.You also notice it when you mistype the as hte and Word corrects it for you.

1. You can add to the library of Auto-Complete phrases by following these steps in Word 2003 and all prior versions:

2. Click Tools from the Word menus

3. Click Auto Correct

4. Click the Auto Complete tab (Auto Text in Word XP)

5. Type as many entries as you would like and press Enter on your keyboard after each one (your name, company, church name, etc)

Auto-Correct takes the automation a step further. Use it to replace an abbreviation or a few characters into an entire phrase or sentence or paragraph if you like. For example, if I type 'rc' in Word, as soon as I push the space bar, Word inserts 'Rick Castellini, MCP'. Here's how to use it:

1. Follow Steps 1-3 above

2. Type a short phrase or abbreviation in the "Replace" box

3. Type what you want Word to insert in place of that phrase in the "With" box

4. Press enter on your keyboard

Word 2007 users can find the AutoCorrect by:

1. Click the Office Orb in the upper left hand corner

2. Click Word Options

3. Click Proofing

4. Click the AutoCorrect options button and follow the steps as above.

Try these simple, but highly effective techniques and you will find yourself starting to save some time when word processing. I have put together a short video demonstration for you to see this tip in action below.

Click here to see the video!
Geek Speek
Zeitgeist is a German word that roughly translates into the sign or spirit of the times. Google has taken this word and culled data from their search engine to give you a snapshot of what the hot topics are on the web at any given time. Browsing the Google zeitgeist site can be quite fun, informative and at times, disturbing. However, I never regret visiting the site.

To visit the Google zeitgeist click here or go to http://www.google.com/trends
Google zeitgeist

Computer News...and comment

Apple recommends anti-virus software
This news story has been blazing around the Internet since the beginning of the week. It started when someone posted some information from Apple's support stating that they recommend users install multiple anti-virus programs on their computers. Clearly, in my opinion, this hard to find statement on the Apple site is a simple CYA statement.

The fact remains that there are less than a dozen Apple viruses in the wild and all of them have been rendered irrelevant by Apple security updates. Compared to the nearly 200,000 Windows targeted viruses and countless spyware attacks, Apple computers have nothing to worry about...at this time.

In fact, by the mid-day on Tuesday, Apple pulled down the statement from their support page. Much ado about nothing? I think so.

Researchers say cell phones distract drivers

Really? I would have never guessed, but University of Utah researchers released the results of their study this week confirming that cell phones do indeed distract drivers. The study concluded that drivers aged 18-49 had reaction times closer to senior citizen drivers when using a cell phone. Passengers, on the other hand, seemed to have no negative effect on drivers according to the study.

Netbooks dominate sales on Cyber Monday
Amazon.com sales on Monday were dominated by the netbook. A netbook is an extremely small laptop (monitor maximum size is 10") with small hard drives and keyboards. Seven of the top ten sales slots were filled by netbooks. Price is believed to drive the sales since most netbooks sale for $400 or less.

I just hope that buyers of netbooks realize what the netbook is designed for and plan on using it for that use. Otherwise, they will be sorely disappointed when they think they are getting a laptop.

Windows users slowly disappearing
New numbers released about operating system use were released this week. Microsoft's share of the operating system dipped under 90% for the first time in 15 years. In fact Windows usage has showed a steady decline since 2003 when it peaked at around 96.5%. In that same time, Macintosh use has quadrupled and Linux use has tripled.

Poll Results

Will you or did you participate in Black Friday 2008?

This week's poll:
Do you use the scroll wheel on your mouse?

Log on to HelpMeRick.com and Vote!!
Yes 9%
No 80%
What is Black Friday? 11%

Email of the week
Hello Rick,

I have installed Ubuntu 8.10 on to my Dell Inspirion 1200 and now it will not let me down load the drivers for my Linksys WPC53GX4 wireless-G notebook adapter. The adapter is a 2.4 GHz, 802.11g. Will Linksys work with Ubuntu? Thank you for your time and assistance.

Tom

=============

Hello Tom,

The new Ubuntu 8.10 operating system adds some great improvements and support for wireless and cellular wireless broadband cards. I don't think you copied your model number correct for your adapter, but I want to send you to the WiFi Docs Ubuntu site that has an extensive list of wireless adapters and instructions on how to install them: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/WirelessCardsSupported

You might find it easier to get one of the newer USB wi-fi adapters that the site supports "out of the box" and won't require any extra work from you other than plugging it in to the laptop.

Good luck and thanks for writing!

Rick

Castellini on Computers & HelpMeRick.com ©2008

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