Saturday, January 21, 2012

Getting Help with Microsoft Word

A lot of my clients struggle using Microsoft Word, so I thought I'd offer some helpful links below. 
 Hopefully the links above will be helpful to you in figuring out how to use Word effectively! 

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Understanding the New Facebook Timeline

Unfortunately for many of us, Facebook is about to roll out a new change on everybody called Timeline. You may have noticed that some of your friends have already voluntarily switched over. And in keeping with Facebook's "I don't care what the user wants" attitude .... we'll all be getting the time very soon.

This new change will be so different that it will take longer to learn and understand what's going on than previous changes to Facebook.   Here's a brief introduction of the new Timeline profile.


And should you decide to stay with Facebook after this new change, the links below should help you navigate the new timeline quicker.


Facebook Changes Again - Everything You Need to Know

Facebook Timeline - Old Profiles verses New Timeline Profiles


10 Things You Should Know About Facebook Timeline

Preps for Facebook's Timeline Layout - 6 Must Do Privacy Tweaks

How to Get Your Facebook in Order

Hopefully the links above will help you adjust to Facebook's new timeline profile quicker.   But just in case you're one of the many users who are ready to sever your relationship with Facebook, you can always cancel your Facebook Account by clicking here.

Friday, December 16, 2011

What is One Note in Microsoft Office?


If you're using Microsoft Office 2007 or a later version, you may have noticed a new program called, One Note.  This is a new program in the Microsoft Office Suite.  A lot of my clients have asked me about it, so I thought I'd provide some information here about One Note.

Unlike Microsoft Word (which is a word processing program), One Note was designed to help you track and organize important notes.  Many of us are often scribbling notes on various pieces of paper, which often get lost or are difficult to keep track of.  One Note is a digital program designed to replace all those notes scribbled little pieces of papers.  And even better, it helps you organize your important notes so they're always at your fingertips. 

You can watch a demo video showing how One Note works by clicking here.

For more information about One Note, click here. 

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Beware of Fake Adobe Software Update

Although I typically tell my clients it's okay to update Adobe when they see a notification to do so, I want to issue a caution regarding those updates.  There is currently a FAKE update message making the email rounds and folks definitely want to IGNORE and DELETE this warning.

Legitimate update notices show up in the taskbar (you'll see a little message window down in the corner of the screen by the clock).  It's OKAY (and advised) to respond to these messages and update your Adobe software.

However, NEVER respond to update notices received via emails.  These are almost always scams.  And of course, if you're ever in doubt, don't respond to messages asking you to update.  Instead, go the software application's website and download the latest version of the software and install it.  This will ensure you're always updated and eliminate the risk of getting caught in a scam. 

Monday, November 21, 2011

Norton Internet Security for 5-PC's

For the last few years, Norton has offered a 3-PC license (meaning you could legally install Norton Internet Security on 3 computers).  This is a huge help to folks who own more than one computer.   And as amazing as it sounds, many users now need a 5-pc license (especially if you have kids in the house with laptops)! 

Buying Internet Security software for 5 computers can get expensive.  But thank to Norton's 5-PC license for Norton Internet Security, this is no longer a problem.

A single PC license for Norton Internet Security costs $30-$40 (depending on where you buy it)
The 3-PC license for Norton Internet Security costs $70
And the 5-PC license for Norton Internet Security only costs about $109 (which is a huge savings).

To downnload the Norton Internet Security 2012 - 5 User Pack, click here.

Uninstalling Skype

If you're no longer using Skype or are having trouble with the program, you want to uninstall it.  The steps below will help you uninstall Skype from computers running Windows.

If you still wish to use Skype but find the program isn't working anymore or freezes up on you.  Then you may wish to try uninstalling it and then reinstalling the latest version of Skype.  This may fix the problem.

To uninstall Skype from computers running WinXP:
  1. Click the START BUTTON and then CONTROL PANEL
  2. Open ADD OR REMOVE PROGRAMS
  3. Scroll own the list (when it becomes available) and find Skype
  4. Highlight Skype (single-left click) and then click the REMOVE button (and follow any prompts);  Reboot the computer if asked to. 

To uninstall Skype from computers running Windows Vista and 7:
  1. Click the START BUTTON and CONTROL PANEL
  2. Open PROGRAMS and FEATURES
  3. Find Skype in the list of programs and highlight it
  4. Click the UNINSTALL or REMOVE button

Once Skype is uninstalled, you can reinstall the latest version if you like.   To download the latest version of Skype, click here.  You'll be asked to log in to your existing Skype account or create a new one. 

For more information about using Skype, click here.

Setting Up Skype

Skype is a great tool that allows you to video chat or talk to others anywhere in the world ... and it's FREE!  Skype has been around for years, but more and more people are catching on to it now that they have web cams built into their laptops.

Although you don't need to have a web cam to use Skype, it is recommended.  Without the web cam, all you can do is chat over the internet as if you were talking on a telephone.  So at very least you will need a microphone connected to your computer to chat.  And if you prefer, you can purchase a special headset/microphone combo specifically designed to work with Skype.

Webcams aren't that expensive these days and having one allows you to actually see the person (or persons) you're chatting with real-time (and vice versa).  The cool thing about this is that it's almost like being there in person!  Many of my clients feel as though they get to watch their distant grandchildren grow because of Skype.

If you have a lot of relatives and friends that live in other states or counties, you'll really enjoy Skype.  And it's easy to install and set up. 

Here's what you need for Skype:
  1. A computer (obviously) with a good high-speed internet connection (note some folks on DSL have trouble)
  2. A microphone and speakers (or headset) ... or a web cam (which typically has the microphone built in)

Installing Skype:

Installing Skype is pretty easy.  You'll have to set up a free account first, then download the software and install it.  I recommend keeping notes of the username and password you setup for future reference.  In addition to the free account, Skype also offers a premium account for a small fee.  You can read about the differences in accounts on the Skype website.

If you previously had Skype installed and can't get the program to work anymore, you might want to uninstall Skype and then reinstall the latest version. 

To download Skype, click here.

Once the file is downloaded, double-click the icon to start the install process.  Follow the prompts to complete the installation. 


Getting Started with Skype:


Once the program is installed and you open it, you'll be asked to check the sound and video settings. Once that's done, you'll need to add others with Skype to your address book.  You can search for them using the built in search tool or just ask your friends and relatives for their skype names and add them.  If they're a little more tech savvy, you can also give them your skype name and ask them to add you.

When you add somebody to your Skype contact list, a message is sent to the other person asking for you to confirm it's okay.  This way you're only adding people to your contact list you want. 

Once you have a contact or two, you need to make sure that person is online so you can contact them.  Skype will tell if the other person is online.  If you like, you can also schedule a call with somebody in advance to make sure you're both online at the same time.

For more help with Skype, click here.