Posts Tagged ‘computer’

8 Keys to Internet Security

In a recent post, I recommended Panda’s Cloud Antivirus as a decent free antivirus program. Others have recommended different programs, and that’s fine – in the end, I don’t think there’s much meaningful difference between the various antivirus programs, at least in terms of security.

Much more important than which antivirus program you use (or anti-spyware, or firewall, or any security software), or… Continue reading

July 30 2009 | By Dustin | Tagged: behavior, computer, internet, online, security, virus | 41 comments»

The First 10 Free Apps to Install on a New Windows PC

It’s about that time for me again: my desktop is a couple years part its prime and my laptop just died (no display, no hard drive activity, no wifi, and a recent history of turning off suddenly for no good reason – those are all bad signs, right?), which means the near future holds a new PC for me. Which means a blank slate on which to… Continue reading

July 29 2009 | By Dustin | Tagged: applications, computer, free-software, software, windows | 130 comments»

10 More Linux Resources for Kids

Yesterday, I wrote about Linux distributions designed with kids’ needs in mind and some of the software for children that runs on Linux. Today I thought I’d share some of the other resources I came across while researching a likely candidate to install on my nephew’s and niece’s new PC.

Switching Your Kids to Linux by Scott K. This is a great primer for parents getting ready to give

June 30 2009 | By Dustin | Tagged: children, computer, education, kid, linux, parenting, pc, student | 4 comments»

Linux for Children

I recently took possession of a pair of older PCs – the natural consequence of nagging one’s older relatives to get something a little more “post-Columbian” – and of course my first instinct is to refurbish one as a Linux PC for my nephew and niece, ages 7 and 5. My nephew, especially, is computer-obsessed, and I figure that giving him a complete child-friendly, education-focused PC might encourage some more… Continue reading

June 29 2009 | By Dustin | Tagged: children, computer, education, linux, parenting, pc, school, student | 13 comments»

The Easy Computer Maintenance Kit

Computers can be fickle things. Whether you're a zealous follower of Getting Things Done methodology or you don't have any productivity system to speak of, these buggers can get in the way of day-to-day life so often that you might think the modern human spends more time getting technical issues fixed than they spend doing real work and getting things done. I've been on caught in situations where I had… Continue reading

December 29 2008 | By Joel | Tagged: computer, maintenance, repair, tools, upgrade | 10 comments»

6 Ways to Ungeek for Productivity

We have to have the latest and greatest gadgets. We have to be on the newest and coolest web apps. We have to be cutting-edge. But does all this technology really help with our productivity? I've found that there are days when I just have to back away from the bleeding edge if I want to get anything done, and despite how cool some of these toys are, I've… Continue reading

October 30 2008 | By Thursday | Tagged: business card, computer, research, teller | 18 comments»

Why Haven’t You Organized Your Passwords?

In my work with clients I have run into passwords in all kinds of unbelievably random and insecure places. I always shrink back from them when I see them... I don’t want to know! Passwords are the key to unimaginable ruin in the wrong hands, and it consistently shocks me how careless people are with this information. (It’s just as bad as how often I see people who don’t do… Continue reading

July 1 2008 | By Lorie | Tagged: computer, organization, password, security, software | 17 comments»

Keep Your Home Business Green

Earth Hour has come and gone for 2008, and it was an easy opportunity for people who don’t normally think about their environmental footprint to do something about it. Apparently it was quite successful, with local utilities such as EnergyAustralia claiming that energy consumption for that hour was 10.2% less than usual. But, while Earth Hour is a great awareness raising campaign and does provide some relief against our constant… Continue reading

March 31 2008 | By Joel | Tagged: computer, green, lighting, Money, paperless, power, recycling, water | 5 comments»

5 MORE Ways to Make Your Computer Work For You (And Not The Other Way Around)

In my last post, I focused on ways to automate tasks on your computer, from backing up to document writing. Automation is something that computers are especially good at -- it is, after all, what they do.

An important part of mastering your computer, though, lies not in the software you use but the attitude you bring to the computer, the worldview that shapes how you interact with it… Continue reading

March 26 2008 | By Dustin | Tagged: automation, centralization, computer, internet, Productivity, tip, web-app, workflow | 8 comments»

5 Ways to Make Your Computer Work For You (And Not The Other Way Around)

Computers have the potential to vastly increase our personal productivity. They are also, of course, capable of becoming vast time-sinks, sucking our productive moments away in a haze of frustration and imposed patience. Alas, the line between one and the other can be exceedingly thin. Here, then, are five ways to keep on the "productive" side of that line and avoid the "time-sink" factor. I've focused here on practices… Continue reading

March 24 2008 | By Dustin | Tagged: automation, computer, file_management, internet, Productivity, tip, web-app, workflow | 14 comments»

How to Survive as the Family Tech Support Guy (or Gal)

One of the most insidious pressures on tech-savvy people these days is the seemingly constant pressure to provide quick, top-quality computer and web support -- to our families. If you happen to do web design, system administration, programming, or other vaguely computer-related work as part of your job, the pressure is magnified all the more. It's work we do out of love, and usually because we want our family… Continue reading

October 1 2007 | By Dustin | Tagged: client, computer, family, techsupport, timemanagement | 72 comments»

Holding It All Together On the Go

This week marks the beginning of the Fall semester for me, and as usual, I have a crazy schedule. I thought I might share some of the things I do to manage the frenzy that the life of an adjunct can be, in the hopes that it might give you some ideas about how to deal with the craziness of your own schedule. First, some background. I'm an adjunct… Continue reading

August 31 2007 | By Dustin | Tagged: adjunct, computer, mobility, office, Productivity, routine, schedule, working | 18 comments»

Make your idle computer work for you

Since you're not sitting at your home computer all day, (you have a job right?) your computer is probably available to become your personal productivity/fun slave. The following are five ways to make use of your idle computer when you are away. Legally download (good) music for free If the whole copyright issue surrounding free music irks you, and if P2P clients aren't your bag (Limewire, BearShare, etc.), don't… Continue reading

April 11 2007 | By Kyle | Tagged: computer, Productivity, Technology | 15 comments»

20 Minute Guide to PC Security

IT Security posted a guide covering the basics of computer security. Some of the tips I would consider common sense, but it would be a good article to pass along to an inexperienced user. The tips are broken down into the following categories: The Basics: Spotting and Eliminating Threats As the saying goes, before you can run, you must learn how to walk. And you can consider your first baby… Continue reading

February 13 2007 | By Kyle | Tagged: computer, security, Technology, tips | 2 comments»

But What Do I Do When My Internet Connection Goes?

Some of us work from the net and when, for whatever reason, the connection is lost for longer than 5 minutes, frustration can reach boiling points. But don't let that stop you from being productive! Let's get done some of those PC-related things we usually neglect to get around to. Here's a handy list of five things you can do while you've got some time off from the internet while on… Continue reading

February 8 2007 | By Craig | Tagged: computer, internet | 1 comment»

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