Topic: Laptops and Tablet PC’s

Laptop/Tablet PC articles

So, Let’s consider: Getting and staying Tech Savvy 0

Posted by on in Health, Hobbies, How To, Internet, Laptops and Tablet PC's, Life, Living, Making Life Better, Self Improvement, Technology Trends And Directions



So, Let’s consider: Getting and staying Tech Savvy

As the old addage goes: The only thing constant is change. The days of pencil, paper and protractor are quickly being replaced by every day tools the likes of which we first saw in Dick Tracy in the comics decades ago. The little toys that Diet Smith Industries came up with back then were the tools which we’re finding to be becoming standard and indispenseable items of today and tomorrow.

Now I have to confess, I’ve been in computers for over 45 years, and I still learn stuff every day. So, I’m writing this basically directed towards those of my generation and the one before as many of us now have to use these new toys as requisites to getting through our daily lives!

Once one learns what’s out there, where it is and how to use it, you’ll find your life can be very positively impacted. For many that are retired, living alone, etc., it is also a great way of rebuilding your life social and communication structure. The factors that lead to isolation for many can be replaced by the simple tools like FaceTime, Facebook, and other video and social applications. Even though you’re several time zones away, you’re basically in the same room. But, you don’t have to be retired to use and want to use these resources!

Learning about and how to use basic consumer technologies can help you keep current on events. You will no longer have to depend on Tom Brokaw, Huntley, Brinkley or any of the rest. It’s there for you to just got get and very current if not in real time. Your biggest challenge will be in selecting from the crowd!

This also lets you connect with other people that share your hobbies and interests. Explore new hobbies, places to go, and many other things of interest. The educational resources are amazing and many of them are free – and these are everything from simple how to’s to MIT and other university classes. They’re just a web browser or google(www.google.com) away! Had a nagging question that you just can’t find the answer to? Google it!

So how can you find and learn of these resources if you don’t know what, where or how?

Well, ask someone else or ask a kid. Kids are totally immersed in this world. Have them show you what they’re finding and using. And, by “kid” that also applies to high school, college and adult “kids” as well. Don’t feel you have to reinvent the wheel as chances are someone has done that already!

Get your feet wet! Take a class on basics. Libraries are a great resource for this and they can also tell you who are the good resources in your area to learn from. Sometimes this is a local civic group, club, community college, church group or university.

Don’t be afraid the ask the “dumb questions”. Many of us have found that they’re the best kinds of questions to ask. You’ll also find that Coursera and Udemy classes are really great places to start on many topics.

Use online resources like YouTube (www.youtube.com). This resource is loaded with how-to’s on most anything you’d ever want to know about or how to do. It’s also loaded with music and videos to just watch. And it’s free just for the browsing.

Search for it. Using search engines like google can make your life so much easier. Just go to the search line and ask you question. Keep it simple and then refine it details as you learn and see your options. For example you could enter “beekeeping” on the search line, and sit back as you get back and get inundated with responses. Then you’ll learn things like using “beekeeping mite control” and other ways to refine your search questions. And a “How do I…” is always a good way to start. If you’re looking for more advanced responses, try scholar.google.com.

As with the other parts of life, crawl before your walk, before you run. So, start small. Don’t feel you have to conquer the world with your first google search! Buy do get in there and play. The more you play, the more you learn. The more you learn the better your life will be.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

Like what you’re reading? Then, subscribe to the feed. It’s free and no spam.



Windows vs. Ford 0

Posted by on in Laptops, Laptops and Tablet PC's, Windows






Windows vs. Ford.

OK, I know it’s been a long time since this COMDEX and COMDEX has been replaced by CES, but since some times some things don’t change very quickly and there are just some things in history that you never forget. Enjoy a good chuckle.

For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on. At a recent computer expo (COMDEX) : Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated, “If Ford had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon.”

In response to Bill’s comments,

Ford issued a press release stating:

If Ford had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics (and I just love this part):

1…. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash………twice a day.

2…. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.

3…. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.

4…. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.

5…. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive – but would run on only five percent of the roads.

6…. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single “This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation” warning light.

7…. The airbag system would ask,”Are you sure?”before deploying.

8…. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.

9…. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.

10…. You’d have to press the “Start” button to turn the engine off.

11…. Periodically we will automagically download a new program so that things on your dashboard will be in new places we didn’t tell you about. Unless you find a setting we don’t tell you about, this will usually happen when you are going over 50 MPH. (not part of original – suggested by a learned reader )

PS – I’d like to add that when all else fails, you could call “customer service” in some foreign country and be instructed in some foreign language how to fix your car yourself!

I’m Don Rima and that’s how are From Where I Stand…