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corrections

A Quick Tip Correction!
The Quick Tip:
I ran two weeks ago dealt with how to use the ALT key plus a number combination to get fractions or the cent sign. It’s a fun little tip, however we need to clarify that you have to use the number keypad (usually located on the right hand side of your keyboard) in order for this tip to work. Also, we had the info reversed for the ½ and ¼ symbols. Thanks to the many (many) sjdsnow readers who emailed me to let us know of the error and to the readers who added a few to the list

Here is an expanded list:

ALT + 155 = ¢
ALT + 171 = ½
ALT + 172 = ¼
ALT + 0190 = ¾
ALT + 0176 = °
ALT + 0216 = Ø
ALT + 133 = à
ALT + 134 = å
ALT + 0174 = ®
ALT + 0169 = ©

DVD-R what is this?

As DVD recording comes of age and the prices come down, more of us will likely be adding DVD writers to our computers. But what gives with these dueling formats?Anyone who was around twenty years ago might remember the battle between the two video tape formats: VHS (Victor Home System) and Betamax (Sony). Fast forward to the twenty-first century and we have a similar battle of the formats with DVD.

The disks are pretty much the same, but the writing process is different. DVD+R is a bit more advanced, but the disks often cost more than the older DVD-R format.

Another thing to consider is what format your DVD recording software works best in. I had a friend that couldn’t get his software to work and it turned out he needed to use DVD-R. Now he’s a regular DVD pirate—Arrgh, just kiddin’ matey!

My suggestion? Pay the extra bucks for a writer that supports both formats or wait until the dust settles.

write it down, file and figure

Have you ever run into a problem with your computer that happened to bring up an error message? I’m sure you have. You’re really lucky if you’ve never had to deal with that. Well, when that happens, wouldn’t it be nice if you could just capture that error message and send it to someone else so they could help you figure out what’s wrong? It sure would save me quite a few times! Well, lucky for us all, there’s a way. Here’s how!

Find the Print Screen and Alt buttons on your keyboard and you’ll be all set. The PrtScr button is located on the right hand side of your keyboard right next to the Scroll Lock key. (It’s also right beside the F12 key on most keyboards). If you hit the Alt and PrtScr keys at the same time, your computer will take a “snapshot” of the active window (which would be the error message). Now, if you want to get a shot of the whole screen, push the Shift key along with the PrtScr key and you’ll have it.

Once you have that image captured, you can go and paste it in another program and then send it to your “computer expert” for advice. You can put it in MS Word, Notepad, Wordpad or even in an e-mail. It’s up to you. Once you have the program you want to put it in open, just hit Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot (or go to Edit, Paste). Along with the image, you can type out a description of what you were doing when the problem occurred. That will especially help if you’re sending it to someone else to look at. With both the screenshot and the description, they should be able to lead you in the right direction to get things fixed. Having all of that information documented helps if you have to call on some professional tech support as well. You gotta love that!

Add Firefox Buttons

Add Firefox Buttons

Are you one of the many who use Firefox as your main Web browser? If so, you may think that there just aren’t enough buttons to choose from in the regular interface. Well, if you have a feeling something is missing from your button options, the only thing I can think of to do is add some more! And even better, you can do that easily with the FirefoxMenuButtons 2.0.1 extension. Shall we see how all this works?!

Once you download the extension to your Firefox browser, you will have a grand total of 41 more buttons to choose from on your regular toolbar. And let me tell you, everything is covered. There’s a button for everything from Save As to Open File to Send Link to Print Preview to Undo to Send Message to Preferences to Page Info to Previous Tab to Full Window and so many more. It’s amazing what all you can add to your browser with this one little extension.

Now, there may be some buttons you really want, but a few you don’t want, so you can also add and delete any of the buttons as you go along. Talk about convenient! If you’re interested in adding these buttons to your Firefox browser, click here for the download. Just click on the link that says “Download FirefoxMenuButtons 2.0.1” to get started. You can read more about this extension from the link above as well. Do keep in mind that this is only for Firefox 2.0. So, if you have that, go have some button fun and enjoy all your new additions!

Comparing Control Panels

Comparing Control Panels

Are you using Windows Vista now? Are you having a little trouble getting a handle on the new Control Panel? It’s hard to get used to new things sometimes, but I’m going to try to help you out with this one today. Let’s do a little Control Panel comparing: Vista vs. XP. Sound good to you? I thought you might like that. Well, gear up, because here we go!

First, here are the different links you will find in each of the Control Panels. In XP, you will find: Appearance and Themes, Network and Internet Connections, Add or Remove Programs, Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices, Performance and Maintenance, Printers and Other Hardware, User Accounts, Date, Time, Language and Regional Options, Accessibility Options and Security Center. On the other hand, Vista shortens those options a little. There, you will find: System and Maintenance, Security, Network and Internet, Hardware and Sound, Programs, User Accounts and Family Safety, Appearance and Personalization, Clock, Language and Region, Ease of Access and Additional Options.

Now, most of them are pretty self-explanatory, but let’s go over a few of the differences found in Vista. Under the Hardware and Sounds section, you can access all of your hardware, like your printer, keyboard, mouse, etc. Under Programs, you can take care of all the uninstalling issues and so on. Under the User Accounts and Family Safety area, you can add new accounts, but also set up parent controls and other safety settings. Now, for the new ones. Ease of Access gives you the option to have Windows suggest certain settings and it also has a section for speech recognition options. Under Additional Options, you will find things such as the type of antivirus program you have on your computer and other valuable information.

So, if you are still getting used to Vista, you can rest assured that the Control Panel is just about the same as XP’s, just with a few additions. It shouldn’t take you too long to get the hang of it. You’ll be a Vista Control Panel pro in no time!

Web Site Shortcuts

Web Site Shortcuts

How would you like to have a shortcut on your desktop that with just a double click, all of your favorite Web sites could be seen? And yes, I’m talking about any Web site that you visit on a regular basis (at least in Internet Explorer). How cool does all that sound? Pretty good, huh?! Well, it’s very easy to do, so if you haven’t done so already, let me show you how.

There’s a couple of ways to do this, but they’re both easy, so you can just take your pick. First, right click on your desktop and choose New, Shortcut. When the wizard pops up, type in the Web address of the site you want to add. Do keep in mind that it has to be a Web site that starts with the normal “www.” Other URLs will not work. Once you have that typed in, click Next. You can then type in a shortcut name for that Web site. For example, if you’re adding a WorldStart shortcut, name it WorldStart. Just give it a name that you will remember so you’ll know what each shortcut is for. Click Finish when you’re done. You will then see a new icon appear on your desktop.

Second, go ahead and open the Web site you want to create a shortcut for. Once you’re there, look in the address bar at the top and you’ll see a little Internet Explorer icon (it’s a blue “e”). Drag that with your mouse and just drop it on your desktop. A new icon for it will then appear. You can then right click the icon, choose Rename and give it a proper name. Then when you’re ready to visit the site, just double click on the icon and you will be taken to it automatically. Talk about convenience. It couldn’t be any easier to visit your favorite Web sites!

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