Category: Archived

Grisoft has released version 7.5 of their AVG Anti-Virus program. If you have an old version of AVG Anti-Virus on your computer you will be presented with a window box notifying your old version was discontinued in February. You will be given several choices for upgrading to the new version, including an option to download and upgrade to the latest free version (see bottom of box).

The “click here” link in the box will take you to a AVG 7.5 product page – including an option on the bottom “To download new AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 7.5, please click here.”

You can also upgrade to the new free version from within the AVG Test Center or Control Center by going to the “Information” menu > “I Need Help – Online Services”, then click on the “Download” link, “Installation Files & Documentation”, then download the new version and follow the upgrade instructions.

If you should decide to buy one of their paid products, as always I do not recommend “Security Suites” which combine extra (and often redundant) software which can slow down your computer and cause more problems than they claim to fix. An Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware program is sufficient for most computer users.

Microsoft released it’s newest version of it’s Windows operating system in late January – Windows Vista. Most of my experiences with Vista have been troublesome. I’ve had several old model printers and games that don’t work. Also they’ve changed the way you do certain tasks and renamed commonly-used control panel items. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading – I suggest you wait. If you want other user opinions check out this PC World article. If you’ve been thinking about getting a new computer, Windows Vista is your only choice on the new computers sold in the major chain stores. However you can still get Windows XP if you custom order a computer from some manufacturer’s websites or from our local wholesaler – ask us for details. If you decide to upgrade or get a new computer with Windows Vista – be prepared to experience complications.

If you still have a computer with Windows98 or WindowsME now is still a great time to get a new computer with Windows XP at an affordable price. Beginning in January new computers will come with Microsoft’s newest operating system – Windows Vista. Those new computers will likely be more expensive due to the higher price of the different versions of Vista, and the more expensive hardware required to run Vista.Computer Techs can help with advice on buying a new computer, as well as set-up, transferring your data from your old computer, securing your new computer and uninstalling unnecessary trial programs that often come bundled on new computers.

People have asked me if they should upgrade to Vista when it’s available, or wait to buy a new computer until Vista comes out. My answer is ‘no’ for now. I have been using the beta version of Vista on one of my computers for a few weeks. While Vista is appealing to the eye, I don’t feel it has any features worthy enough to upgrade. It’s also very different in most aspects than previous versions. I find it hard to find things such as changing system settings that I know how to locate in previous versions.

You can see examples of what the Windows Vista desktop looks like by clicking on the picture thumbnails below.

In the next few weeks Microsoft will be offering a free update to the Internet Explorer browser via the Windows Automatic Updates service. If you don’t want to wait for the automatic update, you can find out more information about it and download it for free from Microsoft’s website, or manually check for the for the update at www.windowsupdate.com.

IE7 offers a few new features such as tabbed browser windows, the ability to zoom-in to increase page size and fit-to-page printing.Tabbed browser windows let you have multiple web pages open and you can easily switch between the tabs. I find it useful to have web mail open in one window tab, news open in another and real-time stock market graphs in yet another.

Grisoft has released version 7.5 of their AVG Anti-Virus program. If you have AVG Anti-Virus on your computer you may be presented with a window box notifying your old version will be discontinued in January 2007. You will be given several choices for upgrading to the new version, including an option to download and upgrade to the latest free version (see bottom of box).

The “click here” link in the box will take you to a AVG 7.5 product page – including an option on the bottom “To download new AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 7.5, please click here.”

You can also upgrade to the new free version from within the AVG Test Center or Control Center by going to the “Information” menu > “I Need Help – Online Services”, then click on the “Download” link, “Installation Files & Documentation”, then download the new version and follow the upgrade instructions.

If you should decide to buy one of their paid products, as always I do not recommend “Security Suites” which combine extra (and often redundant) software which can slow down your computer and cause more problems than they claim to fix. An Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware program is sufficient for most computer users.

If you are still using AOL dial-up internet service and paying more than $20 per month, you can now get AT&T’s high-speed DSL internet service and keep AOL at a lower combined price than you are paying now.

If you are an AOL dial-up customer, they have recently offered customers who have subscribed to high-speed internet a lower rate of $4.99 per month to keep them as a customer and still allow them to keep using the familiar AOL software and AOL e-mail. On August 2nd AOL announced that beginning in September they will be giving away their e-mail accounts and software at no charge in hopes that advertising revenue will make up the difference. Former AOL subscribers who cancelled within the past 2 years will be able to reclaim their old AOL.com e-mail addresses. You can read more details here.

When ordered online, AT&T DSL starts at $12.99 per month and is available in most areas of the Reno/Sparks area. At that price you get speeds that range from approximately 300-1200 Kbps. Compare that to a maximum speed of 50 Kbps available on AOL and other dial-up internet services. Besides getting internet transfer speeds that are 6-24x faster, DSL internet allows you to be on the internet and be talking on the telephone at the same time.

To summarize, AOL subscribers can get AT&T DSL and keep their AOL browser and e-mail for considerably less than they are paying now. Computer Techs technicians can help you order DSL through AT&T’s web site, verify if your computer is compatible, set-up the DSL software, modem and filters, and tutor you on the AT&T Yahoo services.

9/9/06 UPDATE: AOL now has 2 price plans. $9.95/month for dial-up access, or FREE for no dial-up access. To change your plan to one of the new plans go to AOL keyword “changeplan”.

Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 98 and Windows ME on July 11. That means they will no longer offer telephone support if you have a computer with those operating systems. More importantly they will no longer be offering security patches and critical updates. Those operating systems are now more vulnerable to operating system and browser exploits, hacker attacks and viruses.Through the end of this year is a good time to think about upgrading to a new computer with Windows XP if you still have an old computer with Windows 95, 98 or ME. New computers are becoming less expensive as manufacturers and retailers begin to clear out inventory in anticipation of the new Windows ‘Vista’ Operating System, which is due to release in early 2007.Also, Intel has just released a new, faster processor which will push down the price of the computers with the older (pre-August) processors. Computers with processors that have been manufactured in the last few years are still considerably faster than the processors in an older computers that came with Windows ME and earlier.You might be thinking “Why not wait until Windows Vista comes out next year”? From what I’ve heard about the new features that will be available with Windows Vista, I see no compelling reason at this time for people to upgrade. New computers released next year will likely be more expensive since they will come preloaded with Vista which requires more expensive hardware to take advantage of it’s more advanced features.

The social networking website MySpace.com is very popular with teenagers and singles. The site allows anyone to create their own web page or ‘space’ that can be customized with pictures, music and colorful graphics. People will often publish information about their interests an hobbies. Friends or strangers can post messages and pictures on anybody else’s MySpace page.
 
The problem with MySpace is that for the most part it is uncensored and some users have posted pictures that could be considered pornographic, and comments that are crude or violent. Some have found it as a way to express feelings or opinions that they wouldn’t necessarily say if they weren’t hidden behind a keyboard. I feel that many parents would be shocked by the stuff that some of their teenagers post on their MySpace page.
 
As a parent of a pre-teenager, I recommend to all parents of teenagers who use MySpace that they view their son or daughter’s MySpace profile and talk to them about what is appropriate and what is not. 
 
Alternatively, there is commercial computer monitoring software that can monitor and/or disallow access to programs or websites – or allow access on a timed basis. I have researched and tested a few computer parental control programs and have found my favorite to be a program called Cyber Patrol.
 
If you need help limiting or monitoring your children’s internet usage, ask us if Cyber Patrol would be good software for your computer. If so, we would be happy to install it for you and configure the powerful features to your needs, and train you on how to get the most use from the program.

Many people have asked me about a letter they have received after their 1-year commitment to SBC (now AT&T) DSL is over. In the letter SBC has offered to continue their DSL on a month-to-month basis for a rate of $34.99/month.

What they don’t mention in the letter is that you can call them and often get a much better monthly rate if you agree to continue DSL service for another year and/or add other SBC/AT&T services to your phone bill. I have had SBC DSL for over 5 years, and my price for DSL has gone down every year. Several customers have reported that after I had told them to call for a better rate – they are now paying anywhere between $19 and $26 per month.

Unfortunately I’ve heard that the rates being offered are not consistent between all the SBC customer service reps. If you aren’t offered a fair deal by one rep, you may need to politely say ‘no thank you’ and call back to speak to a different rep. Some report that they received a good deal from the Customer Retentions Dept.

If you are a Charter High-Speed Internet customer, I’ve been told that their customer retentions dept. will offer you a rate of $19.99/month for 6 months if you mention that you want to switch away from Cable to DSL.

Cant’ get DSL? Don’t want Charter Broadband? Now there’s a new high-speed internet option in certain areas of town – Clearwire Wireless Broadband internet service. Their service offers download speeds up to 1500 Kbps (compare that to about 40 Kbps for most dial-up internet service). Clearwire officially launched service in the Reno/Carson City/Minden/Gardnerville area on March 14. As a promotion to get people to sign-up for their service they are offering residential service at just $19.99/month for your first 3 months (+$4.99 monthly modem lease fee). This is a savings of $10 to $17 per month for your first 3 months! A minimum 1-year contract is required. If you sign-up for a 2-year contract, the $50 activation fee is waived. You can find out more about their service at www.clearwire.com or contact your Computer Techs technician for a demo – we are Authorized Representatives of Clearwire. Don’t delay – the promotional rate expires April 30.