Category: Computer & Technology

Many home business owners maintain very organized computer filing systems. They're able to find their computer files with just a few keystrokes or clicks of the mouse. Other home business owners aren't as organized. They just save their documents to the desktop or documents folder without having any real organizational system for their computer files. This can lead to lost files, accidental deletion of important files, and an increase in the amount of time it takes to find files on your computer. This article will give you tips on how to organize computer files so that you don't need to spend time wading through groups of files every time you need to locate a document.

Cleaning Computer Files: Before You Begin

Before you begin cleaning computer files, make sure you have enough time set aside to make a dent in what needs to be done. Depending on how many files you have, it may take anywhere from fifteen minutes to several hours to get them under control. If you have a big project ahead of you, break it down into several short sessions to make organizing computer files more manageable. You may also want to jot down some ideas for file categories before you begin creating folders and moving files.

Organizing Computer Files: Cleaning Up Desktop Icons

If you're not paying attention when you install new programs or download files from your e-mail, you could end up with dozens of unused desktop icons that cause computer clutter and make files hard to find. Start your mission to organize your computer files by reviewing all of your desktop icons. If they are shortcuts that you never use, you can delete them. If they are documents that you downloaded, move them to the appropriate folder. Pictures could go in your My Pictures folder and general documents could go in your My Documents Folder. When you're finished, you'll have a clean desktop that will motivate you to continue with organizing computer files.

Cleaning Computer Files: Develop a File System

When you're cleaning computer files, you need to come up with a filing system that works for you. There are a lot of great articles about computer filing systems, but they will not do you any good if you are unable to stick with them. Think about how you typically access files. If you have a home business, you may want to have folders for client work, expenses, and personal projects. Create new folders for each of these topics so that you can easily file your documents.

Organizing Computer Files: Renaming Documents

Sometimes, downloaded documents take on funny names such as ~111.temp.doc. Your files should all be named so that you can quickly find what you are looking for when you search for a file. Take some time to rename your documents according to the file system you set up. A file formerly named "invoice.doc" might be changed to include your client's name or the date of the invoice. Once you have gone through all of your documents and renamed them as necessary, you can move on to the next step in learning how to organize computer files.

Cleaning Computer Files: Filing

Now all that's left for you to do is to move all of your renamed files into your new folders. Client information would go into a folder marked "Clients." Spreadsheets that detail your business expenses, along with scanned copies of expense receipts, would go into the folder marked "Expenses." Continue filing all of your documents until they are all properly categorized.

Once you have cleaned your computer files, resist the temptation to just file your documents anywhere. File them in the proper folders as you save or download them, and you will save a lot of time and frustration when you need to find important documents.…

Transferring files to and from computers often becomes a daunting and tedious task depending on the data’s characteristics (i.e. file size, number of files, file type, compressing files, etc.). Fortunately for Mac users, there is a plethora of methods to accomplish file transfers. This article will delve into the various categories of file transfers, beggining with the most rapid method and finishing with the slowest method. Despite the speed, each method has its own inherent advantage.

1)Direct Wire/Cord Transfer (i.e. USB Cables, Firewire 400/800, Ethernet, etc.)

Conventionally, taking an ethernet cord and connecting two or more adjacent computers, proves to be the fastest transfer method. Depending on the type of Ethernet cable, it can transfer data from 3 Megabytes/sec – 10 Gigabytes/sec (all of which is variable). The next fastest cord is Firewire 800 which transfers around 800 megabytes/s. Following this is the Firewire 400 cable which transfers data at a rate of approximately 400 megabytes/s. Finally the slowest of the modern computer cables is the USB cable. The USB 2.0 cable is capable of transferring up to 480 megabytes/s. All of these connections require a cord that has a dual sided USB, Firewire, or Ethernet connector so that one end may connect from the host computer to the receiving computer.

Once the cords are connected between the two computers, there are several ways in which the data can be transferred. Perhaps the best method is by booting the receiving computer up in a different manner. Begin by having the receiving computer off and the transferring computer on and running (with the cable of choice connecting the two computers). Boot the receiving computer, and hold down Apple Key + T until the computer has started up. The computer is now in an accessible mode where the host computer can hastily transfer or take files from the newly booted computer.

The file transfer can take place between two regular booted macintosh computers with the use of a third party (FTP or P2P) program. Programs such as Mac Orchard will detect the connection between the two computers and bring up a comprehensive overview of file transfers between the two computers. The advantage of the direct connect method is speed. This proves to be very useful with large files or a variety of files (such as music). The only disadvantage is that the computers can only be as far apart as the cord will reach.

2) Wireless (i.e. Wireless a/b/g/n Router Network, Bluetooth, Online Storage Sites, etc.)

This is the next fastest method of transfer and is quickly overtaking the speed of the direct wire transfer as new technology has been invented. Perhaps the easiest method is connecting two wireless computers onto the same wireless network or signing online from their individual wireless networks. A useful program is AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) where you can create a screenname and sign on, and rapidly transfer data between two computers. Once you have created a screenname and logged in, simply select File–>File Transfer and select the proper files to send to the designated user. The speed of wireless routers varies upon range and type (a/b/g/n) but has a typical range of 50-300megabytes/s. If computers both happen to have bluetooth capabilities, then the transfer can occur within a 30 foot wireless range and a speed of 1 megabyte/s. With Macintosh computers a search for the program within applications or clicking on the Bluetooth Icon in the upper right corner will allow the user to transfer between computers. The advantages of these methods are ease of access, as the wireless methods do not require any connection of cords or transfer of data to any other physical media.

Additionally, many file hosting websites are available online where data can be uploaded and saved to access at a later point in time. Examples of these websites are MediaFire, FileHosting, and RapidShare. The advantages of the online website are when a computer cannot be transported to a different location, the data can be retrieved from another computer via an internet connection.

3) Physical Media (USB Storage Key, CD’s, DVD’s, External Hard drive)

These methods require either a port (USB) or an encoding device (also known as “burner”) to write the media to the disk. USB keys range from holding 40megabytes – 2 Gigabytes, CD’s can hold 700 megabytes, DVD’s can hold 4 Gigabytes – 18 Gigabytes (depending if the DVD and burner has dual layer technology), and external harddrives (typically connect via USB) range from several gigabytes – 3 terabytes. Dual layer technology allows DVD’s to hold almost twice as much data, if your computer is capable of burning dual layer DVD’s. The best reason for this is portability as these devices are typically small or flat and also capable of playing through different media systems besides computers (i.e. DVD player). The only disadvantage is that the storage can be limited and your computer must have the technology to do so.…

There are many things to consider when you purchase a laptop. It is important to make sure the laptop meets your needs or you are going to want to buy another one right away. When you find the right fit for you it will last you for years. The Toshiba Qosimo G45 laptop has many features you might consider. The Toshiba Qosimo G45 is surprisingly comparable to some of the other high end laptops on the market. It is right up there with the Lenovo ThinkPad X61 (top of the line), the Dell Inspiron 1720, and the HP dv2500t. I think some people might be leery of the new name but his laptop gets top notes as a screaming machine. Although this laptop is comparable to some of the other Intel T7500s it is not the better choice.

This Toshiba has an Intel Core 2 Duo Processor (2.20 GHz, 800MHz, 4MB L2), the Mobile Intel chip set, and the Intel Wireless WiFi link. In addition, it has the Bluetooth 2.0. This laptop comes with an installed 2 GB of memory and can be upgraded to 4GB. There is an integrated webcam with speakers and a microphone also. Now you can video conference without the hassle of setting up a camera and microphone.

The Qosmio comes with a 17" widescreen, glossy, LCD, which is perfect for working. I like this size better than the smaller screens you can barely see your applications. The graphics look amazing on this screen with a 512 MB nVidia GeForce GO 8600m GT graphics card. There are also a ton of ports on this laptop which include a FireWire (which means you can download movies from your DVR player, an S-Video, VGA, HDMI, two headphones, microphone, and five USB ports.

The overall look and feel of the Qosmio is fabulous. It looks very flashy with the glossy black cover and shiny screen. The palm rest is glossy also and the dials are chrome. The LEDs light up with a bright blue which illuminate all of the soft media buttons also. If you don't like these lights they can be disabled.

One thing you might consider with this laptop is the frame build. For the price of a laptop like this you would expect an alloy frame to be of top quality. If you hang the laptop over the edge of the table as you type, resting your wrists naturally, you will notice the frame bend slightly. It bends close to a quarter inch or more, which makes this a less durable model than some of the other laptops on the market made by Toshiba.

I absolutely must mention the speakers on this laptop because they are some of the highest quality speakers I have heard integrated in a laptop in a long time. The Bass is very clear and defined, midrange and high is very accurate also. You can get the volume level very loud before you begin to hear any distortion at all. You might chuckle when the plastic case of the laptop begins to rattle when you turn the bass up.

As a writer I have to say the keyboard on this laptop is very comfortable. The keys feel solid and supported unlike other laptops. When you type it doesn't require much pressure for the key presses to be recognized. This allows you to keep your wrists free as you type so you have to worry less about carpal tunnel. In addition, the typing is not as loud as the Compaq keyboard models.

This laptop is comfortable for writing and has excellent graphics with a big glossy screen. This model is perfect for someone who doesn't have a lot of high end video needs that are going to work the processor. It has many great features to it and definitely great for listening to music. However, the cheap casing on this laptop forces me to give it a 'no' for purchasing.…

Click and destroy is a common theme with digital photography. Take a ton of shots and hope that at least one of them will jump off the screen and sing.

It's fun and easy to take digital photographs– there's an opinion for you. It is really easy to aim a camera or cell phone and shoot a picture worthy of posting somewhere online, but to do it in a way that makes someone else say, "wow, excellent shot, wish I could do that," is much harder. I have been taking pictures for a long time and I have learned a lot as I've gone along on this journey with my camera, yet I still manage to take nearly as many duds as delights. But that is what the delete button is for, to eliminate those horrible shots forever.

My secret to getting that interesting and beautiful shot? I place myself in the correct spot to get the angle I want and then I aim at my subject, focus, stop breathing to avoid shaking the camera and deliberately move the view-finder a bit to the right or left. This puts the subject slightly off-center and creates a new focal point.

The shakiness factor can be overcome by using a tripod, but I personally find this to be less spontaneous and much less convenient than carrying around just a camera. Besides, it can take several minutes to set up the tripod properly and adjust everything to the right height. By that time, your once-in-a-lifetime hummingbird closeup is long gone. Professional photographers tend to take a while to set up their photos. They set the tripod just so and wait for the perfect light, and perfect cloud formations. If a blue jay gets in the way of the shot, it's the red velvet on the cake, as long as it doesn't spoil the planned scene. I hold my breath while taking the shot for the simple reason that breathing creates movement and movement is fatal to capturing clear photos with a digital camera. For shots that aren't going anywhere, such as still lifes or portraits, the tripod is the way to go.

I'm here to say that sometimes it's the unplanned that adds to the amateur photographer's chances of creating that ideal shot.

I look around and see what is happening. If there is anything at all going on in view of my camera, there's a potential picture there. One prime example is the day that I walked outside without the camera and had to tip-toe back inside to get it when I discovered a winter tree covered with sparrows, looking for all the world like chirping leaves. Lucky for me, the birds stayed put while I did that and for several minutes thereafter while I clicked pictures. These things happen and the digital photographer needs to be prepared at all times.

To me, it's important to shoot the kinds of pictures that interest me the most.

If 5,000 pictures of Fluffy the cat in various appealing poses is what I'm into then so be it. Fluffy is what I'll focus on if it works for me and if it doesn't, then I'll find a new subject to shoot or choose a new angle on the old one. However, new angles should be kept as simple as possible just in case Fluffy doesn't like suddenly having a camera lens shoved up her nose and reacts with a clawed demonstration of her feelings. I find that it is easy to go too far with the dramatic "art" shots.

My rule is this: If I want a sideways picture, I turn the camera all the way on its side. If I want it horizontal rather than vertical, I leave the camera in its normal position. I don't go for halfway in between.

Overdoing the artsy angles can make it hard to tell what was supposed to be the theme of the picture. Was it the ocean or that half deflated beach ball on the shore? Was it the little girl in a sandy diaper wailing her eyes out because she has a sandy diaper or the big dog apparently trying to "water" the dogwood tree? It can be difficult to tell if the photographer was drunk and lying in a fetal position at the time the picture was taken or if he just likes photos that appear to be almost sideways and close to the horizon.

No fuss, no cuss is what I say.

To sum up, keep it simple and learn the basics of your camera, the ins and outs of digital photography and just have fun with it before you start getting overly creative. Just allow yourself the opportunity to be a poor photographer while you're learning the ropes. That's what the delete button is for and a good digital photographer is one who isn't afraid to use it. Have fun and click away.…

For both laptops and desktop computers, the start up method is the same. They read the hard disk drive (called space) to load the operating system (OS), which in most cases, is Windows XP. The OS is known by all, and it is what we are all accustomed to. It has your wall paper, start menu, and all your music, movies,etc.

Some times the OS doesn’t load, or will load and restart almost immediately giving you a blue screen with some cryptic error code most commonly called ‘Blue Screen of Death’ (BSoD). I’m not going to dive into fixing those errors in this article, I’ve already written a fix for those things in a different article. Instead, I’m going to guide you through the steps of getting your computer to boot from CD when it would normally not do so.

First thing to do is to verify the fact that you should boot from the OS CD. You don’t want to do any unnecessary tasks that might harm your computer any further. Second thing is to verify that your computer will in-fact not boot from the CD. If it will then there is no need to read any further into this article. With your computer powered on, insert your CD into a CD-Rom. If you have more than one CD-Roms, then insert it into the highest one (the one closer to the top of your computer tower). Then restart the computer. If your computer is able to boot from CD, it will show a message asking, “Press any key to boot from CD…”. After five seconds, the message will disappear and boot into your OS (if it is able). If you press a key it will start the program on the disc. If your computer does not show the message, and goes straight to loading the OS then you should read further to force it to give you the message.

To start, let’s power down the computer completely and let it set for at least 10 seconds. Push the power button to turn on the machine, and immediately start tapping the following keys on your keyboard one after the other: Delete; Insert; F1; F2; Tab. This will take you to the BIOS of your computer’s Motherboard. Simply put, this will show the screen that tells the computer ~how~ to start up.

There are very few things in here that we can safely change, so try not to do anything unless your sure of what it will do. If a setting is changed to something that prevents the computer from starting up, or causes some other errors, it can be easily fixed. Just power down the computer and remove the power cord. On the motherboard inside the desktop computer is a batter (looks like a watch battery). Remove that for 10 seconds, then replace and power the computer back up. Your BIOS settings will be restored to default. On a laptop this task is much more difficult, and usually require a disk to restore the BIOS settings to default. I’ll post more on that in a later article.

There are several different versions of a computer’s BIOS, ranging from Award to Phoenix and many others. They all function basically the same. Each BIOS has a setting or a heading called “BOOT”, or “BOOT PRIORITY”. Usually you can push the over arrow key to swap tabs to get to the Boot settings. Other computers will have a list on the left hand side that you have to push the down arrow key on the keyboard. Still others will have a full list of cryptic labels to choose from, and usually ends up being the second one down on the left hand side, called Advanced Settings with a sub menu of Boot Settings or Boot Priority. Some of the older computers will have just one page, and you will have to push the down arrow key to get to the Boot settings, while others will have a single page displaying, but will have the option of pushing the ‘P’ button on your keyboard to go to the next page.

Once you have found the Boot Settings page, regardless of your BIOS version, then change the settings to have the CD-Rom above the Hard Disk Drive. Normally this is very easy and self explanatory (at the bottom of the display screen it tells you what buttons do what). I will explain a few steps to change this around in a sec, but first you have to be sure which listing is the CD-Rom, and which one is the Hard Drive. Hopefully your settings are very clear of which is which, but doesn’t happen very often. The CD-Rom drive listing could be any thing with CD or DVD listed. It could be listed as IDE-DVD, or SATA-OPTICAL and could even have the name brand, such as SONY-DVD. The hard drive will usually be a long cryptic name with a lot of numbers and letters that means something to technicians and manufacturers, but not to the average user. If it is a sea gate name brand Hard Drive it will surely state something like ST0##345D (the ## will be replaced by the size of the hard drive). If there is any confusion about which is which, then a quick google search can give you the information you need.

Changing the order of the Boot List depends on your specific BIOS. At the bottom of the display screen will be a set of keyboard buttons that can be used, and what they do. Very simple, and self explanatory.

A few examples:

• 1) Hit enter on your keyboard, then assign the value (Hard Drive, or CD-Rom, or Floppy, etc..)
• 2) The U and P buttons will move the highlighted value up and down the list.
• 3) The + and – buttons will move the highlighted value up and down the list

After the Boot Priority settings have been set with the CD-Rom drive before the Hard Drive, save the changes and exit the BIOS. Again, the bottom of the screen has the instructions on how to do this. Normally, pushing F10 will ask you if you want to save and exit, don’t save and exit, and continue. Choosing save and exit is what we want. Other types of BIOS will utilize the ESC key, while others will have an Exit option that you will have to highlight and hit the Enter key.

Once the settings have been saved and you have exited the BIOS, the computer will restart on it’s own. Make sure the CD is in the drive, and it will ask for you to push any key to boot from the disc. If you are using a non-operating system disc then the computer should boot straight to the disc without you having to push any key on your keyboard.…