Tuesday, November 17, 2009

This is a Test!

We’re working with new software to learn how to make computer use easier for our clients.  Tonight – it’s Windows Live Writer – a software that connects to your existing blog web site and allows you to create the pages off line in a “Word” type program. 

I think the program has a  lot to offer.  Within just a few seconds of my typing – the software program was already hard at work, correcting my misspellings. 

The program allows me to add video:

The above video is an example video that comes with Windows 7.  I have placed it here to show how easy it was.  I had many options of ‘where’ to get the video I wanted to add – from.  I found the layout very simple and easy to use.

Here is how easy it was to add a hyperlink (aka – a web site link) www.sscomputertutor.com or www.blackgle.net – just write it and it instantly becomes html. 

To add a photo album:

Adding to the album only took a little reading but it was very easy to do and i like the way it lays the photos out on the screen in the middle of the blog – nice. 

DSC00038

Now let’s format the text and check the other tools:  - changing the text color was easy – changing the text style was the same very OLD Microsoft font dialog box.  I find that disappointing because the software has a lot of potential but it should offer drop down menus for the font options. 

sample 1 sample 3
this is and example so is this over here – added a table to the blog with one click!
using tab makes another new cell in the table You have to use your mouse to get back outside of the table.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Facebook BUGS and Viruses - USE CAUTION!


This looks like any other web site - AOL, yahoo maybe but it is not. It is a link you may arrive at when reading stuff out of Facebook.
I love facebook! Let's face it - I think a lot of us do. I can keep in touch with my current freidns and found a ton of friends I haven't seen since 3rd grade! I enjoy being able to put my pics up and share them easily with friends - sure beats emailing all those pics and trying to remember all the people i wanted to send them to. Well, after yesterday's information about viruses a client emailed and asked about the facebook virus - so here is what I have learned and would like to pass along to you.


REMEMBER: Beaware of your surroundings in the computer world. You nver know when a sneeky bug is going to get you! You best protection is a good offense - have your data backed up *ASK* about Simply Back up! by Simply Seniors Computer Tutor http://www.sscomputertutor.com/
If your data is backed up and you run into one of these bugs - we can always fix the situation and get you running again quickly. If the data is not backed up it may not be so easy and your beloved photos and music files may become victims of the viruses - gone forever.


This information is from: Kurt Tavosh:


Avoid News44.org links at all cost whether on Facebook or Twitter! I was just informed about a dangerous virus attack on Facebook and also in tweets on Twitter using the word News44.org and asking you to check the link. For the time I do not have much information about how this Facebook Virus (trap) is working but avoid at all cost. From some very brief details I was able to get from some friends, this News44.org can be both a phishing trap as well as contain malicious codes! So even if you are extremely curious, do avoid this for now. Share this message with your friends so that they do not fall in this trap.
I’ll try to gather more information about how this site is functioning and update as soon as possible. Facebook and Twitter has already been informed about this and tweets containing this word should be eliminated soon. If you have already been infected or think to have been, then clear your cache and cookies. Restart your PC and make a full scan of your system.
Update 1: How News44.org Works
Facebook spam messages and tweets containing message asking users to visit the said site start the whole game. Eg message: “Did you see this in the news?” – And other similar unauthorized messaged supposedly from your friends.

Once you click on this link you are redirected to another site called bonuscashh.com – This site is a fake news website promoting scam and phishing make money online services along with malicious set file included in the link on the page. The link to avoid at all cost is: http://bonuscashh.com/mrx.exe as stated by Norton today.

The website even fakes the copyright data at the bottom. It automatically guess your location and put a copyright notice based on the location from where you are browsing at, to make things appear more genuine.
Stacey's personal warning to you - becareful with what you click on and accept to look is one thing to click on things and accept them is another. While doing research on this I was presented many times with "your computer needs and antivirus program' click here! I knew better but it sure was convincing to smost users.
Please use an anti maleware program like Malwarebytes (found at http://www.malwarebytes.org/) to keep your machine clean after surfing the web.
Be ware, know it is there and use common sense. Happy Computing!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Fake Antispyware is Big Online Busine$$



This information comes from Sunbelt - it's a little techie geek speak - but it's just amazing how the fake anti spyware or actual spyware programs work.

Malware researcher S!Ri catches rogue site affiliates ripping off his content Rogue researcher S!Ri just blogged about catching some rogue affiliate web sites ripping off his content to boost their search engine rankings. The game is a good glimpse into the rogue security software distribution world.Rogue creators put up web sites, just like legitimate businesses, to sell their fake security products online. They use Trojans in spam email attachments and other nefarious means to frighten victims into believing that their machines are infected, then offer to sell their products (which really do nothing) to fix the bogus problems.In the web advertising world, one can post advertising for other businesses on one’s site and be paid for visitors who “click through.” These are called “affiliate” sites. Just like legitimate businesses, there are affiliate sites that drive business to pages that sell rogue security products.These affiliates use search engine optimization to drive up their ratings to draw unsuspecting web browsers, posting content about rogue security products. They may have hundreds of web sites that draw browsers looking for information about rogue products then pass those visitors along to rogue download sites and make money for their pass throughs. To attract visitors, they need content related to rogues, so, they pull content from S!Ri’s research blog.On Friday, S!Ri invented a rogue name -- “Secure Shield” -- made a fake graphic of a user interface and posted it on his blog. Today he blogged about how quickly the affiliates scraped his content and put it on their pages: ten minutes in one case. His blog has seven screen shots of affiliate pages carrying his invention.Yea, it’s like Chinese boxes or Russian dolls: a fake on a researcher’s site that is stolen by an affiliate site that sends traffic to a site selling (fake) security software.Thanks S!Ri. Thanks Patrick

For real help with your computer needs from a trust worthy source contact Simply Seniors Computer Tutor http://www.sscomputertutor.com/ that's Simply Seniors Computer Tutor 321-431-3866In home instruction for senior citizens, new and used computer sale, setup and service.

This information is from the blog the above is refering to:

Friday, October 16, 2009

Secure Shield fake rogue
The previous post: Secure Shield rogue was a test.Some blog webmasters are regularly using the screenshots I made on their blog post. They just take the pictures, wrote a text about the rogue dangerousness and link to a "Free Scan", "Free Removal" tool (which is NOT free). Without analyzing the rogue itself.Those blogs are cleaners affiliates. If the downloaded cleaner they link to is installed and registered, they get a retribution. They don't care if the tool can remove or not the infection. They don't analyze the infection. They just make a maximum traffic and try to be ranked on google first page.Some others blogs webmasters are promoting PUP softwares. Here again, PUP softwares creators don't analyze files. They try to sell their tools with a good google rank.So I decided to MAKE a picture of a new rogue that does NOT exist: Secure Shield. I post the picture and wait for the "serious" guys.10 minutes after my blog and my digg post, Loaris posts a modified picture of mine (his digg).

Loaris Trojan Remover was classified once as rogue.Few minutes later, another webmaster blogs about Secure Shield removal: Trojan Killer (a clone of Loaris Trojan Remover).Then it is PC Tools / Spyware Doctor affiliates turn to promise full removal of the rogue. Those guys are inventing files, folders and keys name.Another PC Tools / Spyware Doctor Affiliates:Edit: One day after, it's still going on:3 days after, there is more posts about the Fake Trojan romover. Spyware Doctor PC Tools affiliates copying others Spyware Doctor PC Tools affiliates posts.

Users should not trust cleaners promoted by affiliates business plan.Click on the pictures to see the full capture of the blogs pages. The seed has germinate, you can search on google for more. Some of them manage to get removed from google (Loaris Trojan Remover delete his post about SecureShield).


We use S!ri's products and research daily and find this to be a great piece of information. From what I have posted here today I have finally learned WHY the antispyware people do what they do - I knew it had to be money driven but could never figure out how. I know it's not so much that they want you to buy the product - though some do and they take your credit card information and use it over seas - but that is another story. I now understand that they make their money through these affiliates and pay per click's that occur on their many many fake web sites.


You need to know if you are in the Brevard County area of Florida Simply Seniors Computer Tutor suggests Computer Care Clinic for all of your virus removal needs. They have been voted the Best in Brevard for 5 years and they have two locations on in Melbourne and the other north in Merritt Island. You can find them on the web at http://www.computercare911.com/


For home pick up and delivery of your sick PC contact Simply Seniors Computer Tutor. We take all of the work out of the equation for you. No tricky wires to remember or software to learn. We work specifically with senior citizens and their computer needs. Check us out on the web


Happy Computing!

RENAME A SERIES OF FILES OR FOLDERS

When you download photos from your digital camera, they often have unrecognizable names. You can rename several similar iles at once with the following procedure. This also works for renaming other types of Files.

Open the My Pictures folder. (Click Start, and then click My Pictures.) Or open another folder containing files that you want to rename.

Select the iles you want to rename. If the files you want are not adjacent in the file
list, press and hold Ctrl, and then click each item to select it.

On the File menu, click
Rename.
Type the new name and then press ENTER."

All of the iles in the series will be named in sequence using the new name you type. For example, if you type Birthday, the first will be named Birthday and subsequent files in the series will be named Birthday (1), Birthday (2) and so on.

To specify the starting number for the series, type the starting number in parentheses after the new file name. The files in the series will be numbered in sequence starting with the number you type. For example, if you type Birthday (10), the other files will be named Birthday (11), Birthday (12) and so on.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Simply Repurposed PC's - Why buy new?


Simply Seniors Computer Tutor is proud to introduce "Simply Repurposed PC's" to our clients. Please check back with our main web site as we will have a page devoted to our in stock Simply Repurposed PC's. The Pcs are desktops and laptops all running Windows XP. Each PC comes with a 90 Day parts warranty and we are always here to help when you need us!

Our repurposed PCs start as low as $75!!! The are all brand name products, HP, Dell, Compaq, Gateway, E-Machines, IBM, each computer has been thoroughly inspected for hardware defects, software installs and updates, cosmetic quality and more.

We have used keyboard, mice, LCD Flat screen monitors, Desktops, Laptops, Netbooks, printers, recycled (unused) paper and more.

These computers simple were no longer useful to their owner who may have had different computer needs, merged from a desktop to a laptop or a company sell /buy out.

Consider the savings! Perfect for the light user, someone who does email, light web searches, writes letters & prints, digital photos, videos & DVD watching etc.,

Full Systems starting at $200! Delivered and set up for you in your Brevard or Indian River County FL location!

For more information call 321-431-3866 or email info@sscomputertutor.com
If you have a used, broken or unwanted computer DO NOT THROW IT AWAY - our landfills do not want the mercury and toxins, and it's not necessary when it can be recycled. Staples and Office Depot will take your unwanted items for a fee.

Simply Seniors Computer Tutor would like to help. Remember all of your personal information is on your unwanted PC. A professional can help destroy that information so that it does not make it's way into the wrong hands. Contact Simply Seniors Computer Tutor for more information on how we can recycle your PC (for free).

Be sure to visit http://www.sscomputertutor.com/

Thanks,

Stacey Kile - Owner Simply Seniors Computer Tutor - Simply Repurposed PCs

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Processors - Celeron Vs. Pentium

When working with clients who are purchasing a new system questions from words they have heard always come up - one is about the processor and with so many choices how are you supposed to know what is right, what is old and what is new? So as I was thinking about this topic this morning I thought I might take a moment to compare two very popular processors (aka the brains of the computer or the chip). Today's information comes to us from http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bradley_James

The Celeron and Pentium Processors are two of Intel's best selling CPUs. They are found in a majority of home computer systems. When comparing the two processors it should be first understood that there are different types of Pentium processors - the original Pentium all the way to the Pentium 4 (the latest Pentium processor). The Celeron processors are more or less the same, although you will find them in a wide variety of speeds.


The Intel Celeron processor was always designed to be a low-cost alternative to the Pentium processor line. It is much like a car company that offers various priced cars from the luxury sedan to the economy compact. The Celeron is simply a downgraded Pentium, that almost anyone can afford (it is essentially the compact). To begin, Celeron chips have a smaller L2 cache 9128kb compared with 512kb in the Pentium 4 Northwood, which translates into slower processing speeds. In fact, current Celerons have a clock speed limit of about 2.0GHz, where as the Pentium for is capable of speed in excess of 3.0GHz. In addition, the Pentium runs at a lower core voltage because it is more energy effecient (1.75V vs. 1.5V).


In summary, the Pentium 4 is more powerful than the most advanced Celeron processor on the market. However, Intel has planned it to be this way. Many applications will work just great with a Celeron processor, despite a little less power than the Pentium 4. It is a way to save a little cash when buying a new pc - but don't forget the saying "you get what you pay for." Celeron processors are of good Intel quality, but they will never be as good as the Pentium.

Now that you know that the celeron is bacially th eocnomical version you can do everythig the average home user wants to do. Now I consider myself a power user. At any given time when you look at my computer I have a very busy machine. I am running Windows Vista Business, along with a sidebar full of tools. Then I am typically looking at anywhere from 3 to 10 different web sites using IE 8 and tabs. I may end up with one or two other IE's opened from popups. Then I commonly have my 2.5 GB Outlook sitting open - because you never know when you're going to need your mail and calendar. After reading the email there are always about 6 or 7 opened ones just sitting there waiting for my attention along with a couple half written responses I am also often working on web site development or a power point presentation which now has opened more windows - OK, so we are talking 15 -30 windows open at any given time. I am running a 1.4 Ghz celeron, with 2GB RAM. I never have hang ups, or slow downs and am almost afraid to trade or upgrade my computer because of the fact that it works so well. My point to this is to let you know that it is very possible to buy a less expensive machine and get everything you want and then some from that machine.

If you are ever looking to get a new computer - and your wallet does not allow for the latest and you do not have to have the latest - check with Simply Seniors Computer Tutors as they always have a great selection of used computers and equipment that will meet your needs and your budget.

Thanks for reading!

Stacey Kile - Simply Seniors Computer Tutors - 321-431-3866 www.sscomputertutor.com

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Simply Back Up! - the newest, secure method for backing up your data

As we find ourselves becoming more and more digital so do the things we cherish and love, such as our family photos. My daughter was born in October 2000. At that time digital camera were less popular having only reached the masses in 1998. Since her day of birth her photos are digital. Every footstep, every new accomplishment and every precious moment is held hostage at the mercy of the hard drive.

I have quite a few photos and now with most cameras including a video feature of course I have hours of video as well. You can only imagine that over the past almost 9 years and counting I have acquired a bit of data, too much to store on my daily use hard drive. Some years ago I discovered the external drive and it has been a wonderful tool but very expensive. I own one Terra Byte drive, that is equal to 1000 GB - your average home computer now has a 160 GB hard drive - so 1000 GB or 1 TB is a lot of storage. It's convenient and I can easily share my date across computers by plugging the USB cable into the computer.

You would now think that all of my photos are safe, they are on that drive so they must be safe right? Nothing could be further from the truth. Let me share with you a couple of 'stupid mistakes' I have made over the years and learn from these won't you?

I took all of my photos and placed them on my external drive. I (thankfully) left the originals on the computer so I could continue to view them. That drive was used on another computer, which is very common for me to swap the drive between computers (PCs). I left the drive plugged in and came back after about one hour to find the drive had sat and ran and ran without working properly to the point it burned itself up! Why? What could I have done differently? This was a normal daily task for this drive - nothing out of the norm. Now where are my 'backed up' pics? No longer backed up! That drive is dead and it's going to cost big bucks to have a clean room facility pull it apart to retrieve your data - can you afford that?

So, I thought I had learned a lesson there. To be truly backed up one must have 2 back up drives! Another lesson; it's one thing to have two drives, it's another to use them correctly. With your photos and files you are going to want to back both up at the same time so that they contain the same data. When you update one be sure to do so for the other because the one time you slip up is when the equipment will fail!

Here's another lesson. Never extend the electrical cord of the external hard drive while the drive is teetering on the very edge of your desk and your very excited 6 year old suddenly thinks she heard the Easter Bunny in the other room and must take off to investigate! This makes for a really bad situation. Because I made this mistake my daughters entire 2007 years worth of photos are now gone forever. Wait let me sadly say that again I MADE A MISTAKE AND NOW MY 2007 PHOTOS ARE GONE FOREVER - now lucky for me I have many digital relatives that were kind enough to save the photos I had sent through out the year and they returned copies to me. But that wasn't everything and that's disturbing.

So the moral of the story is ... things happen to your external drives. Cd's and DVD's are not the right way to preserve something. An external back up is great for here at your house but for long term security - you need an off site back up. I have solved this problem.

Simply Back UP! Is a new service of Simply Seniors Computer Tutor. This service is available to anyone in any location as the software is downloaded to your computer and installed. It runs quietly in the background up dating your back up daily. This service includes full technical support and assistance if a restoration is needed. Simply Seniors Computer Tutor will be here for you!

I will be debuting the software and the service on my web site next week. Visit www.sscomputertutor.com

Please feel free to contact Simply Seniors Computer Tutor for more information on this Simple Service!

Stacey Kile
Owner - Simply Seniors Computer Tutors
www.sscomputertutor.com

Sunday, September 20, 2009

What is a 'driver'? Why do I need them? Where can I find them?


Today we're going to talk about 'drivers' - this issue comes up as I am reloading the OS (operating system - usually Windows XP or Vista) on a computer. First, to understand the 'why, and how' we need to understand the 'What' - this section is brought to us by Mircosoft.

A driver is software that allows your computer to communicate with hardware or devices. Without drivers, the hardware you connect to your computer—for example, a video card or a webcam—will not work properly.

In most cases, drivers come with Windows or can be found by going to Windows Update in Control Panel and checking for updates. If Windows doesn't have the driver you need, you can find it on the disc that came with the hardware or device you want to use, or on the manufacturer's website.
If you own an HP product, (this includes all Compaq products as well) computer or printer (hardware) or otherwise you will want to go to their web site and to the section called downloads and documents - this will ask for the make and model of the hardware and after entering it you will be given a chance to select the OS. Then download and run the software. http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html
This works for other hardware like your Linksys Router, or other networking equipment. http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/support
These are some of the most common manufactures sites for driver downloads. It is very important to be sure the driver you are downloading is the correct one for your hardware item or the item will not work properly and you will receive error messages.
Now the thing you need to watch is downloading viruses while on your search. I have given you the links to the above web sites because it is very easy to get yourself mixed up and download something from a site that is a virus.
I did a little research to see if anyone else has written about the issues with searching for drivers and downloading malware - but no one has. So I feel it is important to note that it is VERY EASY to get yourself in the wrong place very quickly when searching for drivers and 'free downloads' So always make sure the web site you are heading to starts (most of the time) with the manufactures name - I did an article on checking the correct HTML address while surfing and how easy it is to make a little mistake that can be costly. just refer back a few articles to read it.
I hope you find these links helpful!
Happy Computing! Please feel free to leave a comment on the blog site to let me know you are reading these!
Simply Seniors Computer Tutor - 321-431-3866 is available to help with your computer issues. Keep checking our web site as we're looking forward to big exciting changes!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

SSCT - Ink Cartridges for a CURE!


I have become involved with the American Cancer Society (ACS) and their Relay for Life events. My brother-in-law and other family members have been directly affected by this illness not to mention many, many of my very close clients at Simply Seniors Computer Tutor (SSCT). This is a devastating illness that touches so many including the caregivers and other family members. I currently donate my time and talents to this organization as needed and wanted to do something more. With this - this idea came to life:


I am starting "Ink Cartridges for a Cure" it's really quite simple. You can donate your used printer ink cartridges to Simply Seniors Computer Tutor and we will turn each one into $3.00 which will be donated to the ACS for the Relay for Life events. Those ink cartridges will not only become money to be donated ACS they will also become recycled materials. These ink cartridges will not stuff our landfills with more electronic debris.


If you are local to Brevard County I am willing to come by your location to pick these cartridges up; however, I will plan those trips when I already have other clients in the area - to save resources (gas). You are encouraged to email: simplyseniors@gmail.com or call 321-431-3866 and leave a message - to schedule pick-up of your donated cartridges.


If you would like to help me with this GREAT idea I had - :-) and help the American Cancer Society find a CURE - then you can mail your cartridges to:


Simply Seniors Computer Tutor

430 Count Street

Melbourne, FL 32901


You can donated just about any style ink cartridges, including toner cartridges and drums. You may also include donations of new ink that is unneeded.


I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this and how we can make this idea work. Please feel free to share this information with your friends and family. You may want to cut and paste this post to share with them.


I have set a goal of $1000 - as I would like to make a donation in that amount. That's just 333 ink cartridges! Figure each printer uses at least 2 -That's only 166 different people I need to touch with this message (even less if you happen to have one of those 5 cartridge holding printers :-) I really think we can meet our goals. Likewise, I will keep you updated on the details and progress as we have a couple of months to collect the cartridges before the donations are due at the Relay for Life event.


To learn more about the Relay for Life event:



Happy Computing!


Stacey Kile

Owner - Simply Seniors Computer Tutor "The Computer service you refer Mom to!"

http://www.sscomputertutor.com/ (Keep checking our web site a new look is coming soon! Details to come)

321-431-3866

Friday, September 11, 2009

Be AWARE of the FAKE Anti Virus & Anti Malware


This comes up all this time and here it is again this evening. I was downloading some of the tools I often use for cleaning and scanning a computer when I ran across a FAKE anti virus. I use a product named Smith Fraud Fix - it's some strange foreign product that really seems to get the job done. While looking for it I ran into:


http://www.smitfraudfixtool.com/ LOOK AT THE NAME to the unsuspecting person they may download this right away - sounds close enough right? Then you'll find yourself in a world of computer trouble.


The real web site address is: http://siri.geekstogo.com/SmitfraudFix.php as you see VERY different - but a google search gave me the name that most closely matched and since this FAKE virus company bought the website address with the closest name match - they came in on top of the real web site. They even pay to be in google ad words, where they show at the top of the google search. WHY!?!


Here is another GREAT virus web site. While downloading OPEN OFFICE at http://www.openoffice.org/ I accidentally typed 3 FFF's and came to this web site:


http://openoffice.org-suite.com/ LOOK AT THE NAME again very close to the real web site with just a little difference. And this one contains images that look much like what you see on the real web site BUT you are directed to PAY (not on the real site - it's free there). Not only can you get stuck giving your credit card to who knows - you also will have a lovely little virus to show for your simple mistake.


While trying to go to the FREE web site for AVG anti virus I typed in the following URL into the address bar:

http://www.girsoft.free.com/ LOOK AT THE NAME - this brought me to a web site trying to get me to sign up for more free things - guess what else was learking in the background, a pop up window that told me I was infected and I should download their product to fix my infection!

The correct web site for FREE AVG anti virus is http://www.free.grisoft.com/ see the difference in the address - very subtle but it means the difference between the real thing and being tricked into a dirty virus on your computer.


I hope this was interesting - please pay close attention while typing URLS - you never know where you'll end up!

Phone company wireless cards VS. home internet connection

Today's blog is going to be quick but interesting. Today a client for Simply Seniors Computer Tutor purchased a new laptop and was wondering which internet service provider she should choose. The client asked about the wireless cards that our cell phone carriers are offering and asked "how does that work" - Since I have only had a limited experience with these I decided to go a little research. Here is what I discovered.

I contacted my own cell carrier Att and asked about the AT&T USBConnect Quicksilver - a device that connects via USB to my laptop computer. The idea is that I plug in this device and now I can pick up the internet anywhere! Sounds really good, (especially to me as I am an avid camper). The cell company adds it as a device kind of like adding a second phone or line to my contract*. The monthly price for this device was $60 (plus an arm's long list of taxes and sir charges).

I discovered something VERY IMPORTANT - the $60 is only for a set amount of data transferring 5GB to be excact and he read it to me as 5000Mb (to make it sounds like a lot). Everything over that price was .48 cent per KILOBYTE!!! Why is this so alarming to me?

Knowing this is very helpful as well...
(1000 KB Kilobyte = 1mega byte + 1000 = 1GB gigabyte and 1000GB = 1 TB Terabyte).

I often download software from web sites. I download music, videos and other files that have bulk to them. For example, I just looked at a random song (mp3 file) and it was 4.90 MB
Then there's the 54MB software game I download (about 10 different ones so that's 54MB*10=540MB = almost 1GB and that is in just one session of me sitting down at my computer, I can transfer almost 1 GB of information very easily in just a few hours of sitting at my computer. Att Connect Card is going to allow me to download 5GB per month - you can see where that can become a problem for me very quickly and where I could ring up and Internet usage bill in the hundreds in a month...

So the bottom line on this one - if you have to travel - yes a great idea *but remember those contracts* these companies require. This isn't for the advanced user or gamer - it would cost too much! Sounds really great and i am all for being connected everywhere but I think the pricing is going to have to change before I will jump on the wagon.

I hope you've learned something today and if you know more about the topic please enlighten me as the ATT sales rep could not really tell me much. He INSISTED on sending me one (for all I know one is on the way) though I told him the item wouldn't work with my data usage.

Happy Computing!

Simply Seniors Computer Tutor
www.sscomputertutor.com

"The computer service you refer your own mother to!"

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Google Documents - the next best thing!


What is Google Documents? Create documents, spreadsheets and presentations online!
Google Docs is a FREE (don't hear that word much anymore!), Web-based word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, and form application offered by Google. It allows users to create and edit documents online while collaborating in real-time with other users. Google Docs combines the features of two services, Writely and Spreadsheets, which were merged into a single product on October 10, 2006. A third product for presentations, incorporating technology designed by Tonic Systems, was released on September 17, 2007.

According to Google, http://www.google.com/google-d-s/tour1.html Google Documents is much like a web based (meaning the software lives on the Internet NOT on your PC) version of Microsoft Office software. The Google software allows you to create basic documents from scratch or start from a template. You can easily do all the basics, including making bulleted lists, sorting by columns, adding tables, images, comments, formulas, changing fonts and more. And again the best part is that "it's free" (and the average copy of Microsoft Office 2007 currently costs about $159).

So how does it work? Upload your existing files. Things you have already created using Microsoft Office can be opened and added to and saved as a google document on your Google account. Google Docs accepts most popular file formats, including DOC, XLS, ODT, ODS, RTF, CSV, PPT, etc. So go ahead and upload your existing files.

Familiar desktop feel makes editing a breeze. In other words when you use the software the formatting tools are located in the same location, the saving tools are also located in the same location - this just makes it easier to learn and use. The over all interface with the software again, looks and feels just like Mircosoft Office 2003 software. (The Mircosoft Office 2007 software had a major face lift and the small companies like Open Office and Google documents have chosen to stick with the 15 year old style of the Mircosoft Office 2003 interface.
Share and collaborate in real time (what does this mean to me?) Recently, a client explained to me that he and another man who lived thousands of miles away were working on a book together. They were finding it very hard to keep up with all of the changes and had a major catastrophe when the 'currently editied' version of the book's file was lost. I suggested Google Documents, wherein both parties could work on the same document and the changes would take effect in real time. According to the google docs web site you can:
Choose who can access your documents.Just enter the email addresses of the people with whom you want to share a given document and send them an invitation.

Share instantly.Anyone you've invited to either edit or view your document, spreadsheet or presentation can access it as soon as they sign in.

Edit and present with others in real time.Multiple people can view and make changes at the same time. There's an on-screen chat window for spreadsheets, and document revisions show you exactly who changed what, and when. Viewing a presentation together is a breeze, as anyone joined in a presentation can automatically follow along with the presenter.
You can safely organize and store your documents with Google Documents (as I have mentioned) Edit and access from anywhere.There's nothing to download; you access your documents, spreadsheets and presentations from any computer with an Internet connection and a standard browser. And it's free.

Safely store your work.Online storage and auto-save mean you needn't fear local hard drive failures or power outages.

Easily save and export copies.You can save your documents and spreadsheets to your own computer in DOC, XLS, CSV, ODS, ODT, PDF, RTF and HTML formats.
Organize your documents. Easily find your documents by organizing them into folders. Drag and drop your documents into as many folders as you want.

Other highlights of using Google Documents include:


Publish your work as a web page.You can publish your documents online with one click, as normal-looking web pages, without having to learn anything new.

Control who can see your pages.You can publish to the entire world, just a few people or no one -- it's up to you. (You can also un-publish at any time.)

Post your documents to your blog.Once you've created a document, you can post it to your blog.
Publish within your company or group.With Google Apps, it's even easier to share important documents, spreadsheets and presentations within your company or group.
So WHO can benefit from using google documents?

If you do not have your own PC and you are using someone else's PC you may want to use Google Documents so that you can save your work and return to it at another computer at a later time. This makes google documents perfect for the student who may not have their own computer or may have to work on multiple PCs.

I work with senior citizens - many use the local library as their computer. This is another perfect example of someone who would find google documents (GD) useful.
As much as I would like to include the average business person in this I am not sure it is right as many large corperations do not want their information 'shared' as is possible with GD. However, the product again, is useful to any one who does not have their own copy of Microsoft Office or their own computer.
So now that you have decided that google documents is the right application (software tool) for your needs "How do I sign up for google documents?"
You will need to start with a google account:


This account will give you access to many other web sites as well (like the blogging web site that I am using to write this blog) it will also give you a new 'gmail' account (which can be set to send all mail to your Outlook box) and then of course you'll also have access to google documents. There will not be any software to download (maybe an active X ad on or something but nothing major). You can be creating in google documents within about 5 minutes - it's that simple.

I hope that you found this information helpful today! Please visit us on the web at http://www.sscomputertutor.com/ or call 321-431-3866 if you have any computer needs! Simply Seniors Computer Tutor is here to help. We are the computer tech's you'd refer your own mother to! Stacey Kile is the owner of Simply Seniors Computer Tutor located in Melbourne Florida. SSCT is the owner of the content for this blog.
Thanks again for reading and please tell your friends!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

So How Does My Computer Work?

Simply Seniors Computer Tutor here.

You know when you sit back and think about it our computers are REALLY amazing! I was thinking about just how amazing they are and thought I would share a Blog on "How a computer works".


This information is not overly 'techie' but it does include a minimum amount of geek speak. So with that I will attempt to explain in easy to understand terms whenever possible.

The following information is brought to us by: http://networkparamedics.com/

The brain of the computer is called the Central Processing Unit (CPU). It is located inside the main box on a printed electric circuit called a Motherboard; it is a 'micro-chip', a piece of ceramic-like material that has billions of microscopic electrical connections etched onto it. Any form of information (words, pictures, sounds, numbers) can be converted to electric signals that are 'input' to the chip. The electric connections on the chip allow these signals to be compared to one another and combined with one another according to a 'program' that 'processes' or manipulates the information into a new form, which becomes the 'output' electric signal from the chip. Everything else in a computer is designed to take human information and convert it to the input electric signals for the chip, or to take the chip's output signals and convert them back to a form that humans can recognize. These other components are called 'peripherals', or just input and output devices.

What you see when you look at a typical computer workstation is: OR (The parts of the computer)

  • a Monitor -- looks like and basically is a TV screen and controls (today these are very streamlined, in the past they were very large and heavy like TVs and took up a lot of desk space).
  • a Keyboard -- like a typewriter but with many useful extra keys
  • a Mouse -- a palm-size gadget that rolls on a ball and has buttons on it
  • a Printer -- inkjet or laser-xerox miniature printing machine a microphone and speakers --(of course not every computer has a printer but it's just as common as having speakers so I have included it here)
  • a pair of stereo Speakers (also sometimes a Microphone to speak into)
  • a miniature TV camera -- (possibly arched to your computer or bought as an extra, many new laptops come with this 'web cam' built into the LCD screen.
    the BOX -- (also called your tower, or to most 'the actual computer' ) contains the CPU microchip and all the really important components.
*Want to explorer a computer? www.sscomputertutor.com contact our tutors... you just might learn something!

So then, what are the 'important' tiny little pieces inside the tower?

  • On the Front of the box:
  • On/Off switch (sometimes on the side)
  • Reset button -- only on some machines
  • Floppy-disk Drive -- you put in a square disk that contains information
  • CD-ROM drive -- you put in a digital CD platter that contains a lot of information
  • USB ports
  • Card reading ports (on some new models)
  • Other ports (places to plug stuff into) are located on laptops - standard to laptops but different from desktops.
  • On/off light, Hard Disk Operating light, miscellaneous lights and buttons

Inside the Box.

What you see on the front is just the opening slot of the actual drives. A 'drive' is a storage device. In addition to the CPU chip and the input and output devices, computers need places to store information either temporarily or more permanently (for reuse later), the short-term storage is called RAM (random-access memory) and is expensive. For longterm storage various kinds of disks are used; like CDs. The drives read the information off these storage media and pass it on to the CPU; some drives can also write new information onto the disk or CD or other media.

  • The CPU and RAM memory chips on the 'motherboard'
  • The HARD DRIVE -- the main longterm storage system for programs and info
  • The Disk and CD/DVD-ROM drives -- the main part of them is inside the box
  • The specialized 'Boards' -- these run the input and output devices
  • The Modem -- one of the boards; connects to the telephone line
  • Network Card (aka Ethernet Card) -- another board, connects to the LAN (see below)
  • Video Card -- connects to the monitor and mother board
  • An electic power supply, battery, and a lot of connecting cables called ribbon cables, SATA and more...


Every input device and output device is connected first to a specialized Board that has its own microchip to convert signals and pass them on to the CPU (on the main or Mother Board).
On the back of the Box. This is where all the input/output peripherals are connected to the Box, and the Box is connected to the electric outlet, the telephone system (for a modem), and the local area computer network (LAN) cable system. There are a lot of confusing cables back here. Sometimes they come lose. The specialized Boards (cards) stick out the back slightly, just like the drives stick out the front slightly. The Boards have connector sockets called Ports where the keyboard, mouse, printer, monitor, etc. are supposed to be plugged in.

The Operating System

The operating system is the master program that runs the computer behind the scenes while you work. It translates your instructions into actions by the machine. It also heads off conflicts between one part of the machine and another, making them all take turns. The most common operating systems are Windows, MacOS, and Unix. DOS is an older system that is now a small part of Windows.

So, what does happen when you hit the power button on your computer? The power supply gives power to the motherboard. The software connected to the processing chip, the BIOS goes through the task of checking all of the hardware components. If new hardware has been added since the last time you ran the computer, it can pick on that also and install the right type of drivers for the component. The BIOS* then starts loading all of the necessary components, such as the video card, sound card, keyboard, mouse and RAM before it initializes the operating system. It allows the operating system to take over once your computer passes the necessary amount of hardware and software checks.


The operating system has it own sets of tests and things to load before you are reading to start playing on the computer. It manages the processor, memory, devices, storage and other applications. Whenever you open another instance of software, such as Word or Internet Explorer, it is the operating system that checks for the program and loads it from memory.
From there your operating system provides your other software programs and you are able to progress as you normally would. Remember, while you are typing that email or shopping online, there are a lot of components inside the computer making it possible. Now I wanted more information on the BIOS and I have researched that for
you so you can understand what it is as it is spoke about in the tech world but not ever explained to the average computer user.

How BIOS Works: From www.howstuffworks.com

One of the most common uses of Flash memory is for the basic input/output system of your computer, commonly known as the BIOS (pronounced "bye-ose"). On virtually every computer available, the BIOS makes sure all the other chips, hard drives, ports and CPU function together.

Every desktop and laptop computer in common use today contains a microprocessor as its central processing unit. The microprocessor is the hardware component. To get its work done, the microprocessor executes a set of instructions known as software. You are probably very familiar with two different types of software:


The operating system - The operating system provides a set of services for the applications running on your computer, and it also provides the fundamental user interface for your computer. Windows 98 and Linux are examples of operating systems.


The applications - Applications are pieces of software that are programmed to perform specific tasks. On your computer right now you probably have a browser application, a word processing application, an e-mail application and so on. You can also buy new applications and install them.

­It turns out that the BIOS is the third type of software your computer needs to operate successfully.

I learned that I can tell you alot more about the BIOS but it really isn't necessary. Knowing that it is an important piece of software that acts like the glue of the computer making all of the parts work as one.

I hope you find all of this information as geekishly fun as I do! Thanks for reading the blog - I am always looking for topics so feel free to comment!

Simply Seniors Computer Tutor of Melbourne FL is proud to be the computer tutor you refer your own mother to time and time again!

Call today to schedule an appointment with our tutors! 321-431-3866

www.sscomputertutor.com

Monday, August 31, 2009

computer safety and ergonomics



Today we are going to talk about Ergonmics and computer safety. First a few words about Ergonmics:





This information is brought to us by: http://www.usernomics.com/





Historically, Ergonomics was another name for Human Factors. Today, Ergonomics commonly refers to designing work environments for maximizing safety and efficiency. Biometrics and Anthropometrics play a key role in this use of the word Ergonomics. Engineering Psychology often has a specialty dealing with Workplace or Occupational Ergonomics.



Companies once thought that there was a bottom-line tradeoff between safety and efficiency. Now they embrace ergonomics because they have learned that designing a safe work environment can also result in greater efficiency and productivity. Recently, U.S. laws requiring a safe work environment have stimulated great interest in Ergonomics - from ergonomic furniture to ergonomic training. But it is in the design of the workplace as a whole where the greatest impact can be seen for both safety and efficiency.



The easier it is to do a job, the more likely it is to see gains in productivity due to greater efficiency. Analogously, the safer it is to do a job, the more likely it is to see gains in productivity due to reduced time off for injury. Ergonomics can address both of these issues concurrently by maximizing the workspace and equipment needed to do a job.





OSHA has Computer Ergonmic standards avalible on their web site: (or you can just read the following - but for more information check out:) http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/index.html





Millions of people work with computers every day. This eTool* illustrates simple, inexpensive principles that will help you create a safe and comfortable computer workstation. There is no single “correct” posture or arrangement of components that will fit everyone. However, there are basic design goals, some of which are shown in the accompanying figure, to consider when setting up a computer workstation or performing computer-related tasks. Consider your workstation as you read through each section and see if you can identify areas for improvement in posture, component placement, or work environment. This eTool provides suggestions to minimize or eliminate identified problems, and allows you to create your own "custom-fit" computer workstation.



This checklist can help you create a safe and comfortable computer workstation. You can also use it in conjunction with the purchasing guide checklist [49 KB, 4 pages]. A "no" response indicates that a problem may exist. Refer to the appropriate section of the eTool for assistance and ideas about how to analyze and control the problem.
WORKING POSTURES–The workstation is designed or arranged for doing computer tasks so it allows your:

1. Head and neck to be upright, or in-line with the torso (not bent down/back). If "no" refer to Monitors, Chairs and Work Surfaces.

2. Head, neck, and trunk to face forward (not twisted). If "no" refer to Monitors or Chairs.

3. Trunk to be perpendicular to floor (may lean back into backrest but not forward). If "no" refer to Chairs or Monitors.

4. Shoulders and upper arms to be in-line with the torso, generally about perpendicular to the floor and relaxed (not elevated or stretched forward). If "no" refer to Chairs.

5. Upper arms and elbows to be close to the body (not extended outward). If "no" refer to Chairs, Work Surfaces, Keyboards, and Pointers.

6. Forearms, wrists, and hands to be straight and in-line (forearm at about 90 degrees to the upper arm). If "no" refer to Chairs, Keyboards, Pointers.

7. Wrists and hands to be straight (not bent up/down or sideways toward the little finger). If "no" refer to Keyboards, or Pointers

8. Thighs to be parallel to the floor and the lower legs to be perpendicular to floor (thighs may be slightly elevated above knees). If "no" refer to Chairs or Work Surfaces.

9. Feet rest flat on the floor or are supported by a stable footrest. If "no" refer to Chairs, Work Surfaces.

SEATING–Consider these points when evaluating the chair:

10. Backrest provides support for your lower back (lumbar area).

11. At width and depth accommodate the specific user (seat pan not too big/small)

12. Seat front does not press against the back of your knees and lower legs (seat pan not too long).

13. Seat has cushioning and is rounded with a "waterfall" front (no sharp edge).

14. Armrests, if used, support both forearms while you perform computer tasks and they do not interfere with movement.

KEYBOARD/INPUT DEVICE–Consider these points when evaluating the keyboard or pointing device. The keyboard/input device is designed or arranged for doing computer tasks so the

15. Keyboard/input device platform(s) is stable and large enough to hold a keyboard and an input device.

16. Input device (mouse or trackball) is located right next to your keyboard so it can be operated without reaching.

17. Input device is easy to activate and the shape/size fits your hand (not too big/small).

18. Wrists and hands do not rest on sharp or hard edges.

MONITOR–Consider these points when evaluating the monitor. The monitor is designed or arranged for computer tasks so the:

19. Top of the screen is at or below eye level so you can read it without bending your head or neck down/back.

20. User with bifocals/trifocals can read the screen without bending the head or neck backward.

21. Monitor distance allows you to read the screen without leaning your head, neck or trunk forward/backward.

22. Monitor position is directly in front of you so you don't have to twist your head or neck.

23. Glare (for example, from windows, lights) is not reflected on your screen which can cause you to assume an awkward posture to clearly see information on your screen.

WORK AREA–Consider these points when evaluating the desk and workstation. The work area is designed or arranged for doing computer tasks so the:

24. Thighs have sufficient clearance space between the top of the thighs and your computer table/keyboard platform (thighs are not trapped).

25. Legs and feet have sufficient clearance space under the work surface so you are able to get close enough to the keyboard/input device.


ACCESSORIES–
26. Document holder, if provided, is stable and large enough to hold documents.

27. Document holder, if provided, is placed at about the same height and distance as the monitor screen so there is little head movement, or need to re-focus, when you look from the document to the screen.

28. Wrist/palm rest, if provided, is padded and free of sharp or square edges that push on your wrists.

29. Wrist/palm rest, if provided, allows you to keep your forearms, wrists, and hands straight and in-line when using the keyboard/input device.

30. Telephone can be used with your head upright (not bent) and your shoulders relaxed (not elevated) if you do computer tasks at the same time.

GENERAL

31. Workstation and equipment have sufficient adjustability so you are in a safe working posture and can make occasional changes in posture while performing computer tasks.

32. Computer workstation, components and accessories are maintained in serviceable condition and function properly.

33. Computer tasks are organized in a way that allows you to vary tasks with other work activities, or to take micro-breaks or recovery pauses while at the computer workstation.

Now if your answer was NO to any of these question - you should make adjustments accordingly. For more information from OSHA be sure to visit their web site.

This helpful information was brought to you today by www.sscomputertutor.com
Please check out our web site. We specialize in helping senior citizens with their computer needs. My name is Stacey Kile and this has been your blog from Simply Seniors Computer Tutor. 321-431-3866

Wishing you - Happy (and safe) Computing!

Friday, August 28, 2009

So What is a BLOG and how do I create one for myself?

Today's topic is on blogging. This web site that you are reading is my blog for my business Simply Seniors Computer Tutor (321) 431-3866 we also have a web site at http://www.sscomputertutor.com/. This blog is an additional web site where I can update information easily on a daily basis. Below is helpful information from



A blog (a contraction of the term "weblog")[1] is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.
Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual, although some focus on art (artlog), photographs (photoblog), sketches (sketchblog), videos (vlog), music (MP3 blog), and audio (podcasting). Micro-blogging is another type of blogging, featuring very short posts.


As of December 2007, blog search engine Technorati was tracking more than 112 million blogs.



Now that you know what a blog is you need to know how to write a good Blog. This information is from http://www.dummies.com/



Writing a Good Blog


Blogs, or Web logs, are online journals that are updated frequently, sometimes even daily. An update, (also called an entry or a post) is usually quite short, perhaps just a few sentences, and readers can often respond to an entry online. People who write blogs are commonly called bloggers. Bloggers, tongue in cheek, call themselves and their blogs the blogosphere.
Blogs are a great way to keep everyone in a family abreast of the latest family news without running up the phone bill — you can simply read back over important updates to find out the latest news. In addition, many blogs are being used to host photographs, and their chronological structure can be a great way to keep track of a baby's growth, a trip, or the process of planning a wedding.


Professional writers often look down on bloggers, because their informal online writing rarely benefits from a good editor. Blogs are known for their casual writing and unpredictable subject material, but the best blogs have proven that — regardless of punctuation and spelling — even "novice" writers can be entertaining enough to attract a broad audience.
Bloggers with an especially engaging subject, such as chronicling a trip around the world, have the advantage of inherently interesting material, but even mundane material can attract an audience if you have an engaging style and voice.


Here are three guiding principles to writing a successful blog:


Develop a writing style and tone appropriate to your subject material.
Post often, even if your posts are short.
Allow your readers to comment on your posts.
Develop a writing style and voice


A great site design and technical gimmicks are no replacement for developing an interesting, readable writing style. Most of us don't do much personal writing in our everyday lives or even keep a diary. Writing about yourself is never easy, and you may find yourself freezing up in front of the computer screen or becoming stilted and unnecessarily verbose.


Here are a few suggestions you can use to develop your own voice and style for your blog. First, remember that a blog is a conversation. Try to write the way you speak. Avoid jargon and clichés and don't overuse the thesaurus. It may be helpful to speak your entry out loud before trying to type it or to read it aloud after you've written it. If you find yourself struggling as you read aloud or speaking unnaturally, think about what you might have said if you were talking to a friend rather than writing.


Second, write your blog with a specific friend or family member in mind. Thinking of someone you know well and who might want to read your blog will help you relax your writing style. That's why it's become popular for many people to start personal journal entries with Dear Diary. The goal is to get your writing to sound more like you and less like a lofty essay.
Always consider your audience. If you're writing for only close friends and family, you don't need to explain that Sarah is your 8-year-old daughter every time you mention her. But if your blog attracts a wider audience, you may want to create references or glossaries to help new readers follow along.


Finally, before you start blogging, spend some time visiting other blogs that are like the one you're thinking of starting. Read one or two for a few weeks and pay attention to things like the length of posts, frequency, writing style, and subject material. You can get some great ideas for your own blog by noting what you find interesting and compelling in other people's blogs.
Update, update, update!


The blogs that attract the most readers are the ones with frequent updates. If you start a blog, be prepared to spend some time working on it every day or two. If you're going to be a blogger, you have to blog! It takes discipline for most of us to write, even conversationally, every day. If you find yourself dreading posting to your blog, maybe a blog isn't for you.


As you go about your day, keep the blog in the back of your mind. You may even want to carry a notebook where you can jot down reminders for topics you want to blog about later. Start paying attention to the parts of your life that are most interesting to you; those will likely be the areas your friends and family are most interested in as well. Don't be afraid to write about everyday activities — parking tickets and car repairs — but don't neglect to talk about what you're thinking and feeling. All these areas will make it possible for you to update frequently.
Having a co-blogger can take some of the pressure off, especially if all authors contribute regularly. If you're going to be working with several people on one blog, talk over how often you expect each other to post so that you can keep some focus and cohesion to your blog.
If you will be updating your blog on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis, try to be consistent about when you add new posts so that your readers know when to catch up. For example, you may choose to update your site every Sunday evening.


Invite comments
:An important aspect of blogs is that they feature the writing of the blogger as well as the comments of readers. When you visit a blog, you often find a comment link under the text of each blog posting. Clicking that link enables you to read comments from other people and submit your own. Usually bloggers make their own comments in the posts on their site, but sometimes a blogger adds a response in the comment section because it's a more direct way to address someone else's comment.


Not all bloggers choose to implement the comment feature, but if you want to develop a dialogue with your audience, comments are the best way to do so. The comment feature is an easy way to involve your audience and get valuable feedback about what you're doing with your blog.


If you do decide to allow comments on your blog, be sure to keep an eye on them. The comment feature makes it possible for anyone to add comments to your blog and you may not always like what they have to say. For example, spammers sometimes take advantage of inattentive bloggers to do some marketing that you may not want on your blog. All good blogging software makes it easy for the author to remove comments.

What are some good web sites with blogs? This web site claims to list the best blog sites:
http://www.blogtopsites.com/

Where can you make your own blog? - Many different places, I am going to refer you to www.blogger.com

Want to make a blog of your own or be taught how? Contact Simply Seniors Computer Tutor 321-431-3866 or www.sscomputertutor.com

Until next time,

Happy Blogging!

"Computer Tutor"

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

How does my internet connection work?


Wow what a strange one I had today. I was called out to a clients house to trouble shoot a lost internet conection. The client tells me that something was dropped behind the desk and he lost connection. So one would think, a cable has become unplugged... so this is the first thing I look for. Quickly, I did not find a loose ethernet cable, there was no loose phonce cable, so my last idea was to look for a detached USB cable... no none of the above. The next thing I look for is a modem. Seeing that the client was using bellsouth.net and seeing a dsl modem filter connected to a phone line leads me to believe that they did have a dsl modem... but where is it? The client insists that he has never had a little black or silver box (my laymans terms for a dsl modem). The next phone call is to a bell south technicain to determine what type of internet connection the client does has in the house. The tech on the other end of the phone is as lost as I am when I explain there is no modem - no where and the client insists there never has been.

Long story short the only way to access the internet is through a paid for service provider... then you have to have the hardware for dial up that is a simple phone line and a modem which used to come with all older computers - but is not seen as much today. With cable or dsl broad band internet one must own a box modem which typically comes from the service provider but can be purchased at any big box store.

To resolve this clients issue I am going to purchase a modem and put it into place - since the client insists he doesn't have one and never has.

I thought a little lesson on how the internet works might be called for here...
This information is the same for both cable and DSL modems for the most part. This information is brought to us by http://www.ehow.com/

What Is Broadband DSL?

Broadband DSL (digital subscriber line) allows the user to have access to high-speed Internet. This type of service is becoming very popular because it operates at double the speed of regular dial-up service. Broadband DSL connects through your phone line but does not affect your ability to use your telephone. Most users prefer this type of connection because you always have an Internet connection. This is more convenient and cuts the time that it would take to log onto the Internet.

How Do I Get Broadband DSL?

In order to connect to a broadband DSL connection, you will need a broadband modem. These are available at fairly reasonable rates. Most Internet service providers are offering low rates on DSL service and sometimes will even include the modem at no additional charge. You will also need a network card installed in your PC. This card is attached to your motherboard. The modem will connect to this card using a network cable. You may also purchase a USB modem that uses a USB connection and will not require a network card. The modem would connect to your PC through the USB port. Most users prefer using a network card, as it provides a better connection. A USB connection can become slow if you have other components that use USB connections, such as a printer.

What are types of broadband DSL?

There are different types of broadband DSL, ADSL (asymmetric DSL), SDSL (symmetric DSL) and ISDN DSL. ADSL is a more efficient type of connection. This connection gives that users high download speeds. If you use your computer for continuous downloading, this is type of DSL you should consider. SDSL connections provide an equal and consistent amount of download and upload speed. It can provide up to 15 mbps for downloading and uploading files. Because of its consistency, most businesses prefer this type of connection. ISDN connections are slower connections and provide the user with speeds of 128 kbps. This type of access is normally used by those who do not download or upload a large amount of files but want the benefit of having a high-speed connection versus a dial up.


DSL
A digital subscriber line (DSL) is primarily offered by phone companies and uses existing copper phone lines for the Internet service. Phone companies provide customers with a DSL modem that converts the DSL signal from the phone line and uses and Ethernet cable to connect to a customer's computer.

Cable
Another from of broadband Internet service is provided by cable companies. A cable company uses its existing cable lines to send an Internet signal. Customers need to use a cable modem that can convert the signal and send it to a customer's computer through an Ethernet cable.

Satellite
An alternative to cable and DSL broadband Internet service is to use a satellite connection to connect to the Internet. A satellite connection is a good option for people that live in rural areas and cannot get cable or DSL service. A signal from a satellite is either sent to a modem or processed by a receiver and connected to a computer by an Ethernet cable.

Costs

The costs for high speed Internet can vary from company to company depending on what type of service is being used. Typically cable and phone companies will bundle Internet service with a particular package of services. Standalone Internet service is also provided by these companies starting at $35.99 depending on what a customer wants to pay.

Transfer Methods

Telephone and cable companies are using various methods to offer broadband Internet service to its customers. Typically these companies are using fiber optics because more data can be sent at much faster speeds than by satellite, cable or copper phone lines.

Remember no matter the problem Simply Seniors Computer Tutor is here to help with your computer needs. On the web at http://www.sscomputertutor.com/ or you can call 321-431-3866

Happy Computering!