100lbs Manure in a 10oz Bag?

Fanning through the Sunday circulars one might infer that PCs are designed predominantly for photo editing and filing. What, if like me, one is more a music kind of guy? I have 4-step process – with an optional 5th (Hey, you’ll need that at the end!)

The picture of seven boxes contains LPs, CDs, cassette tapes. (No, I am not proud of this.) Worse, the combined weight exceeds 250 pounds/120Kg/20stn. Is that the millstone one wants to carry around through moves – particularly when some have never been played? Sure, easy to throw out the duds (and Barbra Streisand sure made a bunch …), but some are classics: whether it is all the Beatles or all the Gilbert & Sullivan. Some cannot be found anywhere else – they never made it to CD level. Like my prep school rock band.

The process to convert all this music was surprisingly simple:

1. A turntable (with or without stereo attached! Mine is stand-alone.)

2. A cable with adaptor pieces to connect the turntable (3 RCA components in my case) to the PC. On a stereo, it could be as simple as an 8-foot cable going from the headphones/out on the stereo to the mic/in on the PC

3. Program to capture and edit (I bought Polderbits for $30)

4. iTunes program – a free download from Apple.

The iPod (at $250) actually is not necessary, as one can play the music on the PC and even through the stereo. It could be as simple as reversing the cable to headphones/out on the PC to mic/in on the stereo. Just follow the flow: out from where the music is to in on where it is to be played.

All of this is necessary for LPs, tape cassettes, 45’s, 78’s – anything that cannot be played on the PC. CDs, therefore, can go straight into iTunes with so little effort, one wonders if one did something wrong.

There may in fact be alternatives, but I have not tested them. As the backing-up of music becomes more popular, more tools have been developed. The common ones, Crosley and Ion, convert records to CDs. Others convert audio cassettes.

iTunes is probably the best database product I have seen run on Windows. To get started, I would recommend just copying some music CDs to it to see its power.

Not only have I been able to take digital pictures of the LP covers and transfer them to iTunes, to recognize my music, but also scan in lyrics and post them as well. It is truly a phenomenal package. Just as I would flip through albums in a box, iTunes will scroll through the covers.

On the downside, yes, it is very labor intensive, which is the reason I would start with a Top 10 or 25 albums, or a collection (eg, Beethoven Piano Concertos). On seeing favorites up on iTunes, ones enthusiasm continues to grow. Other than the initial copying from LP to PC – a process requiring little/no babysitting – a simple album (eg, 10 songs, Joan Baez) may take 10-20 minutes from editing to iTunes conversion. Now I am putting more in the database than just the album name, as I post remarks on every track. Less rigorously, one could convert an album in ten minutes – tops. The exceptions are the double albums from concerts, in which applause, screaming, band banter confuses the start of one song and the next. Separation then becomes a radically more labor intensive process.

Of course, one could just keep it simple: Side 1 and Side 2 – which might work for, say, The Mikado or The Messiah.

Oh, did I forget to say one can also catalog all ones VHS/Beta tapes? Lazer disks? DVDs? Well, one can watch old -- or new –movies just as easily on the PC or an iPod. It’s as simple as a handful of cables and programs … ooo, maybe another 500Gb external USB hard drive …


Archie specializes in tutoring and training of seniors in PC security, Windows, Internet, and Microsoft Office. He holds the CompTIA A+ certification and is often featured speaker at Goodwin House in Alexandria; he can be emailed at ama3@tfci-us.com

USB Hubs – Ports in a Storm

Any of us who have had PCs over the years have sworn never again to have that rat’s nest of cables along the tables, the walls, the floor. Then came wireless devices: keyboards, mice, Bluetooth, thumb drives, and now even printers (over WiFi)

The problem has however become one of a shortage of USB ports. Even the standard 4-port is quickly exhausted. (Oh, those ports on your monitor: why, oh why did they install those old-fashioned USB 1.1 instead of 2.0 plugs instead?!)

So the answer is, of course, to get more connectors, the usual being a 4-port hub. For reasons unknown, these hub extensions are priced all over the map -- $30 and up is not uncommon -- and, unfortunately, are not all created equal. I first had a Microcenter generic (for $10) with mixed results and now a Targus mini-hub (on sale) with no problems. The tricky part is what gets plugged into them. While many devices still require a 6-volt (or so) transformer power supply, others get their juice from the USB port. It might therefore make sense to get the hubs that also have additional DC power.

At any rate, these additions will extend the life of the ports actually imbedded in your PC. You don’t want to be hot-swapping (unplugging one thing to make room for another) as they may weaken and begin to wiggle. Much better to keep at least one 6-12” extender “permanently” in your PC and swap from that, as these are much cheaper, if not disposable. (Fortunately, most thumb drives come with one.)


Archie specializes in tutoring and training of seniors in PC security, Windows, Internet, and Microsoft Office. He holds the CompTIA A+ certification and is often featured speaker at Goodwin House in Alexandria; he can be emailed at ama3@tfci-us.com

Your Toxic Family

While it may be great having your children and grand-children visit, their presence around your computer is worse than an infestation of cockroaches. “I just want to check my mail” should be a trumpet blast to pull up the drawbridge.

Where do viruses, spyware, and other PC diseases come from? From mail, from signing up for services. By letting your family log onto your computer, you have just left the keys to the Lamborghini on the kitchen table.

There are three items one must set. First, your own account must have a password. Second, your screensaver should be set for ten minutes – or less. Yes, it may become a nuisance, but it is far worse than trying to reset your PC to a “good” state after a relative has had his/her fingers on it. Third, [in XP] go to Control Panel>User Accounts, and turn on Guest account (if it is not already on). [See screen below]

Whenever you leave your computer for any length of time, be sure to hit Windows logo+L … yes, that little “flag” thingy near the space bar (you may have two of them) AND the letter “L” at the same time. Try it and you will see it jumps to the sign-in window, with your account and Guest. Guest does not need a password – only yours!

There is so little one can do from the Guest account, that you are about as protected as you can be, without hiding your PC. You are automatically given Administrator privileges, which allows you to do anything/everything; would you want someone else to have that access?

Not only will you be preventing viruses and malware, but also all re-settings for Mail, Office templates, Desktop – all the functions you use daily. Nothing worse than opening Mail and finding your mailbox folders are “gone” or there is no toolbar at the top to open or send mail.

Yes you may love them to PCs, but tell them to act like Guests.








Archie specializes in tutoring and training of seniors in PC security, Windows, Internet, and Microsoft Office. He holds the CompTIA A+ certification and is often featured speaker at Goodwin House in Alexandria; he can be emailed at ama3@tfci-us.com

Cables, Adapters, and Chargers, Oh My!

To continue on my last rant, of having to buy new printers because parallel cables have been replaced by USB, having to buy new mouse/keyboard, because they, too, have been replaced (for the third time!) by USB – or even Bluetooth wireless …

I had to buy a new cell phone and finally decided on the latest LG from Verizon. Oddly, my girlfriend had the previous model, which she no longer used, having switched to Blackberry. Would you believe that the power connectors were completely different? And, if you use a headset (as I insist on, particularly if driving) you will need a new one of those as well. I went with the Bluetooth earpiece – which of course is wireless and seems to be the ONLY standard among new cell phones.

So why can’t every manufacturer agree on the basic sound-card mini-plug for a head set? Why can’t they agree on the same charger connector? I would at least expect some standardization for every plug requiring x amount of voltage to have the same; so a 3-volt adapter would be smaller and incompatible with a six volt, but all 3 volt adapters would be interchangeable.

So instead of giving us equipment that plays MP3 (but not work as ringtones), gives us 3 megabit pixel cameras (upload-able to the computer only with great difficulty or great cost – as email), simulates GPS, makes omelets, disinfects bacteria-infested surfaces, chimes our daily BMI, changes channels on our TV, they all are totally insensitive to some real compatibility that would be downright practical.

Archie specializes in tutoring and training of seniors in PC security, Windows, Internet, and Microsoft Office. He holds the CompTIA A+ certification and is often featured speaker at Goodwin House in Alexandria; he can be emailed at ama3@tfci-us.com

Anti-virus Software Leaves Me Cold

Had a dutiful client who had purchased MacAfee’s anti-virus package, only to find that it had not been installed as soon as the confirmation to his charge card had been displayed. In fact, in a search of his hard drive, there had been NO download at all.

So to learn what he had for $40, we went to the MacAfee site to find the download site. Oops, we need a login – with password. OK, received the password in an email from MacAfee. Then among all the small print, find that there is a specific site for downloading lost copies of the anti-virus software.

Download/Install icon

Unfortunately, the little download icon was nowhere to be found. [As of April 29, 2008, using IE 7; as of April 30, it seems to have been fixed in both IE and Firefox]

So more fumbling around, only to find that most pages were nothing more than advertising for other MacAfee products. At any rate, I just happened to put the mouse over the blank spot on the page where the icon should have been, to discover that it was, in fact, hidden. On clicking through, we arrived at the download page.

Now we are talking about a utility that has been around since the last millennium, so one would think the install could be done on a lunch break. But noooo! The first download was the setup, at 22Mb – about 10+ minutes on broadband. Then we went through the customized install, which “sold” us on the idea of installing SiteAdvisor – presumably a phishing phlagger. (I think this may be built in to Firefox or my anti-virus program, as I have something very similar, with no such installs …)

More downloads. Oddly enough no restart required – just close everything else (ho-hum …)

Unfortunately, now on every startup there is a warning, which is nothing more than a whine, which can be fixed by purchasing more products. I tried every ignore flag I could find, but I could not stop the warning.

So now he has a bossy mom-surrogate who, instead of telling him to eat his vegetables or he won’t be allowed to play, is saying if you do not buy me a present, lightening will strike ...

Of course, there are apocryphal stories of bloat, of dreadfully slow boot-ups, even system lock-ups with the major $40+ anti-virus packages, but I will wait until I see that happen. I know I have had to remove MacAfee’s SpamKiller on one PC so far because of seize-up…

Which does get me to wonder: the FREE anti-virus products are so much easier, faster, more stable than the majors; why aren’t new users downloading Avast! ?

Archie specializes in tutoring and training of seniors in PC security, Windows, Internet, and Microsoft Office. He is often featured speaker at Goodwin House in Alexandria. He can be emailed at ama3@tfci-us.com

PlugnPlay? Fuggettaboudit!

Long ago and far away, in the last millennium, there once was the possibility that when one bought an item for a PC it contained everything necessary: power cable (when required), the item, an install disk, and a cable to connect to the PC.

Printers might have one of two connections, a Centronix (a very toothy looking grin) or parallel DB-25 (a large-ish D-shaped connector). Other items (modems in particular) also had two: either RS-232 (again a large-ish D-shape with 25 pins, formally known as DB-25, but NOT the same as the parallel) or the smaller DE-9 (with 9 pins). A mouse might come with an additional, PS/2 (circular, mini-DIN) connector.

Then something strange happened. Items began to lose their PC cables, on the basis that no one could possibly know what kind of connector was on a PC: RS-232 or DE-9? Rather than pack adaptors for both, manufacturers just stopped including the cables. In fact, printers could have exactly the same-looking cable but your printer required the one that was IEEEE-1284 standard. (I remember this from a scanner I bought.)

With printers, this became tediously annoying, as customers now had to make two trips to the store, one to buy the printer, and another to buy a cable, which turned out to be another $35 [minimum!] And by the way, buy 20-lb paper.

Only last month did I learn from clients that the printer environment has changed again. After a total of four hours with tech support for their respective printers (Dell and HP), both discovered that the ink cartridges included in the package were, in fact, dummies, non-operational, useless. HP calls their dummies "shipping cartridges". (And have not warned their tech support of so doing!)

Apparently, these manufacturers are no longer including … ink!

So we reluctantly got used to having to buy cables for our parallel/USB printers to connect to PCs (@ $35-60 ea), now we have to buy the ink ($35-65) before we start? So much for PlugnPlay! The $99 printer is now closer to $199!

Therefore when buying anything today, read the side panel to ensure you will have everything you need, though I doubt printer manufacturers are yet stating the need for ink. Oh, and note that there may not be an install disk; you are expected to have a broadband connection to the internet, from which the drivers and manual may be downloaded. Hey, the big companies have now outsourced their assemblies to you!

[Late News: when buying an HP printer for primarily printing photos , note that a different ink is needed!]

Archie specializes in tutoring and training of seniors in PC security, Windows, Internet, and Microsoft Office. He holds the CompTIA A+ certification and is often featured speaker at Goodwin House in Alexandria; he can be emailed at ama3@tfci-us.com

Google II

I am now going to make it inexcusable NOT to use the computer. Do not call me if you are not prepared for some drastic changes to keeping curiosity alive!

First, I will install Firefox (Mac & Windows)

Second, I will make sure the home page is Google

Third, I will put Firefox shortcuts in the Start Menu, the Quick Launch Bar, and the Desktop; there will be no excuses for not being able to find it.

Finally, I shall put it in the Startup menu, so that the very first thing you see after boot up will be Google.

So no one will ever again have to put his thumb out to hitch a ride on the information highway! Your own car shall be warming up in the drive.



Archie specializes in tutoring and training of seniors in PC security, Windows, Internet, and Microsoft Office. He holds the CompTIA A+ certification and is often featured speaker at Goodwin House in Alexandria; he can be emailed at ama3@tfci-us.com

The Google Gene

I am no longer so concerned about losing ones memory as I am of losing ones curiosity. I am appalled at the number of people who have had computers for years, still do not know that Internet Explorer (IE) and Firefox offer the same thing, that to find something on the internet does not mean looking in Outlook Express or doing a Search on ones own computer.

So anyone who has been with me has the Firefox homepage pointed to Google; it is simple, has only one space, smack in the middle, to possibly enter anything. For the more adventurous, I might set IE to Yahoo.

But that so many people don’t know this, disturbs me. It’s hit one button on the desktop (Mozilla Firefox) and one is on the web! The excuse I am getting is, “Well, I don’t have the time.” The fear of loss of memory has conquered the loss of curiosity.

I have a laptop on my coffee table, in front of the TV; I have had a small desktop in my – unused – dining room. I have always had a computer in front of the TV.

I watch PBS, History, and Travel channels, and sometimes movies. Two weeks ago, I had decided to watch Topper. Besides Cary Grant, who were the other actors? So, hit Firefox button, type Topper in the Google box, then hit enter.

I just lost my cell phone and did not look forward to replacing it, what with all the useless bells and whistles on them now. So I Googled (hit my Firefox button and typed in) cell phones review

I recently was put on a new medication; naturally I Googled it for side-effects and primary purpose; for example, I do not have anything close to high blood pressure, so why was I being given a beta blocker?

Quaeso ergo Google. I question therefore I Google. Hey, where did that Latin come from? Googled Latin English dictionaries online!

So there are other, major sites besides Google.

www.wikipedia.org World’s Home-made Encyclopedia

www.imdb.com Movie/TV database

www.bartleby.com Quotations (like Bartlett’s), thesaurus

But you could have found all that out through Google, too …

Archie specializes in tutoring and training of seniors in PC security, Windows, Internet, and Microsoft Office. He holds the CompTIA A+ certification and is often featured speaker at Goodwin House in Alexandria; he can be emailed at ama3@tfci-us.com