If there are any topics you would like to see discussed in the future or if you have any comments, please contact me at JoeT@HighCaliber.com
Bullet Points
Clearing Browser History
As you probably already know, your browser retains a history of all the web sites you have visited, at least for a certain period of time. This history is used to make it easy for you (i.e. reduce the amount of typing required) to return to web sites you recently visited. Sometimes, however, this can be a nuisance or you may not want people that use your computer to see the web sites you have visited. Here's how to start with a clean slate when using Windows XP:
Open Internet Explorer
Click the Tools menu.
Click on the Internet Options command.
In the Internet Options dialog box, click on the General tab
Click on the Clear History button.
Close and then open Internet Explorer.
The Cost of Spam
"Spam will cost U.S. corporations more than $10 billion in 2003, representing
$14 per user per month"
Ferris Research - March 2003
You probably have seen a lot of numbers like these thrown around lately,
especially now that the politicians have joined the fray. I am not sure
which ones to believe but I do know one thing: Unsolicited (junk) email
is costing us all money. If you need help implementing a solution, give
us a call.
Windows Updates
Windows is a complex piece of software and is constantly being updated ("patched")
to correct bugs, close security holes, etc. It is extremely important that you
apply Microsoft's critical updates regularly to both your workstations and servers.
When Microsoft discovers a security hole, they usually release a software
patch to close it. Without the patch -- and there are MANY -- your computer may be
open to outside attack.
Fortunately, like updating your virus definitions, downloading these patches is
not too difficult. Built into every PC since Windows 98 and into every version of
Microsoft's Internet Explorer since version 4.0 is something called "Windows
Update." Windows Update is an easy-to-use tool that helps you ensure that your PC
is running the absolute latest Microsoft software patches and drivers.
Here is how to use Windows Update to download all of the security patches
Microsoft has released since your PC was made:
Connect to the Internet.
If you have Windows 98 or later, launch Windows Update by going to
Start --> Settings --> Windows Update
You can also launch Windows Update by going to Tools --> Windows Update
in Internet Explorer 4, 5, or 6. Either way will connect you to
Microsoft's Windows Update page [ http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ ].
On the top left-hand side of the Windows Update page, click on the "Product
Updates" link (the one with the hand and the red asterisk).
A pop-up window will appear, telling you to wait while your computer
DOESN'T send any information to Microsoft.
Eventually, you'll see a page that says "Select Software." When Microsoft
releases an essential update or patch to close a security hole in Windows,
they put it in this page's "Critical Updates" section. For now, focus
on this page's Critical Updates section.
Click on EVERYTHING in the Critical Updates section -- you need *ALL* of
the critical updates
Click on the gray Download arrow in the top right hand corner of the page.
Follow the on-screen prompts.
If you don't feel comfortable installing these critical updates yourself,
give us a call.
Internet Explorer XP Tips
To quickly save a Web page to your favorites list: Visit the
page you want to add to your favorites. Once you're there,
press the CTRL and then press the D key (CTRL+D)
To keep the current Web page open while opening a link
contained on that page: Right click on the link and then
click the Open in New Window command.
To make a picture you have found on a web page your background:
Right click on the picture and click Save as background.
To lock your Internet Explorer toolbars in place, right click on
the menu bar or button bar and click the Lock the toolbars command.
Right click anywhere on a web page and click the Create shortcut command
to save a link to that page to your Desktop.
If you think you have an outdated version of a web page, hold down the
SHIFT key and then press the F5 key.
Google 201
Patrick Crispen, long time author of the famous Internet Tourbus Newsletter,
has created a free zipped PowerPoint presentation titled "Google 201: Advanced Googology."
This presentation introduces you to some secret Google tips, techniques,
and tools -- stuff that NO ONE ever tells you about.
Internet History
Almost 12 years ago, particle physicist Paul Kunz created the first
website in the United States. But more importantly, it was the first
useful application of the Web. Click below to read a CNET interview
with Paul Kunz and learn more about the history of the early Web.
As a business owner or IT manager, one of the most difficult decisions you
may have to make is when to replace desktop computers. There are many
factors that make this decision complex:
Maintenance Costs: What is it costing us to maintain existing equipment (repairs, downtime, etc.)?
Replacement Cost: What will the total cost (hardware, software, installation, downtime, training, etc.)
be to replace a workstation?
Obsolescence: Do I need that new version of Windows, or better yet,
do I need to be able to run a particular application that will only
run under that new version of Windows?
Productivity: Would faster computers help us get our work done more
efficiently?
Clearly, what on the surface seems like a simple decision is actually quite
involved. Since replacing workstations is a large investment, it is a decision
that should be made carefully.
We have been finding that PC's running Windows XP and Windows 2000 are far more
stable and less costly to operate than Windows 9? workstations. Do the reduced
maintenance costs justify replacing these older PC's? The answer is "Yes, eventually"
meaning that it doesn't always make sense to replace all older PC's running Win9?
immediately. Sometimes more life can be squeezed out of these
machines by redeploying them to other users, upgrading them, etc.
The first step in deciding if/when to replace workstations is to perform a
complete inventory of all your equipment. You can use MS Excel to record
things like User's Name, Operating System/Version, CPU Speed, installed RAM,
installed hard drive capacity, free space on hard drive, applications installed,
etc. for each computer. Next, you could create a spreadsheet to record what
each of your employees uses their computer for. Be thorough when you compile
this list. Studying these two spreadsheets can help you plan the retirement
and/or redeployment of your worstations in an orderly and economical manner.
Finally, you may want to keep track of maintenance costs by workstation including
lost productivity due to downtime. While this will probably be somewhat
subjective, it may help you decide when it just isn't worth keeping a
workstation.
