Blackberry Tour SmartPhone Review
Review of the Blackberry Tour SmartPhone by RIM
People are often hesitant to switch to a different PDA style phone for fear of a steep learning curve. The last thing a busy person wants is to do is figure out the nuances of basic operations on their new device. However, in light of the plethora of features and applications available on the Blackberry Tour smart phone, a second glance is warranted.
The Blackberry Tour is ideal for smart phone users who prefer a hard keyboard, rather than the Blackberry Storm’s virtual touch screen keys. Ultimately, this distinction comes down to the user’s personal preference. Some users feel that having hard keys allows them to type faster and more accurately. This aspect of the Tour’s design is a point of… Continue reading...
Windows 7 Hot Tips Series: 6 through 10
#6: Help the Help Desk Help You
Solving problems unique to a machine can be an arduous task for both the end-user and the help desk.
Windows 7 introduces the Problem Steps Recorder, a screen-capture tool that allows the end-user to record the problems they’re having step-by-step.
The program is accessible from the Control Panel under “Record steps to reproduce a problem” or run psr.exe from Explorer.
Hit “record” then add in comments as needed. A HTML-based file is converted to a .ZIP folder, which is easily passed on to the help desk.
#7: Sticky Notes Avoid Sticky Situations
Instead of using paper, use Windows 7 Sticky Notes. Enjoy the variety of seven fun Sticky Note colors by right-clicking the note.
Need another sticky note reminder? Click the + sign in the top left corner of the… Continue reading...
What is the Difference Between a Hub and a Router?
When designing a computer network, an administrator needs a component that connects all the computers together. Hubs and routers are the two major network hardware components that allow users to send communication from a source computer to a destination. The difference between these two network components is the manner in which they receive data packages and route information.
Anatomy of a Hub
If a hub and router were graded by intelligence, the hub would wear the dunce cap. A hub is the very basic connectivity device available for a network. A hub doesn’t relay information intelligently. Instead, it broadcasts packets indiscriminately across the network. A hub has several ports in the back of the component where administrators can connect several computers. When these computers communicate and send information, the hub simply keeps… Continue reading...
Windows 7 Hot Tips Series: 1 through 5
Tip 1: Shuffling Through Program Windows
Windows 7 allows you to switch through same program windows with ease.
- Example: running multiple documents in Microsoft Word
Press down on the Ctrl key while clicking the icon from the taskbar.
Each click will change the window to the next in the sequence, in the order that you opened them.
Tip 2: Managing Your Windows
Windows 7 simplifies document and program management by allowing you to “dock” a window or manipulate its size with one mouse maneuver or a simple keystroke.
To dock your window on one half of the screen, drag it to the left or right and it will change its size to fit that half of the screen.
To manipulate the vertical size of a window, drag the window to the top to maximize it, or double-click… Continue reading...
Recycling and Repurposing Old Computers – Green IT Ideas
The computer revolution has created many great opportunities for both home users and businesses, but it has created its share of problems as well. The rapid pace of technological change often means that computers are obsolete long before they stop working. That creates a dilemma for computer owners – do they simply throw their usable old PCs in the trash and add to the growing landfill problem, or do they try to find a new home for their old hardware? Many computer owners and businesses are choosing the latter approach – recycling and repurposing their old computers to help others while helping the environment.
The environmental impact of old computer hardware is a surprisingly large one. Many people do not realize that a great deal of that old computer equipment ends… Continue reading...
Emerging Technology
Cloud computing, knowledge management and social networking are technologies that can either cause a company to waste money or leverage emerging technology for significant business benefit. There are many terms and sales techniques that can get anyone without technology knowledge tricked into making significant capital investment. For a mid-level manager or influencer in the company, how does one see through the hype and determine if these emerging technologies can truly help a business?
A repeatable process can help a business determine what can be used for maximum benefit. Create a management process to evaluate emerging technology using the following four steps:
1) Learn – Before doing anything else, spend time to learn what the emerging technology or the latest buzzword is all about. Google is a good starting point. Discussion forums and… Continue reading...
