Save Money on Tech

If there’s one thing we Nerds learn early it’s that technology doesn’t come cheap. Even after you shell out the dough for the computer, home theater set up or mobile device, you have to pay for Internet, data plans, and tons of monthly subscription fees to keep the toys buzzing and clicking. This week, I'll share some ways that I've found to enjoy my tech to its fullest and live the "nerd" lifestyle for less.

Drop your cable or satellite. Recently, my husband and I ditched satellite TV. It took us almost a year of paying over $100 a month before we finally took the big leap and we haven’t missed it. We're paying less per month and simply using more of the services we were already subscribed to.


It may not be for everyone, but if you're already paying for services like Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Prime, they can easily take the place of satellite or cable. If they're not on Hulu, current TV shows can be streamed directly from network websites: ABC, CBS, and NBC all offer several weeks worth of online content you can stream for free. I used to keep up with Dancing with the Stars this way.

Want to watch on the big screen? Gaming consoles (like X-Box, Playstation of Wii), Roku, Apple TV and some newer BluRay players can all stream content directly to your TV. Google just introduced a new device called Chromecast (www.google.com/chromecast, $35) which fits into the palm of your hand and attaches directly to your HDTV, working similarly to Roku and Apple TV. It requires another device such as a Smartphone, tablet or laptop to operate, but works with both Android and Apple products, allowing you to stream the Internet and content from Netflix or Google Play (movies, TV shows and music).

Even if you aren’t willing to ditch it entirely, contact your satellite or cable provider about downgrading to a “broadcast basic” package and then stream the rest of your content. Just making the call will likely lead to discounts from the company working to keep you as a customer.

Ditch the landline. I haven't had a land phone line since 2003. Are you still paying for a land line in addition to the monthly mobile phone bill? Stop that! If you simply can't drop it for sentimental reasons, consider switching to a Voice-Over-IP (VOIP) service. Services like Vonage (www.vonage.com) hook up a phone to your Internet either through a converter box or using a special IP phone. These services aren't free, but they're generally cheaper than what you're paying monthly for AT&T.

Ditch those long distance charges and make calls directly from computer to computer using VOIP. Providers like Skype (www.skype.com) and Google Talk (www.google.com/hangouts) have free options for video and voice-only calling. Users should be aware that VOIP can't completely replace all of your phones as it doesn't support emergency calling.
For those that use a landline for faxing, consider scanning your documents and emailing them to the recipient. Need a phone line for your home alarm? Ask your monitoring company about mobile packages that allow your alarm to contact dispatch over a cell connection.

If you'd still like to have a land phone line for emergencies, call your phone provider to ask about “measured rate” plans that will cost much less per month but more per call, then use VOIP, Skype or your cell for most of your calling needs.

Lower your mobile phone bill. It's hard to resist surfing the Internet while you're sitting in the doctor's office, but if you're not hooked up to WiFi, those minutes can add up fast. Try to make sure you're always connected to WiFi, and turn off apps that switch to the phone network when WiFi is unavailable.
Providers like Skype have applications for mobile-to-mobile calling for a small monthly fee, and video isn’t required. Use them as often as you can on your mobile device when you're connected to WiFi and save minutes with your mobile service provider.

We all love our texting but charges can add up fast. Disable automatic text alerts from social media and consider using a free texting app instead of texting through your service provider. If you're Facebook friends, you can download and use Facebook’s free Messenger app and message for free through the application. You don't even have to exchange phone numbers that way.

Review your bill every month and make a note of the small charges that weasel their way onto your bill, including app charges. Make sure to cancel the additional "services" and contact your service provider to have the previous charges reversed.

Choose a Tablet - Part 1

Last week, Christina P. sent me a great question about how to choose a tablet and what they do, an inquiry I receive regularly so I thought I’d share my reply in this two-part series:

I am considering a tablet for Internet, Facebook and reading - books and magazines, but I don't even own a smart phone, so I'm very confused. Do all tablets generally offer the same features? I don't understand why iPads are a lot more expensive than other tablets. Is the retina display worth the extra cost? If I plan to use a tablet on the road, will I need a cell phone plan for it? If you download a magazine, is it saved on the tablet, or do you need some type of internet connection to read it? What other tablets would you recommend? Thanks for any help you can give me.

Not all tablets are created equal, but there are some great options available that will give you the functionality that you’re looking for. The leader in the tablet market is undoubtedly the iPad, with sales figures leaving nearest competitors Samsung and Amazon in the dust. It’s a proven, reliable product that will definitely handle surfing the net, cruising Facebook, and keeping up on your news and magazines.

Apple products are generally more expensive than their competitors. This doesn’t inherently make them superior, but the price point is set due to its market share and frankly, Apple charges the price that people will pay to get an iPad. Just about any tablet from an established, reputable manufacturer would easily perform the functions you need. There are so many tablets on the market that it can be confusing to try to pick one up off the shelf. Stick with a well-known brand like Samsung’s Galaxy, Microsoft’s Surface, Google’s Nexus or an eReader from Amazon or Barnes and Noble to ensure reliability.

Speaking of eReaders that offer tablet functionality, Amazon’s Kindle Fire or Barnes and Noble’s Nook are significantly less expensive and will still give you access to Internet, email, and Facebook, as well as books and magazines. For the basic functions you list in your inquiry, I highly recommend that you consider Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD, starting at $269 for a version with 16GB of storage and a screen size and resolution comparable to the iPad 2 with retina display (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GFRB9E/ref=fs_j). There are less expensive versions with either a smaller screen or lower resolution, but across the board you’ll save an average of $200 or more going with Amazon over a comparable Apple product.


As for the retina display upgrade offered on iPads, it increases the resolution capability of the screen. This will improve the clarity of magazine pages, and support viewing HD videos or content from the net. The best way to decide if it’s worth the price is to view it next to the standard iPad 2 to see if notice a marked difference.

In fact, I’d recommend that you visit a retail outlet that carries several brands (such as Target or Best Buy) to see, touch and play with a few tablets and eReaders before you decide so that you can see how they compare. Note screen size, resolution and storage capacity when price shopping to ensure you’re comparing similar products. Navigate between applications to make sure it feels user-friendly and relatively intuitive.

Stay tuned next week for more on how to get content on the device, storage capacity and whether or not to consider a 4G version to improve functionality when you’re away from WiFi.

 

photo from sxc.hu

Nextdoor - Facebook for Neighborhoods?

If you live in a Nerdy Neighborhood, you might want to check out the newest web service that’s making a buzz. It’s called “Nextdoor,” and it’s a social network for neighborhoods. Users can advertise garage sales, post community messages, and connect with others in their area. It’s been described as a “Craigslist and LinkedIn hybrid.”

Not too quick to post your home address online? You should be - identity theft is a growing problem. Fortunately, Nextdoor requires address verification, which means that everyone in a Nextdoor neighborhood must enter a PIN sent to their home address. Users outside of a neighborhood have no access to the groups within a neighborhood. As the CEO, Nirav Tolia, told Mashable, it’s “about problem-solving.”

The service also partners with local authorities, which means that neighborhoods can receive emergency alerts relevant to their neighborhood.

Nextdoor has a list of more than 18,000 neighborhoods on the site, and about 75 are added to the list everyday. If you can’t find your neighborhood on the site you are encouraged to put in a request. Once there are enough people interested in a neighborhood, the group is created and the interested users are sent postcards with PINs. However, the group’s status is contingent on enough users joining within a set time. Nextdoor gives a time period for users to invite a certain number of their neighbors to the service - if not enough people join, the neighborhood is removed from Nextdoor. As people join, the trial period is extended until the group finally becomes permanent.

Nextdoor has an iPhone app as well as a recently-released Android app, which allows users to quickly see group posts and messages relevant to their neighborhood.

For now, Nextdoor is only available in the United States, although they plan on expanding into Canada later in 2013 and other countries the following year.

Mac vs Windows Part 2

In the debate between Windows and Mac operating systems, each has certain advantages over the other – I reviewed the primary differences a couple of weeks ago (see article here). For some users, running Windows on a Mac or OSX on a PC allows for the best of both worlds.

Most Mac lovers will tell you that Apple makes reliable hardware, but there’s no denying that compatibility with 3rd party software designed for Windows can pose a challenge. One way to work around this is to establish a dual boot on an Apple computer using Apple’s Bootcamp software which comes preinstalled on OSX. Find a walkthrough here.

Setting up a dual boot requires that you partition your hard drive into three sections: one to run Windows, one to run OSX and another for your data. Upon starting your system you’ll select which operating system to launch dependent on the task you need to perform. You maintain access to your data when utilizing either OS. The primary challenge is that if you launch one OS and then need to utilize a program on the other partition, you’ll need to restart your computer and boot to the other partition.

Mac users that share files with Windows PCs will find dual boot to be particularly handy. Even programs that have Mac versions, such as Microsoft Office for Mac, often encounter cross-platform compatibility issues, particularly with formatting and appearance. Whether it be fonts that don’t carry over or spacing that becomes distorted, when you need to produce a document, spreadsheet or presentation for a Windows user it’s best to use a Windows OS.
There are also programs and applications (particularly games or less mainstream software) that don’t offer Mac versions. Establishing a dual boot will allow you to run just about any program, even if it’s Mac or Windows-only.

Some users prefer to use a software application such as Parallels to establish a “virtual machine” to run Windows within OSX. The advantages are that it allows you to run Windows and OSX simultaneously and it doesn’t require partitioning your drive - the Windows installation is stored in a file on your current drive and Windows launches in its own window on your normal desktop. This works great for running an occasional, resource-light Windows-only program, but since your system has to run both operating systems simultaneously it’s not a good option for running resource-heavy programs (like PhotoShop or games). Unless your system has a lot of RAM, running a “virtualization” is likely to lead to sluggish performance.

For those that want to run OSX on non-Apple hardware, the process is more challenging. It requires building your own PC with specific hardware, also known as a “Hackintosh.”

There are certainly advantages: OSX is less susceptible to malware and has some great software applications that are not compatible with Windows. Standard PCs offer more hardware flexibility than Macs, allowing you to upgrade certain capabilities (such as graphics processing in order to play high-resolution games) and PCs are typically less expensive.

On the other hand, building a “Hackintosh” may be more than the average user should take on. After selecting specific hardware and building your own PC, you’ll have to format drives and configure BIOS before installing the OS. Once complete, Apple won’t support your custom machine so you’ll be reliant on online forums and trial and error troubleshooting if you run into problems.

Lifehacker maintains an up-to-date guide for creating a “Hackintosh”  wherein they walk you through what hardware to buy and the steps to follow for building your own machine and installing OS X.

Who Does Online Shopping Better? - Amazon, Google, or Bing

Online Shopping Ventures

Who does it better: Amazon, Google, or Bing?

I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I don't like shopping. Wandering around a store, searching for what I need has no appeal to me. As an Amazon Prime member, I find online shopping to be closer to my taste. I search for what I want, click "purchase” and I’m done. Yet Amazon isn’t perfect. The selection can be poor or the search results yield things completely unrelated. Do Google or Bing offer a better selection, or an experience worthy of paying a few bucks for shipping? I ventured online to find out.

I decided to shop for new lunchboxes for the kiddos to take back to school.


Starting with Amazon I typed "lunchboxes" into the search criteria and was rewarded with ... Tupperware. Huh? A company named "EasyLunchboxes" makes a Bento Box Lunch container and Amazon apparently thought that's what I wanted. Results were not much better when I refined the search to "Kids' Lunchboxes." There were plenty of cute options on the first page, but there was also an assortment stuff that was definitely not a lunchbox. I only reviewed the first 24 results out of 2,150 returned, but I expect my search to hit pretty darn close to what I am looking for in that size of a sampling.

Microsoft's search engine Bing is launched through www.shopping.com. My search for "lunchboxes" was rewarded with nearly all of the first 40 returns fitting my criteria. To the left was an option to sort by those options offering "free shipping," which is a nice feature. Another difference: Bing lists the vendors, right on the search page, something you have to dig deeper to find with Google and Amazon. I found listings from JC Penny, EBay and Etsy. Bing even linked me back to Amazon. When you order, you do so directly from the vendor once you've clicked on the product link.

Google Shopping surprised me. Even though Amazon is my default shopping site, I still expected Google to offer the most robust and refined results. Yet I when typed "lunchboxes" into the search bar, over half of the first page (including the first 3 entries) were not lunchboxes at all, but plastic containers, and hardly any of the items on the page were kid-related. Really, Google? At a time of the year where nearly every other vendor is screaming "Back to School" you don’t refine results to such a common category? While Google returned the highest number of results (a whopping 143,000) their relevance left something to be desired.

Amazon's robust rating system is hard to beat, too. This lunchbox has 181 customer reviews, as opposed to Google's mere 4. Incidentally, searching specifically for "R2D2 Lunchbox" via Bing resulted in nothing remotely similar.

 

Hard Drive Diagnostics

Keep One Step Ahead of Your Hard Drive

Hard drive failure can be devastating, particularly if it’s been a while since you backed up your data. It can lead to costly data retrieval or worse, loss of data if your drive becomes completely corrupted. Don’t be caught by surprise: make it a habit to regularly run a hard drive diagnostics software tool or at least know what to do if your drive begins to show signs of imminent failure.

A traditional hard drive is similar to a DVD or (for those of us that remember them) a record player. Data is written to one or more “hard” disks that spin really fast; there’s a read/write spindle that accesses and records data on the disk. Physical drive failure is sometimes precluded by an audible clicking that indicates that the spindle isn’t properly moving over the disk or that the disk itself is no longer spinning smoothly. In other cases, a failing drive will lead to reported errors upon boot up, intermittent system crashes, or unexplained “glitches.”


The first step if you suspect that your drive may be failing is to back up your data as soon as possible. The more you use a failing drive the more you risk the data that’s stored on it becoming completely inaccessible. For more info on backing up your data, see my article here: http://www.callnerds.com/data-backup-basics/

Even if your drive isn’t showing signs of imminent death, it’s a good idea to get forewarned of potential problems before they affect your productivity. Integrate a hard drive diagnostics test into your routine maintenance and aim to scan your disk at least a couple of times a year. The process can take several hours, so plan to run the scan after hours.

Windows XP, Vista or 7 users should run the disk check application integrated into Windows to scan for bad sectors and run basic reliability tests. Open “My Computer” or access “Computer” via the start menu and right click on the drive that you want to test. Typically you’re going to select “C:” though if you have data stored on a secondary drive you should run the check on all drives, one at a time. Click on “Properties” and choose the “Tools” tab from the options that appear. Select “Check Now.”

There are two optional check boxes: “Automatically fix file system errors” allows Windows to fix software errors found during the scan. “Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors” allows the software to identify and partition off sectors of the drive that aren’t functioning properly, and then instruct your system not to write data to those sectors in the future.

If you don’t have access to the tool integrated into Windows or if it doesn’t give you the information you need, consider installing the free version of HD Tune (www.hdtune.com), designed for home users looking to scan a single drive. It will scan your disk for errors and give you access to the S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) information that your hard drive maintains. This data can give you a reasonable idea of the health of your hard drive. Access to additional tests, monitoring and support for scanning external drives is available to those who opt for the Pro version ($34.95).

Most hard drive manufacturers offer free diagnostic tools that you can download and use to test the viability of your drive. Under the same Properties menu box you accessed to run Windows’ disk check program, select the Hardware tab. Your hard drive’s manufacturer and model will be listed among “All Drives.” Use this info to search online for your hard drive manufacturer’s diagnostic tool.

Tech for Students

Tech for Students Reviewed

The best in Technology for Education

If you’re replacing an old, reliable PC that just isn’t cutting it anymore, or you’re outfitting your student with some computing power, the back to school season is a prime time to buy electronics. The wave of shoppers drives down prices as retailers compete for your dollars, so it’s a good time to find a great deal. But with all the choices – desktops, laptops, Ultrabooks and tablets - how do you pick the best device to suit your needs? We’re here to help you choose.

Desktop tower: Even though their popularity is waning, there are benefits to a stationary work station. The lack of mobility is great for younger students. Just set up the family PC in a high traffic area to monitor your kid’s online activities, and you’ll never have to track down the computer under junior’s bed when it’s time to power down at night. They’re also friendlier to clumsy fingers: if Johnny spills his soda on the desk you may have to replace a $20 keyboard, but sticky liquid on a laptop can take the whole system out of commission. They’re more cost effective to upgrade, so the system will likely last you longer than more portable alternatives.

Pick a desktop is you are looking for a family PC and have younger students.

Laptop vs. Ultrabook: The benefits of an all-in-one mobile computer are clear. It takes up less space, can be used anywhere and could accompany your older student to class if necessary (although they’re still a bit big to handle the surface space offered by the typical college classroom desk). While monitors aren’t as large as those that usually accompany a desktop PC, they’re comfortably sized to accommodate the long term use expected to compose a term paper or, say, research the mating habits of alpacas.

While laptops and Ultrabooks are usually lumped into the same category when you’re cruising the electronics store, there are some key differences. Ultrabooks are often referred to as “next generation” laptops. They’re smaller, thinner and similar to a tablet with an attached keyboard and a fully-functional Operating System. While this may all sound good, keep in mind that these systems trade their upgrade capability for lightweight portability. Components are stripped (you won’t find an optical drive) or soldered to the motherboard to reduce weight and size, so the memory and hard drive that you buy it with will need to last you the life of the device.

Pick a laptop for a household with older students that you trust to use the system unattended but where out-of-house travel is likely to be minimal. Laptops are available with larger screens than Ultrabooks, so they can better accommodate multi-taskers who like to split screen multiple applications simultaneously. Also, a laptop is a good pick for students who will be using it for extended periods of time, anyone who needs to connect to a variety of shared peripheral devices like communal printers, or anyone who will need a DVD drive.

Pick an Ultrabook when portability is paramount. If your student will be taking the system to class on a regular basis, travelling with it to offsite study locations, or has an exceptionally small workspace available, an Ultrabook may be the best choice.

Tablet: While tablets are gaining popularity, they are not designed to seamlessly replace a fully-functional computer. Consider them a Smartphone with a larger screen that requires a WiFi signal to work optimally. Tablets typically run a mobile OS which is pared down from the software offered on a laptop or Ultrabook. They don’t offer as many connectivity ports, so many functions (like printing or transferring data) will likely require that you connect over a shared WiFi network. You won’t have a disk drive, so content will have to be downloaded from the device’s affiliated App store, limiting you to software developed for mobile devices.

However, tablets can serve a purpose. If you have a shared family PC and older students that need an additional device to surf the net or check email, or want to stream content from tutoring sites or video chat with their study group, a tablet can be a handy tool. With the addition of a note-taking program and compatible stylus, your student can take notes in class and have them instantly transformed into digital, searchable text, making studying for exams a bit less daunting.

Pick a tablet if you need additional Internet access without a lot of workhorse capability.

If you’re still puzzled about the best device to outfit your student for back to school, drop us a line. We’ll help you narrow down the sea of choices to the computer or mobile device that’s right for you.

Moto X Announced

Moto X Announced by Google

There have been rumors around the internet for months concerning the “Moto X.” So what exactly is the big deal about this phone, which is the result of close collaboration between Google and Motorola?

Today everyone finally got their answers at Motorola's press conference during which they officially announced the Moto X. The phone is the first hardware manufactured by Google, which owns Motorola. As a result, the phone is sleek, glossy, and well-designed; any phone nerd's dream. It includes two cameras: a 10-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front camera. It can be customized with 16 or 32 gigabytes of memory. And the front panel, back panel, and accents, can all have their colors customized, with a total of 540 possible combinations.


But the real power of the Moto X doesn't come from its hardware. It comes from the software within. It's the first phone to use always-on voice activation for Google Now, which is included with the phone. Users can say “Okay, Google Now,” at any point, and the phone will start listening for commands. Users can use the voice interface to find directions, set alarms, search for information, or text contacts. Google Now also detects when the user is driving and provides navigation instructions for relevant waypoints.

In addition, the phone responds to gestures like a double-twist-of-the-wrist, which will pull up the camera from any screen. The idea behind this is that users should be able to capture moments as they happen without having to go through menus to find the camera.

Another feature of the Moto X touted by Google and Motorola is the active display. The screen uses AMOLED technology, which means that instead of unlocking and turning the phone on all the way, users can touch the screen to get at-a-glance information about updates. The screen also stays dim when this display is up, so it's not distracting or painful in dark environments.

The Moto X will be available “...late August, early September” for $199 (16GB) or $249(32GB) with a two-year contract.

Image from phandroid.com

 

Mac vs Windows

Mac vs Windows: The Blow-by-Blow

The debate over which PC platform is best, Mac or Windows, has waged for years with both sides equally passionate about which OS reigns supreme. While there’s no single answer for every user, you can find a computer with the right characteristics to meet your computing needs. Here's the low-down on the matchup between Mac and Windows.

WHERE THEY'RE EQUAL:

Usability. You may have heard that Macs are more intuitive than Windows. In reality, neither OS is fundamentally easier to learn. Novice computer users will face challenges learning to navigate either a Mac or a Windows system, and a user experienced with one platform will definitely experience frustrations if they try to switch.

Design capabilities. Although Macs ruled the design world in the 80s and 90s, these days both operating systems are considered equal when you compare their design applications and abilities. Both Macs and Windows systems support a large variety of file types, offering cross-platform compatibility so designers can exchange ideas between Mac and Windows PCs with ease.


WHERE THEY'RE NOT:

Viruses and maintenance. Mac is the clear front runner in this category. While Macs are no longer virus-free, malware remains far less prevalent in Macs. Windows users are plagued with driver updates, security patches and a need for regular anti-virus/ anti-malware scanning, which can lead to clutter within the system and speed issues due to memory consumption. One item of note: because Windows is so experienced with combating malware, they're better suited to quickly address new security issues, whereas Apple tends to struggle with rapid response to new attacks.

Software and gaming. Windows is the big winner here, as it offers a much larger library of compatible software options and nearly three times as many applications in its app store (versus the Mac app store). While you’ll have no trouble finding Mac versions of big-name games or programs like Quicken or Photoshop, if you run a specific software application that isn’t as widely used you may find that it’s a Windows-only program. Graphics cards and compatible gaming hardware options are also limited for Macs, meaning gamers should stick to Windows.

Hardware. Almost all hardware is designed to work with Windows, a huge advantage when you need to upgrade or replace a malfunctioning part. If a key piece of hardware breaks or no longer supports your computing needs, Mac users have more limited upgrade capabilities.

Cost. Apple sells high quality systems for top dollar; they don’t offer budget models. They don’t sell a less reliable motherboard or a slower processor at a discount. Alternatively, there’s a huge variance in the quality and price of Windows-based PCs. A Windows PC with similarly reliable hardware wouldn’t be dramatically less expensive, but Windows systems are typically cheaper due to competition between manufacturers.

Apple doesn’t sell custom machines, so if you want a larger hard drive in your new Mac, you’ll have to get a more expensive model that likely includes additional upgrades you wouldn’t otherwise choose to pay more for.

In conclusion, Windows PCs offer a lower purchase price, but may require more time and money over their lifetime to maintain (in the form of malware removal and the replacement of cheaper hardware) than a Mac. [pullquote]windows offers a lower purchase price, but requires more time to maintain[/pullquote]While Windows systems aren’t inherently easier to use, the popularity of the platform means that you’ll have an easier time finding people to help you if you encounter a problem and will likely have fewer compatibility issues with peripheral hardware or when sharing data with others. On the other hand, Apple products work great together so if you already have other Apple gadgets a Mac may get along nicely in your electronics family.

 

Prep Your PC for Back to School

After spending the summer surfing the net, playing video games, and whatever else your kids do when you turn them loose on the computer, your family PC is probably in need of some R and R. Before you enter the season of homework and research projects, whip your system in shape to head back to school.

The first step to resuscitate the family computer is to clean off the deluge of programs and junk add-ons accumulated over the summer months. Wrestle the kids off the PC for a few hours and do some much needed maintenance. How thorough you get depends on what you use the computer for. Best case scenario? If you use the computer primarily for surfing the net, writing papers and checking email and you are relatively tech savvy, back up the data you want to keep, format the hard drive and reinstall the Operating System.


Before you get started, review the tips posted on Microsoft’s site at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/installing-and-reinstalling-windows-7. This may sound drastic, but most Nerds consider it good form to reinstall Windows every year or two to return your system to as close as you can to “factory fresh” (like it was when you pulled it out of the box). It gets rid of junk programs that have been installed, fixes corrupted applications and gets everything (software-wise) running smoothly again. That said, a basic user might find it daunting to have to get programs reinstalled and data back on the PC, particularly if the system is used for more than just Internet and email. It can also be pretty time consuming – like 4-5 hours of attention from start to finish.

If a format-reinstall doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, you can still gain significant performance improvement by doing some relatively easy maintenance. Check out add/remove programs for a list of what’s installed on your system. Remove all the junk programs and browser toolbars that the kids installed when you weren’t looking. Similarly, cruise through the extensions or add-on section of your browser (usually found via settings) and remove all the search bars, games and programs that pop up and beep at you every time you go online.

Next, do a manual run of your anti-malware software (we like Microsoft Security Essentials) - being sure to check for, download and install any updates before scanning. Finally, run a registry repair tool and browser cleanup program like CCleaner (http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download, free) to help repair any registry errors left after removing all the junk programs. Once you’ve got your system purring along again, set up separate user accounts for everyone that gets on the computer, reserving administrator privileges for yourself. Limit user privileges so that only the administrator can install or remove programs.

[pullquote]You can limit when your kids can use the computer[/pullquote]

Limit the damage your kids can do in the future by activating the parental controls integrated into Windows. Just open up the Control Panel window and under “User Accounts and Family Safety” choose “Set up parental controls for any user.” You can limit when your kids can use the computer (so they don’t get in trouble while you aren’t able to keep an eye on them), what games they can play and what programs and content they can access. You can monitor and limit the web sites they visit, too, so if there’s a site they frequent for downloading games that you suspect brings additional junk programs with each installation, you can block the site.

Finally, once you’ve got the system cleaned up and locked down, set up a family calendar and organization tool to make the school year easier to coordinate. Cozi (http://www.cozi.com/) offers a great, free family calendar and organization tool. Just set up a free account for your family and everyone logs in separately with their personal email address to view and update the family calendar. Each user can maintain their own calendar or see color-coded events on the master calendar, get reminders or alerts. If your school has an online calendar, you can set it up to automatically show events on your calendar, so you won’t miss another Open House. There’s also task management so that you can set up individual to-do lists for each family member or one for the whole family. Cozi syncs across Windows, Macs and a multitude of Smartphones and handheld electronics.

 

Upgrade to Windows 8

We received a great question from local reader Dorothy N. about whether or not she should upgrade to Windows 8.

I still have Windows XP.  I have read that Windows will not support XP after April of next year.  I like to have a start button and prefer using a mouse instead of my fingers to touch a screen, so have not bought a new computer.  I understand putting out a version 8.1, which will have a start button and be similar to the computer I am using.  I would be willing to buy a new one, if I can keep this feature.
I’m 77 yrs old, using my computer for e-mail and to look something up - I do not pay bills on-line, keep files, or send pictures. Should I wait for 8.1 to come out?  To buy... or not to buy?

Dorothy suggested in her email that others might have a similar query, and I agree. Here’s my reply:

 

First, just because Windows won't be supporting XP anymore doesn't mean that your system won't work anymore.  It just means that they won't issue new service packs so you may eventually notice compatibility concerns with new peripheral devices or software programs.  Also, there's a chance that XP will be more susceptible to malware if Microsoft isn't actively updating vulnerabilities in the OS any longer.

Also, while I have previously stated that Windows 8 is designed to work with touchscreen devices, you don’t have to ditch your keyboard and mouse to upgrade. The OS works on traditional systems as well as touch-devices. In fact, many of our technicians here at Nerds on Call prefer using a mouse and keyboard with Windows 8.


Windows 8 definitely looks different from Windows XP or Windows 7and the way you open programs, search and even shut down your computer is new.  Many people have made the switch and been perfectly happy after a few weeks of getting familiar with the new layout.  Based on the few tasks that you use your system to do, it probably wouldn't be too difficult to get used to Windows 8, even though your trusty Start button won’t be there anymore.

While I wish I could tell you that the 8.1 update will make Windows 8 more like XP or 7, it really doesn't.  The Start key won't give you the program list that you're used to seeing (at least it doesn't in the preview versions that have been released), it just gives you a way to quickly return to your desktop or metro start screen.

However, there are apps that will give you a Start button that appears and functions more like it does in Windows XP and 7.  While there are many choices available, my favorite is Start8 from Stardock (http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/, $4.99). Of the many that I’ve previewed, it creates a Start button that looks most like Windows 7 and includes most of the same functions (including a shut down and Run option). The app doesn't require the 8.1 update, so you need not wait if you’re otherwise ready to make the leap to Windows 8.

Windows 8 still defaults to the "Metro" interface upon start up which is more similar in appearance to a tablet with apps than the desktop startup screen you're familiar with. You can manually change some settings in Windows 8 to have the first screen you see on launch be more like the desktop layout you’re used to, but it takes some manual tweaking. Here’s a link to an easy walkthrough: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2043243/how-to-boot-to-desktop-mode-in-windows-8-1.html

All told, Windows 7 is much closer to the OS that you're familiar with.  It may make sense to opt for a new system with Windows 7 pre-installed instead of Windows 8. While it may seem counter-intuitive to buy a new system with old software, Windows will be supporting Windows 7 for many years to come and for the limited functions you’re looking to do it will save you the headache of relearning how to navigate your computer.

I'd recommend that you take a trip to an electronics store like Best Buy or Costco to explore what Windows 8 looks like and compare it to systems available with Windows 7 before you make your final decision.  If you can't get your hands on one in person, here's a video walkthrough that should give you an idea of how a new PC would look with Windows 8: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E1UxI5I_jo