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.

 

Use Pinterest for Back to School

Use Pinterest for Back to School Tips

While it may seem like summer vacation just started (or perhaps for some, it feels like it will never end), the time to get the kids geared up and ready to head back to school is right around the corner. Pinterest can help take some of the guess work out of getting your little (or not so little) ones back to school. Here’s how to track down some of the most useful board highlighting gear, fashion, lunch inspiration and tips to help your students have a great year.

First, some tips on searching Pinterest. The huge variety of “pinners” and a relatively limited search tool means that it can be challenging to find exactly what you’re looking for using Pinterest’s site search. The search term you enter will have to appear in the description of the pin (if you’re searching pins) or the name of the board (if you’re searching boards). I like to search boards first using general terms like “back to school” or “school lunch” before searching for specific pins. The results returned when searching for boards will show you the image the pinner has chosen as their board cover image, as well as the most recent three things they’ve added to the board. This will let you scan through quickly for images that you find relevant, attractive or intriguing and then click through to see the rest of the links they’ve collected.


You could search by general category under Kids or Education to see the most recent and popular posts that have been categorized by the poster, but I find that overwhelming. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to sort results further. I would find it much easier if I could search by a term and then sort by most popular or most re-pinned so as to find a good starting point of material but, alas, it is not an option. This can make cruising Pinterest a bit overwhelming, so I’ve tracked down some gems to get you started.

Encourage a love of learning. I am one of the over 450,000 people that love the links and information gathered by former teacher Allison McDonald of “No Time for Flashcards” (http://pinterest.com/noflashcards/). From boards dedicated to gear, after school activities, and setting up a study area, to countless projects and games to help your budding scholar get ready for the year to come, there’s something here for any parent with a kid under ten. Not only will you bring your A-game to back to school, you’ll find tools to help your son or daughter get the most out of their learning time, whether it’s at school or at home.

Master the art of lunch. If your kids complain that they can’t stand the thought of yet another peanut butter and jelly sandwich with apple side dish, check out the easy but amazingly creative lunch ideas at the “Easy Lunch Box Lunches” page (http://pinterest.com/easylunchboxes/easy-lunch-box-lunches/). Centering on the bento-box craze, links give you a huge variety of options to meet any dietary needs, from gluten or lactose free to catering to picky eaters. Creative presentation encourages little ones to try new veggies or wraps, particularly when themed to their interests (think, pirate booty box or butterfly extravaganza). It may sound too time consuming, but you’ll be surprised at what you can pull off quickly and easily with a few sandwich or vegetable shape cutting tools and some reusable packaging. It’s even eco-friendly so your kids won’t harass you about wasting plastic bags – win!

Cater to your fashionista. For any parent who finds themselves wandering aimlessly around the clothes section in August, only to return home with a bag of outfits that elicit an “aw, mom, really?” reaction, save yourself some headaches by cruising the style profile boards compiled by Zulily (http://pinterest.com/zulily/), an online “daily deals site for moms.” From “Classic Cutie” to “Mister Hipster,” boards are dedicated to a variety of styles and tastes. Sit your little fashion-forward offspring down and have tem tell you which kinds of outfits appeal to them.

Older style mavens may have better luck with the custom outfits posted to Polyvore’s page (http://pinterest.com/polyvore/). Scroll through their “Top Products” board together so that you can get on the same page before heading out to shop, or follow the links to Polyvore’s main site to have your teen put together some dream outfits with the site’s “Create” feature. Choose from a huge selection of tops, bottoms and accessories to build complete outfits. Not only will you get a chance to preview the digs your kids think are cool, you’ll have the opportunity to talk about anything that may not be school appropriate before you get to the store.

 

How to Use Google Better

Time-saving tips for navigating cyberspace

Even though more web users search with Google than any other search engine, take advantage of the full power of the tool at their disposal. From finding a quick answer to just about any question, query or calculation you encounter to more easily finding relevant results in weblinks, here’s how to get more from your Google search experience.


In mid-2012, Google rolled out Knowledge Graph, a way to view a quick summary of the information that the search algorithm determines to be most relevant to your query as well as quickly link to different results. For example, typing “Taj Mahal” in the search bar returns a page where links to other web pages appear on the left, but on the right is a summary of facts about the monument in India. Scroll down a smidge to see a box under the summary titled “see results about” which lets you jump to results about the musician or the casino. Another Knowledge Graph feature is that searching for a book, TV show, music album or DVD offers up a “People also search for” list of a few similar or related titles, like Amazon's "people who bought this also bought" feature.

Finding quick facts is Google’s specialty but you may not know of all the queries you can post directly in the search bar (or browser bar if you’re using Google’s Chrome browser):

Need to convert ounces to cups? Type “6 ounces into cups” and the answer will be listed at the top of your results page. Similarly, enter the equation you want answered (for example, 72x153) and the result appears without having to pull up a calculator application.

Find movie times in your area just by entering the name of the movie. See upcoming dates and events by entering the name of the venue, band or performance you’re interested in.

Review sports scores for any recent game by entering the name of the team. Quick results will show recent scores, record, standings, and upcoming games.

Get a five day forecast for anywhere in the world by entering “ weather.”

If, like me, you can never remember when Mother’s Day hits in the calendar year, just enter “2013 Mothers Day” to instantly see the date it falls on. It works for any holiday or major event, including using terms like Olympics, Election or NBA Draft.

Shave off the few seconds it takes to launch Google Maps and see instant directions and drive times by entering " to " in the search bar.

Search for items using just their UPC code or shipping tracking number.

The next time you need to find out your IP address, typing "IP address" in the search bar will reward you with the info.

Google’s site-specific search function allows you to limit search results to a specific webpage. Let’s say, for example, you’re looking for an article that you read on CNN a few months ago about nanotechnology. In the search bar enter “site:cnn.com nanotechnology” and all the results returned will be references to nanotechnology posted to CNN.

Ever click on a page that resulted from your search only to not find the information you're looking for on the page? Google's Quick Scroll (free) is an extension to the Google Chrome browser that helps you quickly navigate to relevant text on a webpage resulting from a Google search. A box in the lower right corner shows a text excerpt from the page that Quick Scroll believes to be relevant to your search terms. Click on the box and you’ll be instantly taken to where the text appears on the page.

 

Repair your Online Reputation

When you enter your name into Google (or the search engine of your choice), are the results flattering, or at least accurate? Even if you aren’t keeping tabs on your online reputation, others may be. From potential employers to prospective love interests, information linked to you on the Internet can affect your livelihood, your love life; even create a first impression for new people you meet. Take control of your online reputation with a few simple steps to ensure that when someone searches you out online the results are favorable.


According to a research report commissioned by Microsoft in 2009(.doc download), about 70% of U.S. recruiters and HR professionals interviewed indicated that they have rejected a candidate based on information they found online. Recruiters indicated that concerns about the candidate’s lifestyle; inappropriate comments or text written by the candidate (even their friends, colleagues and work acquaintances) and unsuitable photos, videos or information are most detrimental.

Take proactive steps to ensure that you’re presented in the best light:

Do your research: Google yourself. Before you start, sign out of your Google account so that you see the results that others see. Use all variants of your name, particularly the one you use on your resume and applications.

In most cases you’ll find mediocre results, primarily other people that share your name and old or irrelevant information. About 15% of people have “bad” search results that offer up severely unflattering information or images.

Take control of your results.According to BrandYourself.com, only 7% of people navigate past the first page of results. The key is to create enough positive buzz about yourself so as to have relevant and flattering content appear higher in search results.

Start by joining websites that are noticed by Google's search scanning algorithm like LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com), Google+ and Twitter. Complete as much of the personal profile as possible, particularly the sections that relate to job skills and experience. Even publicly accessible Facebook info will appear in your results page.

Bloggers should post content to Wordpress (http://wordpress.org/) as it typically ranks above other blogging sites like Tumblr and Blogger. Use Vimeo and Flickr, respectively, to share appropriate videos and pictures on the web.

Even better, purchase your domain name (if it’s available) and build a personal website that utilizes SEO (Search Engine Optimization). See the BrandYourself blog for tips (http://blog.brandyourself.com/brand-yourselfcom/introduction-to-personal-search-engine-optimization-seo/).

Damage control. If you find embarrassing or unflattering content linked to your name, don’t despair. In many cases, once you know they exist you can systematically track down things you want to get rid of and attempt to delete them. If the content is posted by a friend on Facebook, ask them to remove it and un-tag yourself from inappropriate images or posts. Update your Facebook privacy settings to customize what you share and what others are allowed to share on your wall. If you discover posts that seem to be particularly malicious, contact the administrator of a website to request that it be removed.

[pullquote]your goal is to push down unfavorable content[/pullquote]

After removing what you can, your goal is to push down unfavorable content. Create more profiles, particularly on sites that end in .edu or .gov as Google considers those sites more credible and may push those results higher than potentially damaging links.

Stay proactive. Sign up for Google alerts (www.google.com/alerts) so that you’re notified if a new reference to you appears online. BrandYourself (www.brandyourself.com) is a great resource for free information about improving your online search results. In addition to a wealth of tips and tutorials, create a complimentary account to push three links about yourself up the Google results ranking. Premium members pay a monthly fee to promote an unlimited number of links.

Easy Ways to Increase Laptop Lifespan

Increase Your Laptop's Lifespan

A few simple tips

The compact, mobile loveliness that is a laptop brings with it a shorter lifespan than a typical desktop PC. On average, a laptop has a lifespan of about four years. The hardware begins to age after 2-3 years and they’re usually more expensive to upgrade than a desktop PC. Get every ounce of life from your laptop by following a few simple tips.


While the likelihood of dropping a desktop PC is pretty slim, dragging your laptop between work, home and the local coffee shop leads to a greatly increased chance of accidental damage. Prevent the majority of the physical wear-and-tear on your laptop by investing in a sturdy, well-padded bag or sleeve. Make sure it’s easy to get your system in and out of the case so you’re more likely to use it.

Laptops are compact, and having all the parts contained in a relatively tight space can lead to overheating.As much as the name implies otherwise, your lap is actually one of the worst places to use a laptop.  Soft, uneven surfaces (especially blankets and pillows) can block vents and restrict airflow, leading to the laptop overheating.  It’s best to use your laptop on a hard surface, or with a laptop support stand.  There are soft risers that fit comfortably on your lap and some are even designed with built-in cooling fans.

Many laptop manufacturers offer diagnostics software that can tell you if your system is staying adequately cool and confirm that fans are working properly.  Check your system’s support site for more information. Consider investing in a laptop cooling pad if you find your laptop overheating often or running particularly hot.

Excessive dust clogging the vent fans can exacerbate a laptop’s tendency to overheat, and the use of improper chemicals (like Windex) to clean grime from the screen can lead to degradation of the screen’s protective coating.  Blow away dust and debris with canned air, aiming to blow air out of the vents, not into your machine. Use a microfiber cloth dampened with plain water on the screen and cotton swabs to clear out the crevices.

Before storing it in your laptop bag, put your laptop in sleep or hibernate mode, or better yet let it fully shut down. Just closing the lid can leave the hard drive spinning for a few moments.  Your system can be damaged by jostling it around while the internal parts are still working.

[pullquote]...batteries are meant to have a certain number of charge cycles[/pullquote]

If your laptop tends to remain constantly plugged-in on your desk, you can extend your battery's lifespan by using it every once in awhile. Ideally, unplug it about two to three times per week to let the battery “stretch its legs.”  Then plug it in when it gets low (not completely dead) and let it recharge fully.  Keep in mind that batteries are meant to have a certain number of “charge cycles” (how many times they can run down and recharge) which is typically somewhere between 400 to 500 times.  When your battery no longer holds a charge, get more life from your system by replacing it for $50 to $150 depending on whether you buy generic or from the manufacturer.

Just like desktop PCs, get in the habit of completely shutting down your laptop at least every few days. A lot of your system’s maintenance is linked to shut down process. From installing software updates to clearing cache and short term memory, a full system restart can even fix weird bugs that may have cropped up.

Finally, if you are able to upgrade your laptop’s hardware consider investing in a solid-state hard drive. Because SSDs have no moving parts, they don’t produce heat like a typical spinning disk.

 

 

5 Easy Ways to Prevent Identity Theft

Prevent Identity Theft and Protect Yourself

The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. According to data compiled by Zone Alarm, maker of antivirus and firewall software, identity theft results in an average cost to victim of $4,841 and takes, on average, 33 hours to resolve. With more and more of our personal information available online, it’s imperative that you take steps to protect yourself online.


Buyer beware. For as little as $30 in web hosting fees, criminals can set up fake online shop fronts to lure consumers into submitting their personal information and credit account numbers. Be wary of online retailers that you’ve never heard of, particularly if they’re offering a popular item at a lower-than-expected price.

If you can’t resist the deal, contact your credit card company to inquire if they offer one-time-use card numbers that you can use for vendors you don’t trust, or consider using a Visa or Mastercard gift card to protect your permanent account number. Never supply unnecessary personal information like your social security number, driver’s license number, or date of birth when completing an online retail transaction.

Pump up your password. I know, I know, I’m a broken record with this one. But if you’re one of the millions of Americans using the most popular passwords, such as “password,” “trustno1,” “abc123,” “monkey” or “letmein” (for the top 25 worst passwords, check out the list at SplashData: http://splashdata.com/press/pr121023.htm), you’re putting yourself at risk. Morgan Slain, CEO of SplashData (a provider of password management applications) explains, “Hackers can easily break into accounts just by repeatedly trying common passwords.” He recommends using an online password management tool. I like Lastpass (https://lastpass.com/) which can create and store unique, difficult to crack passwords for every site you visit online.

Secure your Smartphone. As more people acquire Smartphones, our personal information is going mobile. With instant access to email, social media accounts and often banking and credit account logins, Smartphones are an identity thief’s goldmine. Make sure that you password-protect the home screen to make it a little harder for a would-be criminal to access your data.

Consider storing account numbers and personal data that you regularly access (like bank account and passport numbers or alarm codes) in a cloud-based data vault program like that offered by Personal (www.personal.com/, free for iPhone and Android). Accessing the vault is password protected so it’s more secure than using notes, emails or texts stored on your phone.

Take notice of data breach notifications. With all the credit card offers, balance transfer promotions and junk mail sent by the average financial institution, it’s easy to tune out a form notification that your account data may have been compromised, but it’s important to take note. According to the “2013 Identity Fraud Report” compiled by Javelin Strategy & Research, almost 1 out of every 4 consumers that received a data breach notice letter became a victim of identity fraud. Of particular concern: “consumers who had their Social Security number compromised in a data breach were five times more likely to be a fraud victim than an average consumer.”

Take action. While the majority of identity theft activities are identified by third parties (55% vs. 45% discovered by consumers), it’s important to be proactive in your monitoring of account activity. The sooner you discover the fraud and take steps to close accounts and notify the appropriate parties, the less you stand to lose.

Protect Gadgets from Heat this Hot Summer

Protect Gadgets from Heat

Are you enjoying the 100+ degree summer temperatures? I am pretty sure your gadgets are not. Summer heat and activities can be brutal on electronic devices, but no one wants to leave them behind when taking the kids to the beach or the lake. There are ways to protect your phone, camera and portable media player from summer mayhem. DriveSavers (www.drivesaversdatarecovery.com), an expert in the data recovery industry since 1985, has some advice to share on the subject.


Summer sunburn. The baking sun will exact its toll on your skin, and it can be equally brutal to your electronic devices. DriveSavers advises, "Avoid leaving your devices out in direct sunlight. Electronics are not made to withstand high temperatures and may shut down when they get too hot, only to restart once they have cooled. When left in high heat for a period of time, these devices can fail and lose all data stored on them. To steer clear of these circumstances, place them in a beach bag or wrapped in a dry towel to keep them cool."

If you find your device has overheated, don't panic. Move it to a cool place (not the fridge or freezer - moisture is worse than the heat). Try holding it in front of the A/C vent in your car. Let it become cool to the touch, then attempt to power it back on.

Use caution when you're poolside. Again, from DriveSavers: "The splash of your child's big dive into the pool or the practical prank of pouring water on Mommy while she sunbathes can be casual occurrences that could cause water damage to your device. It is important to monitor where your device is in location to water and to secure your device with an appropriate protective case, whether it's a fancy waterproof case or a Ziploc bag."

If your device is dropped in the pool, power it down and dry it off – resist the urge to immediately try to turn it on as you can cause more damage. Remove the battery and SIM card, draining as much liquid as possible from the inside. Place any parts that encountered water in a Ziploc baggie full of uncooked rice for at least 48 hours to pull moisture from it. Then, reinstall the SIM card and battery and attempt to power it back on. If it doesn't back power on, consult your mobile phone company or an electronics repair professional.

Protect your photos and memory cards. According to DriveSavers, there are three major ways to avoid and prevent data loss.

1. "Never trust your camera as the single source to safeguard all of your photos. It is always best to transfer the images from the camera's flash memory to a computer hard drive as soon as possible. We recommend not deleting images or reformatting the memory card while it is still in the camera. Wait until all photos are transferred and verified before you clear your camera's memory card."

2. "Keep in mind that flash memory cards can be used about 1,000 times before they start to wear out. The best way to protect yourself and your irreplaceable images is by backing up your data. This will help guard against data loss when (not if) your hard drive fails. It's also recommended that you make additional copies of your backup media and keep a duplicate of it off site in a secure location. You can never be too safe with your memories."

3. "Carrying (memory) cards in your pocket can cause static buildup that can zap the card, making it unreadable.” DriveSavers recommends that you use the plastic case that came with the memory card. Better yet, store filled cards in your camera case so you can keep them out of the sun, sand and heat.

Blast away sand and dirt. Outdoor activities expose handheld devices to sand, dust and grime. Tiny particles can become embedded in crevices and scratch glass, lenses and hard surfaces. Don’t rub with a towel or sanitizing wipe - use a canister of compressed air to blow away debris.

If, despite all your best efforts, you discover a possible data loss, don't panic. Professionals have lots of tricks to help you recover your data. I once thought I’d lost all our photos from Hawaii due to an unreadable camera memory card, but the data was still there and I got our pictures back. Don't hesitate to consult an expert should you fall "victim" to summer mayhem.

&nbs

Take Better Photos with these Smartphone Photography Tips

Smartphone Photography Tips for Better Pictures

We take our Smartphones with us everywhere, so chances are when you're ready to snap a quick picture of your kid or four-legged friend doing something especially cute, you're not going to have your fancy-schmancy camera handy. Yet more often than not, these fast photo-ops end up looking dark or fuzzy and out-of-focus. Here are a few tips for making your Smartphone photos go from blah to beautiful.


Experiment with apps. You can generally take better pictures with your phone if you're using an app to do it. Photo apps often have settings that may not be offered with the standard camera on your phone. There are tons out there to choose from, so experiment to find one that matches your own personal style. Better yet, download a couple so you have some variety from shot-to-shot. Start with CameraZOOM FX for Android (http://www.androidslide.com/camerazoom) or Camera+ for iPhone and iPad (http://campl.us/) – both are great for beginners while offering cool features.

If you want to make your photos more unique or "interesting,” Hipstamatic (http://hipstamatic.com/), Instagram (http://instagram.com/#) and FxCamera (http://fxcamera.com/) emulate old, cheap cameras with digital effects. Doesn’t sound like a selling feature? The end result is a retro, unique style for your photos and easy-to-use options to modify colors or tweak your photos on the fly.

Camera settings. Once you've settled on the app that's right for you, make sure you perfect the settings before you start shooting. First, make sure the camera’s resolution is set to the highest quality. The last thing you want is to take some really spectacular photos only to discover they're completely pixilated when blown up on your computer screen. Next, enable the "stable shot" setting on your application. Sometimes it's hard to hold the camera steady and prevent picture blurring - this setting won't allow you to snap until your hand is stable. Lastly, allow your phone’s camera to acclimate to the current lighting conditions and then adjust for white balance and exposure within the application. Experiment with different exposure settings to find the vibrant photo you're looking for.

Lighting. This is good photography 101, but it really can make or break your photo. Make sure your subjects are facing the light source and if the lighting in the room is dim, turn it up before you shoot. Better yet, move your subjects outside if you can - natural lighting makes for a much better photo. Watch the flash, too. Sometimes the flash goes off when you really don't need it and people's faces in your photo end up washed-out and pasty-looking. If it's dark and you're sure you need the flash, try muting it with a piece of tissue paper or a white sticker. That way, you'll still get some light from your flash, but it won't produce as much glare. When trying to capture a photo at night, take advantage of your camera's night mode (if it has one). It can make the difference between getting the shot you want and a totally-black picture.

Get the cool shot. Try to focus on one subject, rather than the scenery around it. Get up-close and personal when you can - you'll get a much more detailed photo. Aim to get at least a few pictures on-the-sly (you know your kids never want to "pose" anyway). Your subject’s demeanor will be a lot less stiff and self-conscious. Shy away from using the digital zoom. You can avoid some really lousy (read: blurry) pictures, and frankly that's what your fancy-schmancy camera with the mega-lens is for. Last but not least, always keep your camera lens clean; you know how dirty cell phones can get.

Back up frequently. It's so easy to forget to back up the pictures taken on your Smartphone - much more so than even your camera when you've been out-and-about shooting. Downloading your pictures directly to your computer is best (rather than emailing from your phone), because it will preserve the highest resolution possible. Then you can run those photos through your computer's photo editing software for last minute color adjustments. Experiment with black and white rendering too - it's always better to take your photo in color, and then change it to black and white later. If the image is well-composed, you can do some rather cool things with software to make it even better.

Helping Mom Out With Mother's Day Tech

Help Mom With Mother's Day Tech

The best Mother's Day gifts are often those that don't come wrapped with a pretty bow.  It's great when you're able to buy Mom the latest new gadget, but she may not know the first thing about setting it up or operating it.  What better way to show Mom your love than to spend a few hours together helping her to get comfortable with her new toy?  You will both love the one-on-one time.  Just don't forget to take her out to brunch when you're done.


Mom wants a new laptop.  Instead of sending her off to the store on her own, tag along to help her pick out the one that’s right for her.  You know Mom doesn’t need a gigantic hard drive and upgraded video card, but she’ll enjoy the faster boot up time of a solid state hard drive and lots of RAM.  It may even make sense to consider a touchscreen or tablet if she won’t be using it for work of a lot of typing.

Don’t just send her home with a box and a kiss.  Plan to spend a few hours helping her to get it set up and get familiar with her new equipment.  Start her off with the basics while you’re there, and then leave her with teaching tools such as Help pages and Tutorial Videos.  Both Microsoft and Apple have them so bookmark links and show her how to navigate to them.

If Mom sprung for a Mac or iOS device, Apple has a support community she can join to pose questions to the community (questions are often answered by repair or tech support professionals) or scroll through previously-asked questions to get some help.

Remote support is a lifesaver in those times when you just can't figure out why your printer isn't printing.  Many computer repair companies offer to login to your computer remotely to fix something, install an application, or show you how to do something that has you flummoxed.  If you aren’t comfortable being Mom’s sole tech support, find a reputable company that offers remote support and get her set up with an account and/or any software they require.

"Send your parents a Tech Support care package" by Google (www.teachparentstech.org) lets you send Mom a little tutorial video (or multiple videos), in a cute little message format.  It works great for subjects like "how to copy-paste" or "how to attach a file to an email."

Another idea for a really personal touch is to make your own tutorials that Mom can refer back to whenever she needs them, for specific issues you know she's been having.  Most people are visual learners so video is an optimal format.  Start a YouTube channel with all your how-to videos and share the link with Mom.  You can also write out the step-by-step details for tasks she needs to perform.  Make sure your instructions describe the task visually: "left-click on the Windows icon in the lower left-hand corner of your screen" rather than "click on the Start Menu," as Mom might not know what the "Start Menu" is.

Most Moms these days love to see your Facebook status updates about the grandkids or your latest vacation pictures.  Make sure Mom is getting the full experience.  If she's not on Facebook yet, help her create an account, post a nice profile picture, customize her privacy settings and send out preliminary friend requests to connect with family and friends.

Even established Facebook users may appreciate a tutorial.  Last year, I had Mom write down all the questions she had about her computer, email, and Facebook over the course of a week.  Then we sat down and I walked her through them.  She loved it and it was great for me to be able to help her feel more comfortable with her technology.

If Mom hasn't gotten on the computer bandwagon yet (and you're pretty sure she's not ready), maybe she shouldn't.  There are plenty of devices that fill in quite nicely for a computer, like an iPad or Kindle Fire.  They’re intuitive and much less complicated and can probably do just about everything she'd need a computer to do.  There are even external keyboards available if she doesn't like typing on the touchscreen.

Before you hand Mom some new tech bling, just make sure it comes with a bit of set up time from you.