A lot of websites have RSS feeds, but most people don’t know how to use them. You just click the button and it opens a bookmark in your browser which automatically shows the newest content. I use them for newsfeeds, for Craigslist searches, for eBay, and lots of others.
Use Color Coding To Organize Your Files.
In the Mac Finder, you can click on a file and assign it a color and each color can have a label which you can customize. This is great because you make all of your active files Green and your finished but not approved files Yellow, etc.
Use A Password Program.
Every website wants a new password now, but if you use the same one everywhere and one of those sites gets hacked, you’re screwed. A better alternative is to get a password program that saves all your passwords in one secure place. It will even generate new ones for you and put them into the website so you don’t have to type it in.
Reduce Eye Strain At Night.
One of the best things you can do to improve your ability to use your computer is to get Flux; free software that alters the color temperature of your screen to match your environment at night. Your eyes will strain a whole lot less during those late nights online.
Best Practices For Defragging.
In order to completely defragment your hard drive, its best not to use the default defragmenter that comes with windows. I usually go with Ultimate Defrag because it is the most thorough.
Shortcut To Task Manager.
Everyone knows about CTRL-ALT-DEL, but do you know about CTRL-SHIFT-ESC? If you use the Task Manager a lot, CTRL-SHIFT-ESC is a shortcut to get you there without having to go through the CTRL-ALT-DEL menu meaning it opens faster.
Copy/Paste Shortcuts.
Instead of right-clicking and choosing “copy” in Windows and then right-clicking and choosing “paste”, just press Ctrl+C after highlighting a selection to copy the selection and Ctrl+V to paste it. This can help speed up times when you have to do a lot of copying and pasting.
Put It To Sleep.
Keeping your computer running all the time is detrimental to your system. If a computer is left running for an excessive amount of time, hardware damage is inevitable. Computers should be placed into sleep mode after use or powered down in older models.
Think First, Then Act.
Patience is a virtue. We’ve all heard it before – but the same goes with computing in general. If things aren’t working, then most likely something is wrong. It sounds obvious – but think about it for a minute. If you aren’t getting the results you want, then troubleshoot, resolve, and move one!
Fullsize Keyboard On A Laptop.
Some people with laptops have a hard time typing on the smaller keys. They may also find it difficult to navigate using the trackpad. You can plug a full size keyboard and/or mouse into most laptops, which should make it much easier!
Free VoIP From Gmail.
Did you know that you can make unlimited free calls to the U. S. and Canada? Just sign up for a gmail account at gmail.com. A “call phone” button will appear on the side once you log in – click it. The first time, you’ll have to install a plugin, but after that, enjoy free unlimited VoIP!
Resolving Internet Connection Problems.
If you are ever having problems with an internet connection there are multiple ways to sole it. However, one tends to work for me when other don’t. If you have tried all options and are sure everything is working fine, go to your command prompt and type “/ipconfig renew”. It works especially well on public networks.
Unfreezing With A Restart.
If your browser starts freezing up, it’s probably best to restart the computer. Trying to stagger doggedly onward on will only result in much wasted time as tasks that would normally take seconds now take minutes.
Computers Have Shelf Lives.
Know when to hold on and let go. Computers DO have a shelf life. Technically it’s only a few months until a computer is considered “old” but that doesn’t mean you should get a new one immediately. Alternatively if you’ve had that dusty desktop for more than four don’t be afraid to shop for something more up to date. Data storage devices are large enough to hold all your valuable data if you want to transfer it to a new computer.
Be Careful With Anti-Virus Software.
Consider your options for virus protection. Although they offer defense against cyber attacks, some antiviruses can slow down your computer significantly. Two such examples are Norton and Avast. Look for a lightweight antivirus that offers great protection without the sacrifice of resources. One example would be ESET.
Because Every Kid Deserves A Trophy.
I was a less than optimal soccer player as a kid. I shouldn’t have been. I played for 8 years, but alas, I still emerged mediocre. I scored maybe two goals in my whole “career”. So as a less than average footballer, one has to make a name for himself somehow. So instead, I became legendary for the sudden boost in power I would receive from the consumption of a good ole New York bagel. It came to the point where one of my coaches, while giving each team member a special distinguishing accomplishment, gave me the title of having eaten the most bagels. Fame at last.
Autosync Everything.
I like to connect all of my computers, gadgets and smartphones together, using some of the new software and apps avalible including the cloud computing style apps I connect everything I own (3 laptops, Ipod touch, Ipad, Iphone, and blackberry) together so all of my devices atomaticly sync all of my information together automaticly, including pictures, music, programs, contacts, files, social network updates, Email, texts… This makes me have everything I need always at my figure tips no matter where i am at home or on the gone on whatever devises I am using.
Going Against The Best.
I once coached a basketball team for 11-12 year olds. We had a player that was quiet and didn’t have much confidence so I put him in the game and told him to guard the opponents best player. He did and actually stole the ball from him. From there on out he began to believe in himself.
Pro Wrestling Is Real Fun.
Something I love to do is pro wrestling. People think it’s kind of weird, but if you were to find a local pro wrestling school and take it up you will have the kind of fun that I have. You get to become what is essentially a comic book superhero or villain. You get to wear crazy costumes and entertain hundreds of people. Wrestling is a wacky universe and it is more fun to do then anything else I can think of.
How To Google A Problem.
Googling the problem almost always helps find a solution. Be sure to include the operating system or version of the software you are using (e.g. Windows Vista or Microsoft Word 2010) so you’ll get the right advice.
Break A Leg!
When I was 10 I was a great baseball player. I played first and pitcher, along with being clean-up hitter. One day at practice my coach was giving me tips on how to turn my bac leg when I hit. I followed directions perfectly but I sent a line drive right into his leg shattering his ankle. He was a great sport though. When he got out of the hospital I was the only one who could sign his cast.
As Clean As Fun Gets.
My fun…… is cleaning. There’s nothing like emptying my closet, rehanging everything and reorganizing it into my closet. Nothing like the sound of the vacuum humming as it eats up dirt. Nothing like the feel of freshly cleaned AND IRONED sheets against my skin when I settle down for sleep at night. Nothing like the soapy suds from the sink as I wash my dishes. Some might think this is mocking fun, but to me it’s pure bliss. (Truly.)
Override Download Block.
If you want to copy something on a website that won’t let you right click and copy, do a print screen by clicking CTRL and Print Screen and then paste into your paint program. You can then edit and save and use the image needed.
Carbo Loading Gone Wrong.
On the eve of the cross country championships in my freshman year of college I was very eager to eat as much food at the diner as possible, given that the college was paying for it. Two bowls of pasta, a milkshake, and a banana split later, I had the worst race of my season. I apologized profusely for my awful race, but my coach only laughed; He had seen it before. I’m now going into my senior year as captain, and will never make that mistake again, and Coach sure knows that.