The Future Is Here

Tiny Hard Disk Drive

Windows XP Tune-ups

Some folks call them "hacks". I think of them as "tips". O'Reilly has been publishing top-notch computer books since back in the 80s. This one, Windows XP Hacks is worthy of the O'Reilly imprint. It teaches you many ways to impove the way that XP runs on your computer. The instructions are clear, and the author doesn't assume that the reader is an expert.

Alternate Link

For A Good Time, Call......

No, I didn't get this tip from a wall in the men's room at a rest stop on the Interstate. But I got it from a trustworthy source, and I've, um, called that number myself.

PC Pit Stop is a good place to get some free (and useful) computer diagnostics. Here's what they say about themselves.

Just park your PC in one of our bays and grab a cup of coffee. Our automated mechanics will put your PC safely through a battery of tests to check its health, configuration and performance. In many cases, if our testing detects a problem you can direct our mechanics to fix it while you're online.

The diagnostics take between one and five minutes depending upon your system and modem speed. You'll be informed along the way on the status of our testing, and at the end you'll get a 'clickable' report on your PC's health and performance.

Why do they do this for free? Well, they have advertising on the site; there's a source of revenue. They sell PC Pit Stop products (hats, t-shirts, coffee mugs). They provide consulting and technology services to other websites. And they accept donations.

On the other hand, if you think watching a computer go through the spin cycle is a good time, perhaps there are some other issues which should get a higher priority.

How to Find Anything Online

Searching through the petabytes of fact, fiction, and rumor that make up the World Wide Web is no mean task. It's like wandering through a library without a filing system or a card catalog. Portals like Yahoo! evolved as manageable entry points to this ever-growing repository.

But even the best portals aren't doors into a virtual version of a library. They're doors out, from the safety of your information-barren home or office into a wilderness of pages, files, databases, and sites—too much ground for anyone to cover. That's where search engines come in. Learn 64 tools and tips for smarter searching.

PC Magazine to the rescue. I've subscribed to PC Magazine since the mid-80s; it makes my "desert island" list.

The Chill Zone

You say you need Enlightenment, and you need it NOW? Perhaps this will bliss you out. Will you settle for peace and quiet? and are valuable resources for those who are seeking Enlightenment or just a little peace and quiet. If a quick nap is what you need, download an alarm clock

Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Go Out On The Internet

Think of Rogue/Suspect Antispyware Products as "bad guys", as wolves in sheep's clothing. They are programs which look as if they could help you with a computer problem. You haven't had a computer problem like the ones the bad guys will give you.

For a detailed list of Rogue/Suspect Antispyware Products, go to Spyware Warrior.

The rogue's gallery includes such programs as "SpyDeleter," a product promoted, according to an FTC complaint, by Sanford Wallace, formerly a well-known spammer. The FTC sought a restraining order against Wallace and a related company, Seismic Entertainment Productions Inc., last October. Spyware Assassin made the FTC's hit list. There are many more such bad guys waiting for the trusting souls who will click on links willy-nilly, who will install any program that claims to be a good guy.