Alleviating frustrations

I used to be frustrated that I could not re-order the program and document buttons on the Windows taskbar at the foot of my screen. Taskbar Shuffle is an elegant, simple (and free) solution. With it installed, you just drag the buttons wherever you want.
If, like me, you don't like the "Awesome bar" feature of Firefox 3's address box - too much information, too cumbersome - Oldbar is a free add-on that takes it back to the Firefox 2 style. Now if someone can tell me a simple way to remove the Office 2007 "ribbon" style menus and get back to the Office 2003 style menus, I will kiss your feet.

Holiday security

There’s one dread I have of going on holiday: returning home and finding my computer stolen. I mean, that’s my life in there! So I’ve been thinking how I can make it more secure. Last year, I taped a note to it saying: “This computer will not work if removed from this location”. (Note to friendly burglars: please don’t read this blog.) Okay, it was a bit forlorn. How can I do better this year?
1)Set up a logon password (user account). I have one at work, but not at home. Not good. To do this on a PC, go to the Start menu/Settings/Control panel/User Accounts.
2)Make a backup of all data files (you do back up, don’t you!!??) and store the disk somewhere outside the home. The simplest way, even if a bit clumsy, is to copy the files onto a CD or DVD or flash drive/memory stick.
3)Take the computer to a friend or relative who’s going to be home over the holidays.
4)Ask the neighbours to keep an eye on the house.
5)Install a software fire and burglar alarm system on the computer. One example is PC Alarm and Security System. I haven’t tried this, but it’s not particularly expensive to buy, and looks very versatile.
6) PCEye is another system, which phones you up on your cell phone when the alarm is triggered.
6)Other systems track stolen computers and report their wherabouts. Examples are LoJack, CompuTrace, CyberAngel, and zTrace.
Any other ideas very welcome.

Scroll wheel clicking

Here's a little tip if you have a mouse with a scroll wheel (sorry, most Mac users). If you click on an internet link with the scroll wheel, rather than the left button, it opens the link in a new tab of your browser. This appears to work in Internet Explorer as well as Firefox.

Annoying stuff and how to fight back

Pat Pilcher lists 20 things she/he (?) finds annoying in today's world, and how you can fight back with technology. Sadly, the answer in many cases would appear to be that there is no real answer, and some of his/her suggestions would only make things worse. It might be hard on the ego, but the old adage that "a soft answer turns away wrath" could be a better response to some of her/his pet peeves. But here are a few other responses that could help:
Telemarketing calls: Some ladies I know have come up with this plan. When called by a survey company, they say: "Before I spend 20minutes answering your questions, will you spend 5 minutes listening to me?" Then they give a quick outline of their faith. Because I have done studies in market research, I have found another way to amuse myself is to start asking questions about methodology and survey construction, etc. The questioner often gives up in frustration.
Bad drivers: You can call 555 on your cellphone to report a really bad driver. Otherwise, it's probably better to curb your temper (and no, I don't find that easy). It's better to lose the race than to wind up a very bad statistic.
Heavy traffic: Change your radio station. I listen to the Concert Programme on heavy days, and it really does soothe the nerves.
Unfriendly staff: I have found a handwritten letter to management a very effective tool (and it can produce a nice freebie, as well). By the same token, I like to write a letter of thanks when I get really good service.
Unwanted electronic advertising: If you are getting spam email, I would definitely suggest changing your email provider. All the good providers have fairly good filters in place now.
Bad service providers: I had a real run-in with Telstra a couple of months back. I carefully documented the situation, and wrote a long letter, to which I did get an apology. I also discovered that if you front up to their office in person, while there's no-one there to help you, you get priority in the phone queue on their office phone.
Parking: We all know that Auckland and Wellington parking is outrageous. So plan ahead, leave earlier, and park and ride. (Or cycle. Or move to a civilised city, like Christchurch.)

Email bankruptcy

What do you do when you get utterly overwhelmed by emails? Why, declare email bankruptcy, of course!

Are you a victim of "technosis?

Naturally there's a word for it (isn't there always?).

"In their book, TechnoStress: Coping With Technology @WORK @HOME @PLAY, Michelle M. Weil, Ph.D. and Larry D. Rosen, Ph.D. assert that the growing dependence on technology affects us negatively. We count on our machines to do so much that when something goes wrong with our technology we are thrown into a tailspin. According to Weil and Rosen, "People allow themselves to be sucked into this technological abyss, and in doing so they become more machine-oriented and less sensitive to their own needs and the needs of others. Some people become so immersed in technology that they risk losing their own identity." This is called "Technosis."

Of course, they're trying to sell you something. But it is nice to know.

Don't mention the war (and die)

One of the more vexing questions for us computer users is how to keep our systems safe from all the nasties out there. (And don't snigger, Mac owners - the news is not all good for you, either.) If you have any sort of connection to the internet, you are prey to viruses, malware, phishing attacks and goodness-knows-what. It's like war out there, except it's in here. The scary thing is that, while it is relatively simple to put some reasonable protections in place (stressing the words "relatively" and "reasonable"), a lot of people don't bother to do the basics.
One of those basics is keeping your operating system up-to-date to fend off the baddies that try to creep in through the back door. The fixes are called "patches", and if you have a PC, Microsoft issues new patches every month to fix new security issues that have come to light. You can set up your computer to accept these patches automatically (if you're not sure how, email me). Sadly, many users ignore patching their systems (and if you are on a dial-up connection, I can understand the hassle of downloading big files all the time). According to PC World, though, the message simply is not sinking in.
Most Mac owners smugly think they are immune from the attacks that have bedevilled PC users for years. Another PC World article shows that is no longer true. Be warned!
If I haven't already made you paranoid, according to PC World, 2008 was a record year for the increase in malware.
Apart from system patches, unless you are behind a company firewall, at the very least you should have installed on your computer a firewall, an anti-virus program, and tools to keep you clean. The following are some I use (and all are free):
WinPatrol: protects your computer from Adware, Spyware, Worms, Trojans Horses, and alerts you to intruders trying to change your system.
Threatfire: protects your PC against attacks by detecting malicious behavior, such as capturing your keystrokes or stealing your data.
Ashampoo Firewall: This company makes seriously good software, and their free firewall is as good as most commercial products.
CCleaner: (The first "c" stands for "crap!). A freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool.
Spyware Doctor: Detects, blocks and removes all kinds of spyware.
Adaware: Another good defence against spyware.

Helen, my ADD hero

My wife is one of my heroes. A couple of years back, she was diagnosed as having Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), a condition she has had all her life but only just now realised. Despite this, she has accumulated two sets of letters after her name (a Ministry Diploma from the Bible College of NZ, and a Certificate in Adult Teaching from the College of Education at Canty University). She is a prime example of someone who copes in a technological age, even though it's a constant struggle for her. As we've researched more about the condition, we have discovered many adults with ADD who have gone for years not realising. Here's a short video we made of Helen's ADD journey, and her desire to establish a support group.