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Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Favorite Christmas Songs
My favorite is "Santa Baby" by Eartha Kitt
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strollin
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12/15/09 07:32pm |
Around the Campfire
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Fiscal responsibility?
The city of Concord, CA decided to save money on a Christmas tree this year so instead of spending $23,000 to bring in a nice tree they elected to decorate an existing tree that many say reminds them of the tree from "A Charlie Brown Christmas".
Here's a link to an article.
Do you think the city council did the right thing during these tough economic times?
The news just reported that the city council has been receiving emails from all over the country supporting their decision.
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strollin
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12/15/09 07:25pm |
Around the Campfire
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Christmas Bonus?
Did you or will you receive a Christmas bonus this year?
In my close to 40 years of working, I have never received a Christmas bonus. Do they really exist or is it just something you hear about in the movies?
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strollin
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12/15/09 05:43pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: verizon provides free wifi network access to evdo customers
I can see where it could be useful to some but, as usual, it will be of no help to me as I rarely frequent places that have wifi available. The only places listed anywhere near me are Starbucks which I have no use for.
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strollin
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12/15/09 11:40am |
Technology Corner
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RE: computer air card question?? (UPDATE)
Looks like we lost the OP but it's still an interesting topic.
While I agree that a built-in aircard isn't the best option, it can be upgraded the same way that internal wifi can be upgraded, via an external USB device.
I have a laptop with G wifi built-in, I upgraded it to N by turning the internal card off and plugging in a USB N adapter.
Another reason to avoid an internal aircard is that you couldn't plug the internal aircard into a router and share the connection like you can with most external aircards.
The only reason I see for going with the built-in aircard is that you can get "deals" on a netbook or laptop when you sign a 2 yr contract for the built-in aircard. Not enough of an incentive for me but it might attract some people.
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strollin
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12/15/09 10:38am |
Technology Corner
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RE: computer air card question?? (UPDATE)
Yes, there are internal aircards in laptops as well as the smaller netbooks. I've never used one but I assume there is a way to switch it on & off and otherwise control it. The units that come with an internal aircard require a cellular contract the same as an external aircard. Here's a link to a couple of examples from the Dell website: Dells with AT&T Connect
The OP might be asking about an internal aircard but may also be confusing it with internal wifi. Can the OP clarify the question?
Also might get more exposure if this question was moved to the Technology forum.
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strollin
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12/14/09 05:38pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Moving Files to External HDD Problem
As others have mentioned FAT32 is the issue as it has a file limit size of 1 byte less than 4G. Too bad the error message wasn't more informative. Once you get things converted to NTFS you shouldn't have any problems.
The FAT32->NTFS converter built-in to Win XP works fine, I've used it lots of times.
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strollin
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12/14/09 11:38am |
Technology Corner
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RE: Do any of the computer speed up sites work?
Hi
Take your cursor over the lower right hand corner of you screen to the little wireless network connection and check your speed. This should be over 11 mbps or more.The speed should stay there
I have installed over 50 Hawking HWU9DD network dish adapters to computers in our park they work great.
How far are u from the router these work great to get out of your rig or if u are in a wobble box (park model) I have use them over 300 feet outside.
While the number you get when you hover over that icon in the system tray is important, it doesn't tell you your internet connection speed. That number tells you how fast your connection is between your computer and the router. The router could possibly be connected to the internet via a 56K dialup connection. In order to know your internet spped you need to go to a site like speedtest.net or speakeasy.net and check your download/upload speeds.
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strollin
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12/14/09 07:25am |
Technology Corner
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RE: Do any of the computer speed up sites work?
I don't know about others but when I switched from a b/g router to my present D-Link DIR-655 N router and N built in adapter my speeds have come up to nearly the same as with a network cable on Comcast cable, usually around 25 mbps checked on speakeasy.com. There IS a big difference.
Jim
The only explanation for this is that you had a B adapter (or were somehow only connected at B speed) previously that limited you to 11M. When you upgraded to an N router and N adapter, you were able to see the full speed of your internet connection.
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strollin
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12/14/09 07:16am |
Technology Corner
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RE: Do any of the computer speed up sites work?
802.11B is capable of 11MB speeds, most (but not all) internet connections in the US fall within the capabilities of this spec. 802.11G is capable of 54MB speeds, very few internet connections are faster. 802.11N at 300MB is faster than all but the fastest internet connections available. For surfing the internet, 802.11B or G is plenty fast. If you need to transfer large files (such as video) across your home network then the 300MB of 802.11N will speed things up considerably but still can't match the 1GB possible with a wired ethernet connection.
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strollin
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12/13/09 06:33pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Digital version of a VCR?
You could just install a tuner on a computer with Win 7 or Vista which come with Media Center. No need for a separate, specialized box. If you prefer XP, XP Media Center Edition has been available since 2005.
Here's a link to read about MS Media Center.
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strollin
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12/13/09 08:52am |
Technology Corner
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RE: Air Card Discount
I'm not aware of a discount thru Good Sam but here is a link to a list of discounts available for Verizon. Maybe you qualify for a discount thru your employer. My aircard costs me $48/month due to the discount I get thru my employer.
I can't find a similar list for AT&T but here's a link where you can enter your work/school email and it will tell you if you are eligible for an AT&T discount.
I have a discount through my employer for my cell phone, but for some reason I don't qualify for that discount on my card?? Maybe I don't have a big enough plan. I have the cheaper plan of $39.99 per month for 250mg. I only use it for the times we are camping. Love it, works great.
Linda - I've heard people say that when they asked for the discount for the aircard they are told it doesn't apply. I didn't ask anyone but handled it thru their website. I entered the phone number to my aircard and the discount was applied to it. Had the discount for almost 2 years now.
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strollin
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12/11/09 11:38am |
Technology Corner
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RE: Air Card Discount
I'm not aware of a discount thru Good Sam but here is a link to a list of discounts available for Verizon. Maybe you qualify for a discount thru your employer. My aircard costs me $48/month due to the discount I get thru my employer.
I can't find a similar list for AT&T but here's a link where you can enter your work/school email and it will tell you if you are eligible for an AT&T discount.
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strollin
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12/11/09 06:37am |
Technology Corner
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RE: How to upgrade WiFi connections on Laptop?
You may need to update the software for your laptop's wifi. Since it's 5 years old, it may only support WEP and the CG may require WPA. Check on Toshiba's website to see if they have newer software.
You could purchase a USB wifi dongle that supports either "G" or "N" that would also come with newer software that would solve your problem.
Here's a link to some "G" adapters that should work for you: 802.11G USB Adapters
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strollin
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12/08/09 10:42am |
Technology Corner
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RE: Where is the Registry
Sounds like you are trying to upgrade a Vista system that has some existing problems. If you're system is still working, do a backup of all your data then format the disk and do the install on a clean disk. You will need to reinstall your apps but you will end up with a more stable system and the install should go smoothly.
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strollin
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12/05/09 06:39pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: CD to external hard drive question
BTW hard drives are good for more than a few years.
While I have hard drives that are over 5 years old & still work fine, they also sometimes die early. ...
I have hard drives that are 25 years old and still going but I still make multiple back ups because with hard drives the question is not IF it will die but WHEN.
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strollin
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12/05/09 02:24pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: 1919
Heck, I might even start drinking and I can't stand the taste of alcohol!
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strollin
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12/05/09 02:18pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Laptop w/ External Keyboard and Monitor
Whatever is making the grinding noise on your wife's computer can be repaired but at 6 years old you're probably best off upgrading to newer equipment.
The ability for a laptop to use an external monitor and keyboard is not tricky at all. Just make sure that the laptop you buy has an external video connector (most do) to be able to attach your monitor. I think the trend is to omit an external keyboard connector on laptops these days but you could always get a USB keyboard or an adapter to convert your existing keyboard with a PS2 style connector to a USB.
You didn't mention a printer but most newer printers connect via USB nowadays so that shouldn't be an issue.
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strollin
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12/05/09 07:15am |
Technology Corner
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RE: Laptop Computer
We bought a 17" screen Toshiba in August at Walmart for $346. And, Toshiba is rated #2 in reliability of all laptops. Dell is way down the list. My granddaughter got a brand new Dell laptop for graduation, and her hard drive went out 2 times in 2 years.
All the mfrs get their hard drives from the same vendors so the fact that the hard drive failed in a Dell is irrelevant. It's more likely that your granddaughter uses her laptop in a way that makes it more susceptible (more jostling, for instance) to hard drive failure.
Well not true
Different makers (of Hard Drives) and different models from these makers can have very different reliability profiles. Some computer makers test and certify all the parts to be used in their computers, some just buy on price - after all if they get past the 90 warranty the drive is good enough.
BTW testing and certifying takes money and usually the better products cost more - so often price is a good test to rate quality.
Or as Archie Bunker said "You can tell quality - it cost more"
PHE
That's true when you're speaking of industrial quality products for specialized markets - like the Panasonic Toughbook laptops but not consumer grade laptops like we are talking about here. If Toshiba were using higher grade drives in their laptops than Dell, they would be touting that fact in order to differentiate their product.
As far as using price to rate quality - each additional dollar you spend buys somewhat less than the dollar before it - it's the law of diminishing return. Spending twice as much money doesn't get you a product that's twice as good, only marginally better.
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strollin
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12/04/09 10:48pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Laptop Computer
We bought a 17" screen Toshiba in August at Walmart for $346. And, Toshiba is rated #2 in reliability of all laptops. Dell is way down the list. My granddaughter got a brand new Dell laptop for graduation, and her hard drive went out 2 times in 2 years.
All the mfrs get their hard drives from the same vendors so the fact that the hard drive failed in a Dell is irrelevant. It's more likely that your granddaughter uses her laptop in a way that makes it more susceptible (more jostling, for instance) to hard drive failure.
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strollin
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12/04/09 11:22am |
Technology Corner
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