Is your computer a dinosaur?
Technology is improving at an incredibly fast rate. Yesterday's
super fast computer quickly becomes a slow computer that you have to pay
someone to take off your hands for you. If you're concerned about
your computer, there are a few simple points you can check to see if it is
extinct or nearly so.
1. The first and most important point is the CPU. For Mac users,
anything before a Power PC is probably ready for the museum. You can't
upgrade to OS 8.5 if you don't have at least a Power PC. For PC
users, if you're still using a 286 or 386, it's time for the
graveyard. If you're using a 486, you're still o.k. but it may
be about time to put it out of its misery.
2. RAM: You need, at the absolute minimum, 16 MB to survive.
If your computer can't be upgraded to 16 (32 would be better) then you've
got a dinosaur.
3. Modem: If you're still using a 14.4 Kbps modem, it's time to
retire it. Fortunately it's easy to rejuvenate most computers with
an external modem (except for the Performa's where the modem is soldered
to the motherboard!)
4. Hard disk: Newer operating systems are disk hungry and the software
designed for them is even more so. The absolute minimum would be 750
MB with 1 GB the desired minimum. If you've got room, you can add
another hard disk; if not, some of the newer storage media such as zip
drives might be a short-term solution. If your hard disk is getting
cramped, you probably have a computer that is either extinct or on the
endangered species list.
The bottom line for determining whether your computer is a dinosaur is
cost. If you'll be spending more than $350 to upgrade or
rejuvenate, it's time to get a new computer. According to the
Denver Rocky Mountain News, the average retail selling price of a computer
in November was $983 and the sub $600 market accounted for 16.6% of sales.
If you decide to join the ranks of those buying new computers, here are a
few tips:
- Mac users should settle for nothing less than an iMac or G3 powered
computer running Mac OS 8.0 or 8.5
- PC users should aim for at least a 333 MHz computer running Windows 98.
- If you're feeling adventurous you might consider a desktop computer
running the Linux OS.
- Minimum RAM: 32 MB
- Minimum Modem: 56k Flex
If you don't get a computer with these basics, you'll find you own
another dinosaur all too soon.
Tracking Investments Online If
you invest in the stock market, you can use the Internet to stay on top of
your investments. Or, if you're thinking of investing, you can
track stocks or other financial instruments quickly and easily
online. One of the best sources of information is Bloomberg Online
which can be found at: http://www.bloomberg.com
Once there you can track your favorites and, for the cost of a
subscription to their magazine, also keep track of your portfolio.
Even without the subscription, you have access to a wide variety of
information. If you register (it's free) you can use the Bloomberg
Monitor which stays on your desktop and (as long as you are connected to
the Internet) keeps you up-to-date on the markets and stocks you've
selected. Even a visit to their main page can quickly fill you in on
how the markets are doing as well as the top business headlines of the
day.
If you want to try online investing visit the Charles Schwab web site at http://www.schwab.com
You can open an account and manage your stocks right from your PC.
You can also track stocks, get quotes, and keep up on business headlines.
For tracking your own portfolio and general news, try one of the web
portals such as http://my.yahoo.com, http://my.netscape.com
or http://home.microsoft.com.
These sites let you choose the stocks you want to track and customize your
news page. If you use Internet Explorer 4 the Microsoft page allows
a high degree of customization.
To get financial news fast, you simply can't beat the Financial News at http://www.cnnfn.com.
This site is fast loading and has market information, hot stories, and
many other resources available at the click of a mouse.
Another option, though not nearly as popular now as it was 18 months ago,
is to download, for free, a program called PointCast
and install it on your computer. PointCast gathers the news you
direct it to and brings it to your computer where you can read it at your
leisure. PointCast can also put a ticker on the bottom of your
screen with the latest quotes and can function as a clever screen saver.
So if you follow or invest in the markets, quit waiting for the morning
newspaper or evening news. Track the markets the way you want, when
you want. |
Email Shock Email shock
is that floundering feeling you get when you open your mailbox to find
that you have dozens of messages and don't know where to start or what
to do with all of them. If you are experiencing email shock, it's
time to get organized.
Whether you use a major software package like Netscape, Eudora or Outlook
Express to read your email, or if you use a simple email program like
Pine, there are some simple things you can do.
- Make folders or directories. All of the above programs allow
you to create folders or directories to store messages in. If
your inbox has more than 50 messages and the earliest one dates to
November of '98 or earlier, create a new folder and move or
copy the message to the new folder. For example, if you have
five messages from your brother Bill, create a folder named "Bill"
and move the messages to it. Create another folder for messages
from your accountant and move them there. You can create as many
folders as are necessary but be careful not to create a new folder for
each message or you'll defeat the purpose of getting
organized. Four or five folders is about right.
- For the Outlook Express/Netscape/Eudora crowd, there are some
powerful tools within your grasp. You can automatically delete
junk mail so that it doesn't even clutter your inbox.
- These programs also provide ways to filter your messages. As
each program works differently, I recommend going to that program's
help and searching for the word "filter." Outlook Express
users will need to search for "rules."
Books for Teachers Educyber, in association with
Amazon.com, provides books to help you use technology in the
classroom. Go to http://www.educyber.com/educator/
and click on the bookstore link to order one of these titles:
- Science on the Internet : A Resource for K-12 Teachers by Jazlin
V. Ebenezer, Eddy Lau
- Kids on the 'Net: Conducting Internet Research in K-5 Classrooms by
Jessica G. Morton, Amy L. Cohn
- Learning Keyboarding and Word Processing for Kids (Learning Series)
by Chris Katsaropoulos, Suzanne Weixel, Grace Jasmine
- Children and Computers in School by Betty Collis (Editor), Gerald
A. Knezek, Kwok-Wing Lai, Kei Miyashita, Willem J. Pelgrum, Tjeerd Plomp
Health Help Are You Sagging? Are
you in danger of contracting that new malady known as PC Rear (otherwise
known as enlarged rear), you need to think about your health. Even
if you are on your feet all day, you ought to think about how to keep your
body fit and healthy. Luckily, there are lots of web sites to help
you whether you are interested in desk exercises or eating right.
Check out Women's Wire five-minute workout tips at http://www.womenswire.com/work/takefive/
Try the American Heart Association's Just Move website at http://www.justmove.com/
Or the American Health for Women site at http://americanhealth.com/
Visit Dr. Koop's comprehensive health site at http://www.drkoop.com/
Say Goodbye to Network News? Are
you tired of the Impeachment Proceedings? Wondering when the
networks will find something else to report on? Perhaps you are
intensely interested in the impeachment trial and want more information?
Research shows that more and more Americans are turning to their computers
for news and why not? Getting your news online allows you to be the
news editor, choosing the news you'll get and getting it when you want
it. Tired of having to wait for the weather report? Put it
first in your own personal newscast. The catch is that most of news
websites are . . . you guessed it, the network web sites.
We've previously talked about personalized news pages and the article in
the column next to this looks at financial news but you can also get
general news from:
CNN: http://www.cnn.com
ABC: http://abc.go.com/
NBC: http://www.nbc.com
CSPAN: http://www.c-span.org
FOX: http://www.fox.com
Denver area residents can get local news at:
Rocky Mountain News: http://InsideDenver.com
Denver Post: http://www.denverpost.com
Channel 2: http://www.wb2.com/
Channel 4: http://www.kcncnews4.com/
Channel 7: http://www.kmgh.com/
Channel 9: http://www.9news.com/
Channel 31: http://www.fox31.com/ |
