Archive for April, 2006
Another buying guide for laptops
Things are in constant flux in the computer world and the criteria to consider when buying a computer keep changing. For a recent guide on how to buy a laptop (AKA notebook) see this Desktop Pipeline article. It points out
This summer is probably one of the best times ever to consider buying a laptop computer. [...]
Microsoft Patch Causing Lockups, Crashes
The reports keep coming in about problems from the latest Microsoft patch to Windows XP. I previously noted my problems. Now here is a report from the Desktop Pipeline
Some IT administrators and partners said one of Microsoft latest critical security patches, MS06-015, is causing IE lock ups, Windows hangs and crashes after installation. Microsoft said [...]
Customize your Start menu
There is a section of the Windows XP Start menu that lists the programs that you have recently opened. Not all programs are listed, just those that Windows decides to put there. How Windows decides what to list and what length of time it leaves them there is not always clear. By default, up to [...]
Problems from Internet Explorer patch
The patch to Internet Explorer that was made on Tuesday because of a patent dispute is causing problems as I was afraid it might. The new version of IE won’t run the Web version of PowerPoint presentations that I had on my site vlaurie.com and I had to pull them off. Some I have converted [...]
Why can’t software companies leave good programs alone?
It just keeps happening. An excellent piece of software comes out. It’s fairly lean and does it’s job well. Then it gets “upgraded” or another company buys out the original and “improves” it. The result is a bloated and often more unstable product with added “features” that I don’t want and don’t use and that [...]
The end of support for Windows 98 SE and Windows Me
Microsoft is officially pulling the plug on support for Windows 98SE and Me on July 11, 2006. After that, no more updates and no more security patches.
Support for Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Edition (Me) ends on July 11, 2006. Microsoft will end public and technical support by this date. [...]
Cable and connector confusion
I don’t know about others but I have a lot of different cables connecting to my PC and I always seem to be connecting and disconnecting things. All those cables and different connectors can get confusing and I was glad to see that there is a nice tutorial called PC Interfaces 101 at the site [...]
Did you get patched today?
Just a reminder that today was Microsoft’s monthly “Patch Tuesday” when they download the latest security updates for Windows. This month, Internet Explorer has one very important and one possibly annoying patch. Both have been mentioned previously. The dangerous security hole was discussed here and its patch is a must update. The possibly annoying update [...]
Are extended warranties worth it?
Whenever I buy any electronic device, the sales clerk always asks if I want an extended warranty. The same is true for cars and household appliances. My personal reaction is always that this offer implies either a lack of confidence in the quality of the product or (more likely) that this is a profitable business [...]
EBay phishing going from bad to worse
It is a sad thing that the Internet is riddled with schemes to rip you off but human nature being what it is, a small minority of sociopaths is taking a lot of the convenience out of using the Internet.
Here is yet another case. Ebay has been a remarkable phenomenon, providing an easy and [...]
Watch out for increased “Nigerian” scams
Presumably those who read this blog know better than to fall for the so-called “Nigerian” scam. However, just to be sure I’ll point out an article in Internet Week. Apparently, the looming income tax deadline on April 17 is bringing extra actvity by the scam artists. The article says
With the U.S. deadline for tax filing [...]