Windows Tips and Tricks

I previously noted the growing number of video clips on the Web that show you how to do something. Now, Katherine Boehret at the Mossberg solution has written an article about some Web sites with instructional videos:

If there’s a skill or process you want to learn or know more about, chances are there’s an online video for it. These days you can find a video that will teach you to cook, survive college, build your own headphones or even become a better kisser.

This week, I took a look at just a few Web sites that make finding these videos easy, including Howcast Media Inc.’s Howcast.com, WonderHowTo.com from WonderHowTo Inc. and eHow Inc.’s eHow.com.

I might note that my colleague Joel May and I were involved several years ago in a project for SeniorNet where we made some Windows how-to videos. They can be viewed at this link.

The publication Consumer Reports has been a valuable reference for consumer information for years. The June issue (available only to subscribers) has a buying guide for computers. It also rates companies for their technical support and Apple comes out on top. (The same result was obtained by PC Magazine when it did its annual survey.) PC World comments on the Consumer Reports findings:

Apple beat all comers in a Consumer Reports survey released Monday that rates the technical support offered by computer makers. Apple topped the rankings for both laptop and desktop support, beating out Lenovo, Dell, Toshiba, Gateway, Sony and HP.

Consumer Reports based its ratings feedback from owners of more than 4,500 laptop computers and almost 5,600 desktop computers who contacted manufacturer tech support between September 2006 and January 2008. Computer owners were asked to rate their experience based on three criteria: Whether the manufacturer solved their problem, how long they waited to talk with someone on the phone, and how knowledgeable the support staff were. Apple received the highest ranking of “Better” in all three areas for both laptops and desktops–the only company to do so.

Criminal activity through malware is a big business these days and an interesting (if depressing) review of the security scene is at Computerworld. Here’s an excerpt:

In contrast, today’s malware causes less overt havoc but far more deliberate harm. Most 21st-century crackers aren’t making malware to show off their skills or wreck systems for the sheer malicious fun of itall. They’re making malware that hides in your system so they can use your personal information and PC resources to make money. Welcome to the era of capitalist hacking.

In response, the security vendors come up with anti-malware programs, and we’re locked into a seemingly endless battle between crackers and the defenders for the safety of our networks, our computers and our personal information. At the moment, it appears the bad guys are winning. There’s more malware than ever before.

Microsoft had previously announced that the venerable Windows email program Outlook Express would no longer be able to download from Hotmail. Naturally, a lot of people were not pleased and now Microsoft has relented (at least for a while).

At the Bits Blog of the New York Times, Saul Hansell says that Google was instrumental in derailing the Microsoft effort to buy Yahoo:

As it turned out, Google was very much the spoiler in the deal. But its most effective weapon was not threats or coercion, but its very effective, and unconventional, use of its own checkbook.

Google has agreed to sell some search advertising for Yahoo. And since Google earns far more on every search than its rivals do, this will mean an immediate increase in Yahoo’s profits.

Microsoft’s chief executive, Steven A. Ballmer, said the prospect of such a deal that could deprive Microsoft of being able to sell all Yahoo’s search ads made proceeding with a hostile takeover less attractive. And Yahoo hopes the promise of a big check each quarter from Google will placate enough shareholders to head off a revolt over its decision to turn down Microsoft’s offer of $33 per share.

Our benighted legislators are at it again. Any fool can plainly see that the present patent law is dysfunctional and desperately in need of reform. Even the House of Representatives managed to see it and passed a patent reform bill. However, the Senate would rather ignore what’s right and pay attention instead to the patent lawyers and other vested interests, making the prospects for a new law this term dim. More details are at Ars Technica.

The news has been full of stories about the withdrawal of Microsoft’s attempt to buy Yahoo. Now that a couple of days have passed and the initial shockwave is dying down, it’s time to begin an assessment of whatever implications there are. For one thing, Yahoo’s stock price will take a hit. Some Yahoo shareholders will almost surely sue. But what long-term results might there be? Was Ballmer’s walk wise or not? Analysis is all over the place. Some say that Ballmer pulled back from a bad decision. For example, long-time Microsoft observer Mary Jo Foley writes:

Some — probably many — are going to portray Microsoft’s decision announced on May 3 to withdraw its Yahoo bid as a victory for Yahoo and a defeat for Microsoft Chairman Steve Ballmer & Co. Me? I see this as the smartest thing Microsoft could do.

On the other hand search engine specialist Danny Sullivan says:

If Microsoft’s walkaway from the Yahoo deal is indeed a ploy to save $5 billion, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer may have proven himself pennywise and pound foolish. He was prepared to spend billions to finally make Microsoft a serious rival to Google. For a bit more, he may have destroyed Microsoft’s chance to get there.

Others say that Ballmer is making a bargaining ploy and that after Yahoo’s stock goes down, he’ll be back with a less generous offer. Meantime, Ballmer’s letter to Yahoo withdrawing the offer is being parsed, dissected, and interpreted by numerous commentators. Whatever develops. neither Ballmer nor Jerry Yang of Yahoo can be proud of the way they have handled the situation. Yang, in particular, is likely to come under heavy attack from disgruntled stock owners.

So, what’s Microsoft’s path now? Steve Lohr at the New York Times writes:

Steven A. Ballmer, Microsoft’s chief executive, walked away from a Yahoo deal on Saturday still looking for an answer to his company’s fundamental problem: its time-tested recipe for success isn’t working against Google, the leader in the current wave of Internet computing.

With a bid for Yahoo, Microsoft was trying to buy its way out of the problem. It was a controversial step and a gamble, but at least it was a big move. Now, there is no clear prospect of a quick fix for Microsoft, as the center of gravity in computing continues to move away from the personal computer, Microsoft’s stronghold, and to the Internet.

A lot of people have digital cameras of one sort or the other and a lot of pictures get taken. From what I’ve seen, quite a few of them could use some editing. Fortunately, there are some very useful free programs that are easy to use and have most features that an ordinary amateur photographer would need. Unless you are a more advanced enthusiast, there’s no point in paying for something like Adobe Photoshop Elements when free programs like Paint.NET are available. This program has just been updated and can be downloaded at http://www.getpaint.net/. Here’s some description:

Paint.NET is free image and photo editing software for computers that run Windows. It features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools. An active and growing online community provides friendly help, tutorials, and plugins.

It started development as an undergraduate college senior design project mentored by Microsoft, and is currently being maintained by some of the alumni that originally worked on it. Originally intended as a free replacement for the Microsoft Paint software that comes with Windows, it has grown into a powerful yet simple image and photo editor tool. It has been compared to other digital photo editing software packages such as Adobe® Photoshop®, Corel® Paint Shop Pro®, Microsoft Photo Editor, and The GIMP.

There’s nothing new there but it wouldn’t hurt to read Walt Mossberg’s article, How to Avoid Cons That Can Lead to Identity Theft, or to watch the video version.

Do you use one or more of the various Google Web applications? Here’s a link to get help files for a variety of Google services.