Two Dads: One Computer-Maniac, The Other Computer-Phobic
by: Jesse S. Somer
I have two Dads. That sounds strange doesn?t it? One is my genetic father, and the other is my geneticist father. The genetic Dad I?ve only ever lived with for one year when I was an infant, while the geneticist Dad is what you would call a step-father, but I?ve lived in close proximity with him for more than 20 years. I feel close to them both. I connect differently with each of them but on a pretty much equal level.
The reason I?m sharing my personal information with you is because I?ve just had a realisation about my fathers in relation to the area that I work in: computers and the Internet. It?s really quite interesting.
One father is a computer maniac. Whenever a new technology, software, gadget, or website emerges he is one of the first to grab it up and evaluate it. My other father has an old piece-of-crap box that looks something like a computer, with a tediously slow dial-up connection to the World Wide Web. Compared to the wireless, broadband Mac personal computer and mobile-connected Mac laptop of the enthusiast, they couldn?t be from further parts of the galaxy.
Then there?s me. I could be construed as being a walking paradox, an enigma, or just plainly twisted when it comes to my relationship with the computer and Internet sphere of life. Nature/nurture, genetic/environmental?For whatever strange reason, I have turned out to be a combination of the two papas. I work as a creative writer for an Internet web-hosting company. I love the ideas and valuable functions and tools that the Internet has brought to humanity (or was it humanity that brought it to the Internet?). However, I have issues and challenges when it comes to using these awe-inspiring machines.
Currently I am away from home in a different city visiting my girlfriend. At home (I am currently living with my parents-Mother and geneticist, as I?m going to live overseas soon) all I have to do to get on the Internet is open up my laptop and I?m on-line. If I?m at work, I go to my PC and all of my settings are stored and ready for me to use. While in a new place, things haven?t been running as smoothly as I would?ve liked. The answers are probably simple and easy to do, but this is one of the kinds of challenges that cause me to stumble. Although I am deeply interested and have a true faith in this new technology, I am a real novice when it comes to getting things done on someone else?s computer.
I brought my laptop with me. My girlfriend only has a dial-up connection which she uses with her laptop. I could use hers? but she?s Chinese so a lot of what comes up on the screen is illegible to me. I don?t know how to change her language configuration. I?m used to doing it quite easily on my Mac, but her computer is a PC and I?m not as practiced in this other format. That?s one of my problems. I only have so much patience when it comes to working these technological issues out; it could be a trait passed on by my ice-age father (No judgement is being laid here. He just doesn?t feel that he can work new technologies out. He?s had a digital telephone answering machine for two years which he still hasn?t set up. He feels bad about it but his manual one does the job, so he sticks with it.). I?m also a little afraid to hook my laptop up to her dial-up line as I know from experience that I?ll have to change some settings of which I am not confident about doing.
So the next answer was to go to her university where she said people use their laptops wirelessly in the library. That sounded cool so I went in and tried it out. I even tried changing the settings to get it to work (It took courage.) but I couldn?t get it to work. I was weary about asking for help because I wasn?t really a student at that particular learning establishment. Instead, I?ve been using the library?s computers. This is OK, but since I can?t walk away with the files I create (I borrowed my girlfriend?s thumb-drive but an experience from the past of not being able to transfer information from PC to Mac deters me from using it-again, an irrational fear. I know it, and I will give it a try this week. I?ve resorted to saving my files in my email account as attachments. It?s not conventional, but it works.
Another issue I?ve had is getting onto my messenger service. The university computers don?t have it on their desktop, and when I tried to download an on-line version I was told that I didn?t have the authority to do so. I went to an Internet caf?, and I could do work there (I?m working on the road) but I feel kind of silly paying to get paid. It was cool there though as they had messenger with voice and video and I was able to have a conversation with my brother who is travelling around India. He could see my sister and me, but we couldn?t see him as he said the Indian computer devices (webcams, headsets) in that town were looking a little bit crappy in design and also looked worse for wear. It was heaps of fun making funny faces knowing that he would be seeing us. I think he?s getting lonely as he?s only 19 years old and has been away from home for over 7 months.
As you can see I?ve inherited beliefs about computer from both of my Dads. I find things more difficult than most, I believe, but I?m not going to give up doing my best to get the things done that I feel are necessary. Over time I hope to get over these little obstacles and hurdles and become proficient in all of the cool aspects of this new realm of human endeavour. I also have faith that the technicians and engineers are probably working hard to make things simple for the rest of us.
Whatever happens, I?m going to stick with it, and when I go to see my genetic father next I?m going to do my best to inspire him to buy a new computer with a Broadband connection. Then all I have to do is show him a few of the amazing things that this human created Internet tool can do. One of the aspects of the Web that affects me most profoundly is the simple fact that if you think of anything at all in the known Universe, you can then look it up on your search engine like Google and in the time it takes to blink your eye, immediately start to learn. It sure beats catching the train to the library, looking up a book in the card catalogue, searching for it, then finding out that someone else has borrowed it and is late bringing it back.
About The Author
Jesse S. Somer Jesse S. Somer is learning to persevere at overcoming his fears of technology. He is choosing to focus on what he can do, and on what the Internet can do for him. Jesse S. Somer is a creative writer working at M6.Net: ?The web-hosting company for humans.? M6.Net is working hard to help humanity experience the power and freedom to develop their own part of the Internet, to share their information and connect with anyone, anywhere, anytime.
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Two Dads: One Computer-Maniac, The Other Computer-Phobic
Two Dads: One Computer-Maniac, The Other Computer-Phobic
by: Jesse S. Somer
I have two Dads. That sounds strange doesn?t it? One is my genetic father, and the other is my geneticist father. The genetic Dad I?ve only ever lived with for one year when I was an infant, while the geneticist Dad is what you would call a step-father, but I?ve lived in close proximity with him for more than 20 years. I feel close to them both. I connect differently with each of them but on a pretty much equal level.
The reason I?m sharing my personal information with you is because I?ve just had a realisation about my fathers in relation to the area that I work in: computers and the Internet. It?s really quite interesting.
One father is a computer maniac. Whenever a new technology, software, gadget, or website emerges he is one of the first to grab it up and evaluate it. My other father has an old piece-of-crap box that looks something like a computer, with...
Two Dads: One Computer-Maniac, The Other Computer-Phobic
Computer printers > Two Dads: One Computer-Maniac, The Other Computer-Phobic
Computer Performance Tips
Computer Performance Tips
by: David Mahler
Introduction
In this article I will clearly spell out the most effective steps you can take in order to increase the performance of your computer and enhance your computing experience.
More Memory (RAM)
If your computer has less then 256 MB of memory you may want to consider adding more. If you don?t know how much memory you have: right click my computer, go to properties and look towards the bottom of the dialog box.
Memory is where the computer stores open files or programs in order to give the processor quick access.
To put it simply more memory means more speed and stability.
You can buy memory online or visit your local Best Buy where they can install it for you if you don?t feel comfortable doing it yourself.
Defrag your computer
Imagine a filing cabinet that is out of order, you would have to look harder for your files just as a computer would...
Computer Performance Tips
Computer printers > Computer Performance Tips
Guide on How to Land Computer Jobs
Guide on How to Land Computer Jobs
by: Russ Walter
To become a lawyer, you must graduate from law school and pass the Bar Exam. But to become a computer expert, there's no particular exam to pass, and no particular piece of paper that "proves" you're an expert or even competent.
You can get a job in the computer industry even if you've never had any training. Your job will be sweeping the floor.
To become a top computer expert, you must study hard, day and night. Read lots of computer manuals, textbooks, guidebooks, magazines, newspapers, and newsletters. Practice using many kinds of computers, operating systems, languages, word-processing programs, spreadsheets, database systems, graphics packages, and telecommunications programs. Also explore the many educational programs for kids. Use many kinds of printers, disk drives, and modems. Study the human problems of dealing with computers. No matter how much you already know, learn more!...
Guide on How to Land Computer Jobs
Computer printers > Guide on How to Land Computer Jobs
Have you let a spy into your computer?
Have you let a spy into your computer?
by: Maria Marsala
Yes, it's true. You may have inadvertently invited a spy into your computer. This spy is known as "spyware, adware, or trojans", and once it is in your computer it starts taking statistical information as you travel the Internet. In some cases, it may send you pop-up ads and slow down your computer. A wired.com article, mentions it "could even collect your credit card information".
How did you invite the spy?
Maybe you visited a website you knew and enjoyed only to find that it was recently purchased by a pornography site. The new company has imbedded "spyware" into the home page and now, in many cases without your knowledge, it is on your computer.
Maybe you downloaded a free or paid program and as part of the package you were provided with an added secret bonus ? a ?spyware? program. Spyware may also be placed on CD?s you purchase,...
Have you let a spy into your computer?
Computer printers > Have you let a spy into your computer?
Clean Up Your Computer Now
Clean Up Your Computer Now
by: George Williams
How do you think your computer will run if you don?t perform regular maintenance on it? If your computer is running sluggish, if it periodically needs to be rebooted or doesn?t boot up as quickly as it used to, it sounds like it?s time for a Clean Up. The following instructions below will give you step by step instructions on how to ensure your PC continues to operate at its fullest potential. These instructions are relevant for machines running Windows XP and using Internet Explorer.
Here are the steps:
1. Open up Internet Explorer
2. Next click on the word Tools up at the top of your screen.
3. Click Internet Options.
4. In the middle of that box you?ll see a section called Temporary Internet Files. Click the Delete Files button.
5. Click the box Delete offline content too, then OK.
6. Once that is done, click the Delete Cookies button within the Temporary...
Clean Up Your Computer Now
Computer printers > Clean Up Your Computer Now
Are Color Laserjet Printers Worth The Money?
Are Color Laserjet Printers Worth The Money?
by: Stuart Simpson
The next printer you?ll want on your desk is a color laser printer.
Forget those cheap outdated inkjet printers.
They are cheap for one reason, to get you to buy ink.
I?m not making that up.
It came right from an executive of a leading inkjet printer manufacturer.
Do you have a black and white laser printer?
These gems are the best for the home office.
Cheap, guilt free printing with high quality usually reserved for a large office.
The price is right on the home models.
You can almost buy one for the cost of a black and a color ink cartridge.
But let?s talk about color laser jet printers.
A color laser jet works just like a black printer except it has 4 toner cartridges.
Each one has its own life.
The base printers I was looking at had a recommended monthly volume of...
Computer printers > Are Color Laserjet Printers Worth The Money?
Color Laser Printers Of Today
Color Laser Printers Of Today
by: Florie Lyn Masarate
The next printer you will ever want in your desk is a color laser printer. It is likely you would want to forget about inkjet printers already. They are cheap and the manufacturers know about that.
Do you already have a black and white laser printer? This is the kind of printer that is best for home office. Cheap and guilt-free printing with higher qualities reserved for larger office. The price is just right for the home models too. You can almost buy your own printer for the cost of a black and a color ink cartridge.
What about color laser jet printers? Color laser jet works just like a black printer except that it has 4 toner cartridges. Each one has its own life.
Photo printing is a must these days. It is obvious you want to print your pictures without the fear of using up all the ink. Digital cameras are rampant but getting the right quality perfect photo is the biggest challenge...
Color Laser Printers Of Today
Computer printers > Color Laser Printers Of Today
Computer Motherboard Guide
Computer Motherboard Guide
by: Peter Stewart
The heart of any computer is the motherboard. It is that big board inside the computer that everything is connected to. It performs the role of traffic lights and policemen, directing flows of information to where they are needed, when they are needed.
Choosing the right motherboard does not have to be a huge issue, even though there is a lot to consider. I will start off with the most major parts and move onto the the things that are less important or non-essential.
Firstly is the socket type.
The socket is the place where the processor (CPU) connects to the motherboard. There is no compatiblility between sockets, so it has to be the right one. The socket connection needs to match the connection of the processor you have or the one you intend to buy for the computer.
Most older Intel Pentium 4s utilise socket 478. Newer ones use socket 775. AMD chips utilised socket A for a long...
Computer Motherboard Guide
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Computer printers spring break Two Dads: One Computer-Maniac, The Other Computer-Phobic
Bike Tour on the Horizon? How to Get in Shape
Bike Tour on the Horizon? How to Get in Shape
by: Walt Ballenberger
People who consider going on bike tours often ask: ?What kind of physical condition do I need to be in, and how can I accomplish this?? This article is primarily aimed at very busy people who don?t have a regular exercise regimen due to work, family obligations, business travel, etc.
The very simple answer to the opening question is as follows: one should participate in 45-60 minutes of...
Computer printers Bike Tour on the Horizon? How to Get in Shape
Computer printers > Bike Tour on the Horizon? How to Get in Shape
Omega 3 Fish Oil EPA and DHA Explained
Omega 3 Fish Oil EPA and DHA Explained
by: David McEvoy
There is no doubt that Omega 3 fish oil can not only help your heart and joints, but your brain too. Most people are aware of these benefits, but aren?t sure whether the benefits of Omega 3 fish oil apply across the board for all types of Omega 3 fish oils. There are now many different brands available on the world market, with sellers aiming to capitalise on the Omega 3 fish oil ?boom?. This makes for such...
Computer printers oil prices Omega 3 Fish Oil EPA and DHA Explained
Computer printers > Omega 3 Fish Oil EPA and DHA Explained
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