Is Your Wireless Secure

You have bought or received a new wireless router that will help you connect your laptop to the Internet wirelessly.  What is one thing that many people neglect in the set up of the wireless router that will affect their security?  Forgetting or neglecting to password protect the wireless router so others can not access your Internet connection!

A wireless router must be password protected to prevent others from accessing your Internet connection and your computer.  Read your router set up instructions and add a password for security.  This can happen in a home or business set up.  Make sure your wireless connection say "Secured Network" or something to that affect.  For more information, check with a computer tech or a friend who knows what they are doing.  This is to important an issue to leave undone.  Check your wireless connection today to make sure you are protected.

E-mail Subject Lines

I have been teaching an E-mail class this week. One of the things I have been teaching the students is how important the Subject Line is.  When the E-mail comes into the Inbox, you see the sender and the Subject Line of the message.

The receiver of the E-mail makes decisions on whether to open the E-mail right away partly based on the subject line.  If there is one subject line, I probably will delete the E-mail.  If the subject line does not indicate urgency or importance, the E-mail will probably be put on the back burner for later.  If you are sending the E-mail into a network environment, a spam filter may grab your E-mail based on the subject line.

So when you are sending E-mail, make your subject line a good one.  It should describe quickly what the E-mail is about.  You may even include your name in the subject line also.  All this helps the receiver of the E-mail make decisions about the incoming E-mail.

Here might be a good example: "Meeting canceled for Thursday - from Jeff Brown" or "October Report from Jeff Brown".  Short and sweet, and they tell the receiver what the E-mail is about.

Is Your Wireless Secure

I just finished reading an article a while ago about wireless security and I remembered that many people I have taught were not aware that a wireless router needs to be secured.  By secure, I mean that in order to access your Internet connection, you are required to enter a password to access it.  As a business, an unsecured wireless connection can be an entry point by others to your Internet as well as your network.  Imagine others accessing your customer information and then think of the Privacy Act.  Get the picture.

When a wireless router is setup, it needs to be password protected so that others can not gain access to that wireless network or your computer information.  When you want to access the wireless network, you have to use a password.  After that, if you want, you can save the settings so that you can automatically connect to the Internet next time. 

If others can use your network, you could be held accountable for what others do on your wireless network.  Information could also be accessed.  So if you are not sure if your wireless is secure or not, check with a computer tech and find out.  This is too important to put off.

Watch Out For Antivirus 2009

Masked as an antivirus, this malware (software with evil purposes) product installs Trojan viruses which are harmful to you.  Called Antivirus 2008, Antivirus 2009, Vista Antivirus 2009, XP Antivirus 2009 and such, this program really is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

A client's daughter installed it on her father's laptop trying to get out of a mess that she had created.  Things only went from bad to worse.  The client and I restored the computer to an earlier date (after checking for online solutions to this problem) and updated the antivirus for a complete system scan.  Antivirus 2009 is a hard program to get off your computer, so watch out and avoid it.

If you have been hit by Antivirus 2009 and you are not sure what to do, contact your local computer repair shop for expert help.  Make sure your antivirus is up to date.  Watch out for strange pop up screens, especially those telling you that your computer has been infected by a virus.

Click Happy: It Can Get You Into Trouble

Clicking on everything you see can get you in trouble.  You might start something that you wish you had never started. 

For example:

•  Those blue hyperlinks (hyperlinks are blue text in your E-mail that can be clicked on to perform an action or take you to another place) in your E-mail may be dangerous. You might launch a virus onto your computer or you may be directed to a fake web site that wants to steal your personal information. 
• If you are surfing the web and a pop up appears, you may launch a virus onto your computer by clicking the X button in the upper right part of the pop up box.

So before you start clicking on everything, make sure you think about what you are doing.  Don't be afraid to use your E-mail or surf the Net, but don't get click happy and click on everything you see.

Cold and Your Electronic Equipment

Transporting electronic equipment, such as a laptop, in the cold weather poses a risk of damage if you immediately turn it on when you get into a warm environment.  You should allow the equipment a few moments to warm up before turning it on.  Open up your equipment case and allow the warm are to bring the electronic equipment to room temperature.  Then turn it on.  Plan for this when the weather is cold.

IPod Touch For Christmas

My daughter received an IPod Touch for Christmas and it was an extreme hit. But when it came to setting it up, all eyes went my way.  It was the same way with the TomTom navigation device as well as the new video camera.  When you know something about electronics, you become the go to guy.  One of the key things for all these devices, especially the IPod Touch was to read the set up instructions.  It's not good to fly by the seat of your pants when it comes to electronics.

I had to set up the Internet access for the IPod Touch as well as the general set up.  After it was all completed, I must say that I was impressed with the IPod Touch.  My daughter went right to YouTube and she was Instant Messaging with all her friends.  My thought summarized for this section is: as much of a pain as it is to read the set up instructions/manual, you will save yourself a lot of grief by using them.

By the way, if you received a wireless router this season, make sure you password protect it so that others can not get onto your Internet connection.  Have a great break everyone.

Looking for more information, check out my web site at: http://www.alphacomputer.ca .

New Laptop Must

Once you turn on your new laptop and go through the set up screens and enter the required information, the next thing you should do is make your recovery CD's or DVD's.  This recovery disks give you a way to recovery your laptop to the original factory condition should something happen.  And chances are that this is only a matter on time.

To help you, there maybe an icon on the desktop screen to start the process. If there is not, consult your manual or material that came with the laptop to find out how to make your recovery disks.  The Recovery DVD's or CD's are important and making them should not be over looked.

For more computer training info, visit: http://www.alphacomputer.ca

Avoid Automatically Opening Your E-mails

If your Preview Pane or Reading Pane is opened in your E-mail program, you run the risk of automatically opening an E-mail with a virus.  You should shut that feature off in your computer based E-mail program.

You should have the choice of which E-mail you open or not.  Having the Preview Pane open always what ever E-mail is highlighted to automatically open.  If you want to view an E-mail, open it by double left clicking.  Don't play Russian Roulette with your E-mail.  Check your Help menu for instructions on shutting this feature off.

Here is a link to a video I put on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-iPxzyr5Wo&feature=channel_page

Laptop Battery Best Practices

Your laptop battery will work a lot like your cell phone battery.  Make sure you allow your laptop battery to be drained right down.  This allows you to get the most time out of your battery charge.

If you only keep letting the battery drain to 1/2 mark, when you use it on battery, guess how long your battery will last.  The 1/2 mark.  So make sure you allow your battery to drain right down.  You'll appreciate it next time you travel with your laptop.

Don't Leave Laptop Plugged In

Once your laptop is fully charged and you are no longer using it, unplug the laptop from the power supply.  Once the battery is fully charged, it's good to use.  Leaving your laptop plugged in after using it may hurt the battery over the long hall. 

Make sure, every now and then, that you run the laptop on battery power only so that the battery can be drained.  These steps will extend the life of the battery.

Laptop Power Plug-in Damage

One real weakness in a laptop is the power plug-in jack at the back.  If you twist the power plug-in part in the jack, you can damage it.  This is not a replaceable part that I am aware of.  Repairs probably will require soldering components inside.  This can be expensive.

Use care when unplugging the power plug-in from the jack so that you do not damage the jack.  Do not move your laptop since this can twist the power plug-in going into the jack at the back of the laptop.  Also place the power block unit either on the floor or safely beside the laptop so that it will not fall and twist out the power plug-in.

Your Greatest Possible Weakness

You may have the best anti virus and security package available, but it only takes one employee to bypass it and create havoc.

Those blue hyperlinks in E-mails and unsafe web surfing can cause malware to be downloaded into a computer and onto your network.  All the employee has to do is to click on something, and bang... disaster strikes. 

Make sure your employees know about the risks.  No one wants a computer down for any amount of time at the workplace.

http://www.alphacomputer.ca Alpha Computer Web Site

Using E-mail Effectively

Using E-mail for business is a must.  Depending on what you are doing for a business, you may be getting more E-mail that others.  In this case you need a strategy to handle the load.

First delete the spam and garbage quickly and without mercy.  Second, scan for high priority E-mails and act accordingly. Third, have a folder that you can use to dump the E-mails you want to work through out the day on.  Fourth, have a folder just for E-mails that have information you may need later.  Just dump them into that folder.  Try to keep the Inbox empty when you can so it does not get depressing.  What ever you decide to do, make a plan and stick to it.

I included a note on my http://www.alphacomputer.ca/Alpha_Computer_Blog.htm#7 about the importance of a good subject line.  Check it out also.

Green Computing

I just added a new section to the www.alphacomputer.ca web site on Green Computing.  This will be the start of a resource for using your computer in a Green World. I will add new information as time permits.

The big question for business is "Do I shut my computers off?". I will be exploring this in greater detail in the days ahead.  A computer that is left on can cost as much as $12.00 a month.  So this is a significance cost to a business over time.

If you have any comments or information that would be handy for others, please contact me or leave information.  Remember it is the small things that over time can really add up.

Staying Focused

A lot of what we call success in business is focus and good directed effort.  This is the same with technology and business.  You do not have to be right up to date, but you have to keep you eye on emerging trends and how they will affect your business.

The labor pool needs to get more computer skills, so that they can be competitive.  Computers are creeping in more and more into everyday life and business.  Stay sharp and make sure that your employees have the necessary skills to compete in today's labor market.  In some cases, the government will assist you.  In Nova Scotia, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development works hard to make sure businesses are equipped with the necessary "Essential Skills" needed for success. What is available to you in your area?  Find out.

Check out the Workplace Education brochure on the Alpha Computer web site at http://www.alphacomputer.ca/Biz_literacy.htm .  See what others are doing for business.

Leaders Are Readers

If you are going to stay ahead of the pack, you are going to have to do some reading.  Leaders are readers.  Whether you do it online or with a book, you need to stay on top of your game.

There are many ways to keep up with new stuff.  I use IGoogle and their Tech page to watch for new and emerging trends.  Things are changing to quickly these days.  And these changes can effect your business.

I just found out my business, Alpha Computer, is being nominated for New Small Business Of The Year Award.  You can achieve success in your business.  I am rooting for you.

Who Is Your Repair Person?

One of the things I tell my students and clients is not to wait till disaster strikes before going to a computer repair shop.  You will be frustrated with who to chose and uncomfortable because you do not know them.

Before trouble ever occurs, you should have visited the repair shops in your area and found who will look after your computer repairs.  Then you can build a relationship and truly get the service you need.  You will not be  a stranger to them.  You may find that you prefer one shop over another.  So when disaster strikes, your repair people will know you and your computer and can help you quicker.

Go out today and find your shop.  For a computer, it is not "IF" but "WHEN" things happen.

Going Green With Your Computers

Everyone seems to have an opinion about leaving their computer on all the time or shutting it down right after its use.  But what are the facts? 

I know we can save energy by turning them off, but has anyone got sold facts regarding hardware wear by turning on and off frequently? Some businesses will leave their computers on 24/7 because they think they will damage their computers by turning them off every night after work.

There is the other issue about updates; but updates can be set at different times.  What do you think?

Connecting Your Laptop Safely

I am very careful about which wireless network I connect to.  I just read an interesting article about this topic at http://reviews.cnet.com/9602-12576_7-0.html?messageID=2510978&tag=nl.e410 .  This article has some good advice, which one day might save your hide.

Remember, if you have a wireless router, you need to secure it.  If you do not, anyone can enter and do anything they want.  The FBI and the RCMP might come and visit you if this happens.  You will have some explaining to do then.  So play it safe and lock it down.

Have a good weekend all.

www.alphacomputer.ca

20000 Visit Mark Today

This is a real exciting day for me.  My web site will pass the 20,000 visit mark today some time.  My http://www.alphacomputer.ca site has been going since April 2007.

The site is doing really well on Google and is first page for computer training in nova scotia for all the other search engines.  Google is still page three; but I am working towards first page.

Yesterday I presented a 3.5 hour workshop about Business and Technology to several businesses.  Part of the workshop showed them how to advance towards the first page of Google and get noticed.  It is amazing how things are changing and how much business needs to learn to stay competitive.

Fueling Up: Don't Pay Twice

I received an E-mail from a friend on how you could pay twice for your fuel if you do not press "Clear" after using your Credit/Debit card.

Check out the full E-mail at http://www.alphacomputer.ca/Alpha_Computer_Blog.htm .

There is enough taxes on business these days, being scammed is not what business needs.

FeedBurner Service

Looks like FeedBurner is going to be a winner for Business. It is part of the Google services. What can it do for you?

It can tell you how many subscribers there are to your RSS feed and a little information about your subscribers. It is worth checking out.

You can find it at http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/home .

For more general computer info, check out my web site at: http://www.alphacomputer.ca .

Have a good week all.

Blogging and RSS For Business

Blogging and RSS have become important for business. People are following blog's online.  RSS is a means to letting viewers know when you have added new content.

Just to the right (above my picture), I have added a RSS link to my other training blog. All this stuff will generate traffic to your web site. Traffic will translate into business.

So look into blogging and RSS to promote what you are doing in business. To find out more info, check out my web site at http://www.alphacomputer.ca . I continually add new info to it, especially my training blog.

Have a great day.  Jeff

Anti-virus Working?

I have been getting a lot of E-mail with viruses in them regarding plane trips I have not booked, money transfers I am not expecting and so on.  My anti-virus program has been working over time catching these viruses.  How are you doing?

Make sure your anti-virus program is up to date and that your licence has not expired.  Remember that your anti-virus is only as good as your last update.

Don't get caught.  It could cost you a hard drive or your personal identity.  Make sure your anti-virus is a good one. Oh by the way, did I say it yet ..."Don't open these E-mails!!!"

www.alphacomputer.ca

RSS Feed Works

As a business, the more people looking your way the better.  If you have a web site that has "New" material regularly, then you should look at having a RSS feed for people to subscribe to.  When something new happens with the business, you can let your customers know quickly.

I received my second RSS feed notice in my Outlook mail box.  It works like a charm.  So look into it for your business.

You can check out the Alpha Computer Training Blog with the RSS feed at http://alphacomputer.ca/Alpha_Computer_Blog.htm .

Have a great week everyone.

New RSS Feed For Alpha Computer Blog

I just finished creating a RSS feed for the Alpha Computer Training Blog located at http://www.alphacomputer.ca/Alpha_Computer_Blog.htm . This blog contains short computer tips for every day use.

Check it out and subscribe to get head lines delivered to your E-mail when new updates are added.

What About RSS?

RSS stands for Real Simple Syndication.  It can give your business great exposure and visits back to your web site.  It is a traffic generator.

RSS lets subscribers know when something new is placed on your web site so that they can visit your site.  And generating traffic to your business web site is what you want, especially if you are selling online.

I will be soon placing RSS feeds on my site, and if time permits, I will have a "how to" section on doing RSS.

In the mean time, check out my other offerings at http://www.alphacomputer.ca .

Have a great weekend all.

Jeff

Using Twitter?

As a business, are you using Twitter? Say what?  Twitter.com is a web site where you can let your customers know what you are doing.  You can develop contacts who will follow you and your business.

I saw CNN last light using Twitter is get info on people's opinions about the Election.  If they are using it for business, maybe you should look at Twitter also.

I started to Twitter a couple of weeks ago and I have four followers already.  Followers are people who are following your updates to Twitter.  It does not take me long to make updates, and it gets my business name out farther into the Web.

Have a good first day of the week all.

Buying Office Supplies

Yesterday I headed off to Staples to buy office supplies.  For a moment I thought I was at an Obama rally, there where people every where.  I only needed a binder.  Kids are going back to school soon and the stores are going to be a bit busier than usual for the next little while.

Speaking of kids, I have two girls.  How things have changed!  What used to take ten minutes to get out the door, now takes two hours.  Getting to work on time now requires real planning on my part with lots of patience. My girls are great ...I am a parent of teenagers.  Can you identify with that?

Have a great weekend!

Alpha Computer

Overcoming Fear

One of the challenges that I have when training is overcoming fear in my participants.  Many people figure they are one click away from blowing up their computer.  Now I know this is not true, but perception is everything for the learner.

Creating comfort and several successes along the away will greatly increase future computer use and training.  Once a person feels comfortable, they will start exploring and learning on their own.  Hence, Alpha Computer is like booster cables - I get people started.

If you have employees who need training, focus on creating a level of comfort around the computer when helping them and let them experience a few victories.  Once they figure out that the basics of computer use are relatively easy, the rest will be history.

It's Monday, have a great week.

Protecting What You Create

I had a problem with a business stealing/copying one of my videos and using it on YouTube as their own.  They did not acknowledge the source of the video and this went well beyond fair use.  I looked the next day and YouTube appears to have pulled their video.

As a business, you need to protect your creations.  This means you will have to put your name and/or logo everywhere.  I use a alphacomputer.ca logo in all my videos, especially now since this happened.  A title slide alone will not do.

So when ever you create something, get your logo on it.  If some one does steal it, at least your logo will be seen and your business promoted, if but in a weird way. 

Have a great Sunday.

New Microsoft Word Training Videos On Web Site

Just added 4 new Microsoft Word Training videos and alphacomputer.ca web site.  Take a look and let me know what you think about them.  You can find them at http://www.alphacomputer.ca/Microsoft_Word_Training.htm .

Have a great day - weekends coming!

New Excel Videos On alphacomputer.ca Site

I just added new Microsoft Excel videos to my http://www.alphacomputer.ca web site.  One video gives an overview of what Microsoft Excel can do.  I plan to do some videos on Microsoft Word.  It has been real busy this Summer with all the training I have done. Check it out and send me some feedback.

Moving Laptop Computer

It is not a good idea to move your laptop computer while it is turned on and the hard drive is spinning.  If you have to move it any distance, (I am not talking inches), you should turn it off first.  Then turn it back on when you get to where you need to go.  This will avoid harm to your laptop hard drive. 

Solid state hard drives for laptops are coming which will be great.

TO find more info regarding computer tips, go to http://alphacomputer.ca/Alpha_Computer_Blog.htm

Are You Ready For Fall?

Summer is pretty much over as well as the Summer vacations.  It is time to get focused on this new season for business.  So what are you going to do?  What are you doing to improve yourself and your business?

Here's a thought: take a few moments before work,when it is quiet, and think about what you need to do and how you are going to do it.  If you do not plan your day, someone else will!

Continuous Learning For Business

Things in business change so quickly.  That's why as a business, you need to add some time for learning and keeping up with trends that are critical for your business.  Staying still, so to speak, is not an option.  So how do you find the time?

If you drive a lot, trying listening to a training CD.  Plan training times and protect them as best as possible so that other things do not crowd them out.  Plan to get together with someone who can challenge as well as inform you.  Plan to make it happen, and it will happen.  Hope it will happen, and you will be left standing still.

http://www.alphacomputer.ca/Alpha_Computer_Training.htm is my other training blog.

Cheers.

Password Protect Your Laptop

Make sure your put a password on your laptop computer.  If it is lost or stolen, it may help protect your data. 

I got a call from a girl last night asking how to get into a password protected laptop.  She had forgotten her password from three weeks ago.  The alarm bells went off for some reason.  I told her to take it to a repair shop.  At least the repair shop could really check to see if it was her laptop.

So save yourself some grief.  Put a password on your laptop.  Not sure your password is any good?  Check out Microsoft's password checker at: http://www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/password/checker.mspx .

For more info on computer stuff, check out my web site at: http://www.alphacomputer.ca .

Get Google First Page Rank With Video

I saw how a web site could obtain front page "Google" within a day using video and TrafficGeyser.com .  This is a viable idea that business should be using.  I believe that I heard that 51% of all Internet traffic is video.  Business needs to use video also to become more effective.  After all, people have different learning styles and advertising should reflect this.

I can not seem to find the video showing "how to", but I will try to put the video on my web site if I can not find the link.  I recorded the video because it is a keeper.

http://www.alphacomputer.ca

Cooking Your Laptop

I have talked about it before, but this is a point worth mentioning again.  Make sure you keep your laptop from over heating.  A laptop cooling tray is ideal to force the warm air out of the confined space.  Make sure that you are not laying your laptop on a table cloth or some material that could rise up and block the air intake.  If no air goes in, your laptop will start to over heat.  Make sure you check for this.  Keeping your laptop cool will lengthen the life span of the unit.

For more info check out the Alpha Computer web site at: http://www.alphacomputer.ca .

When Trouble Happens

As a business you need to be prepared. It is not "if" something will happen to a computer, it is only a matter of "when".  If your computer crashed right now as you are reading this, do you have a plan to get up and running quickly? Do you have back ups?

I have a computer repair business that can get me up and running quickly.  They know me and they know my computer.  You should have the same thing.  Trying to find a computer shop in the middle of your computer break down is not the best.  You should have already checked out the shops and have already determined who will be your go to people.

If you do not have a shop, go out and find one today.  Make sure you feel good about the place and the people.  Be prepared.

For more computer info, check out: http://www.alphacomputer.ca

Business Web Site Visibility

If you are a business, chances are that you will have a web site.  If you have a web site, you will have to deal with the Big Three (Google, Yahoo and MSN).  One of the things you can do, and probably the best thing, is really focus on having great content.  As location is to business, content is to a web site. (And by the way, it does not end with the Big Three - some people will not use them for their own reasons.)

If you want to be found on the first page of Google, for example, you will need fresh content from time to time.  If you think you can stay on the first page of Google without a refresh, you will be sadly mistaken.  Having a web site will require input on your part from time to time.  Think of your business web site as a great tool.  Use it wisely or lose your place.

Good content will also draw inbound links to your web site.  This is a good thing.  There are other things you can do.  This is for later.  Focus on content: build it and they will come!!

http://www.alphacomputer.ca >> Alpha Computer web site

Who needs to know how to use the computer?

It was startling to find out that John McCain saw himself as computer illiterate and much more so, that people cared.  Amazingly I do bump into people who tell me that they do not need to know how to use the computer; they will pay someone else to do it for them.

To me that's like saying I do not need to learn how to drive a car, I will get someone to do it for me.  Learning to drive a car and use a computer are things that bring greater freedom in our lives.  We find it weird that others do not strive to attain this freedom.  Maybe some people are so bound with fear that they can not grasp new things.  Maybe there are other reasons also.

Regardless, from my experience in my years of computer training, it brings many people joy to learn that the computer is not as hard as they perceived it would be and...it brings them joy to be able to participate with others in a new way.

Hopefully if you are like John McCain, you will discover this joy.

Adobe Contribute for Blog's

I am using Adobe Contribute for updating my blog and is it ever easy to do.  If you have a business web site, you need to look at using blog's to let people know about you as well as create a back link to your web site.  Both things are good.  To find out more info on computer training, check out my web site at http://www.alphacomputer.ca .

Searching for files

Have you ever lost a file in your computer?  A great solution is the Search function on your computer.  Just click on the Start button and look to your right (In Windows XP) for Search.  You can locate lost files by name or even by the content inside the file.

In Windows Vista, the Search box is located right above the Start button.  Once you see it, start typng the file name in the space and the results appear above.

Windows Search allows you to find the missing.  Consider using it next time you loose a file. 

For more computer tips, check out my website at http://www.alphacomputer.ca .

Never too late to get started

One of the misconceptions about the computer is that it is hard to learn.  You might even break it!  The basic skills for everyday computer use are not that hard to pick up, and as for breaking the computer, if you take a hammer to it, yes you will break it.  Everything else can be fixed.  But in all my years of training, I have never seen anyone ruin their computer. 

So climb aboard the computer learning train and start learning.  You will be glad you did. It is never too late to get started.  There is lots of help out there for you.

File and Folder Organization

One of the greatest skills that will help you in your day to day computer use is file and folder organization. We need to create folders for certain types of files to help us find what we are looking for quickly.

Many of us just dump all our files into My Documents and hope for the best. There is a better way. You can make folders to store "like files" in one area, away from other types of files.

If you do not know how to do this, take a course or get someone to show you how. This one thing can help you find files quickly, use them and then return them; so that you can get on with what you need to be doing next.

For more computer training information, check out my website at http://www.alphacomputer.ca

Trying Adobe Contribute

I am trying Adobe Contribute to see if I can update my blog. So far, it has been hard since I can not get past a publishing error. Attempts to check out info at Adobe have bee fruitless. Once I get this working, it should be good.

New Website Built By Alpha Computer

Just finished a new business website for Nova Enterprises Limited of Truro, Nova Scotia. It took over 5 months to build it and launch it. The menu system changed along the way as well as a lot of the content setup.

It is designed for trucker as well as the trucking industry. So not a lot of heavy frills. Just right to the point easy to access information about trucks, trailers, service and parts. It is a large site.

Check the site out at http://www.novaentreprises.ca and let me know what you think.

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a great tool for business or for anyone who has a website. It enables you to see how your website is doing. Information includes visitor information, number of page views, what pages your visitors are looking at and other information that will help you with your website design.

For me, it told me that I had to change my navigation menu system and make things easier to find. As a result, page views are up and time on site is up.

You can find Google Analytics in the Google webmaster tools section.

New website design and look

Just finished a new website design and look. I noticed that the Internet Explorer 8 beta made the menus look bad. You should check your site out with IE 8. I am not sure if this is a bug that will be fixed or the future of IE 8.

Check out my website at http://www.alphacomputer.ca and let me now what you think.

Phishing Season

Where I live, fishing season has already begun. I have not had a chance to get out there yet, but I hope to soon.

There is another type of "Phishing" going on in the Internet which is not good at all. Phishing tries to get you to give things like your login user name and your password so that they can be used later by someone else.

Here is usually how it works. An E-mail arrives and it asks you to verify your user name and password; for your bank as an example. They tell you service will be shut down until you do this. When you click on the "Blue hyperlink" in the E-mail, you arrive at what looks like your bank site. It is a fake site. You give your info by inserting it into a login box.

They then have the ability to access your site because you just gave them your user name and password.

Places like you Bank and such will never ask you to verify your user name and password this way. So watch out. It is a scam.

Laptop battery use and moving that laptop

To get the best use out of your laptop battery, you need to run it down every now and then. If you only plug in your laptop to a power supply every time, you are not helping your battery. You may actually be causing its failure down the road. So to get the best use of your laptop, run it on battery power to drain the battery.

Another thing, about moving your laptop computer when it is running..."Don't do it." If you have to move your laptop, shut it down; then move it. Moving your laptop while on can damage the hard drive.

Cooling Tray For Laptop

If you have a laptop computer, you need a cooling tray to help keep it running cooler and extend the life of your laptop computer. Heat is a laptop's enemy.

A laptop has a small area to provide cooling for internal electrical components. Overheating can occur easily especially if you block the air intake port.

A cooling tray lifts the laptop up and the fans in the cooling tray push air through the laptop providing extra cooling.

A cooling tray also will angle the laptop for ease of typing.

They are not a lot of money and over time, can extend the life of your original investment.

Computer Training Focus

2008 plans to be a great year. Despite some parts of the economy, you can still have a great year. Opportunity can always be found especially when you have your head up and you are looking for it.

This year the focus of this blog will change to computer training. I am going to start adding computer tips when I can to help you increase your basic computer skills and hopefully help your business at the same time.

Training Tip:



There is a key on your keyboard called the Windows key. You will recognize it because it has a Windows flag printed on it and it is located usually to the left of the space bar. You may also find it on the right side also.



By pressing the Windows key once, the Start menu will apear. This gives you quick access to the Start Menu functions. You can use your mouse from here or use the up and down to select what you want.



If you hold the Windows key down and tap the "E" key, the Windows Explorer will open. The Windows Explorer is also know as My Documents (XP) or Documents (Vista), My Computer and such. This is a handy shortcut for accessing files, folders and such.