Google, Microsoft trade more blows over Docs, Office 2010
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Friday, May 14, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
How do I clean apple juice from my keyboard - the keys are stuck
Thats a tough one. Even though its counterintuitive to pour more liquid or spray down a keyboard that is what you will have to do!
1st method - if you feel adventurous
1. Turn off the laptop
2. Remove the battery
3. Spray WD40 underneath the keys
4. Press the keys up and down a few times if needed to unstick the keys
Repeat the process once more if needed to free the keys.
Let it dry out (maybe 45 minutes to an hour) before putting the battery back and restarting it.
2nd Method: If you want to play it safe
Get some ispropyl rubbing alchohol and spray it under the keys, or put it on a Qtip and get it under the keys. It dries very quickly...it will dry out in 30 - 45 seconds.
Happy Computing ! You just saved yourself the agony of buying a new laptop
1st method - if you feel adventurous
1. Turn off the laptop
2. Remove the battery
3. Spray WD40 underneath the keys
4. Press the keys up and down a few times if needed to unstick the keys
Repeat the process once more if needed to free the keys.
Let it dry out (maybe 45 minutes to an hour) before putting the battery back and restarting it.
2nd Method: If you want to play it safe
Get some ispropyl rubbing alchohol and spray it under the keys, or put it on a Qtip and get it under the keys. It dries very quickly...it will dry out in 30 - 45 seconds.
Happy Computing ! You just saved yourself the agony of buying a new laptop
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Antivirus Software - Really
Recently, much to my consternation, my little netbook that I so cherished, seemed completely locked up on me. It seemed to be in real pain, constantly telling me that my computer was infected with a very serious virus, and the only way I could get rid of it was by buying an virus scanner, which a particular company was selling for $49.95 for a 3 month subscription, exorbitant prices by any standard.
Of course, the virus, had done the usual stuff that you would expect a malicious little fellow to do. It went ahead and disabled my antivirus software (all of them!), all executable files, internet access to any site other than the software vendor, spyware, adware..you name it. In a netbook that doesn't have an optical drive removing something like this can be quite a task. Anyway, now that the removal is complete, the virus has been wiped from my hard drive and I am able to use my laptop again, I have some time to stop and think, and be very incensed that a rogue company can hold someone hostage so easily.
This goes beyond deceptive marketing practices: it reeks of thuggery, thievery and holding people hostage to your whims. Imagine the desperation faced by a business executive finishing off a last minute presentation, a school student meeting a deadline on a term paper, a doctor's office trying to bring up a patient's chart...just any application that could be mission critical...of course, there are usually backups for mission critical apps...but this situation would still be mildly more than annoying, a waste of time, productivity and resources.
Is this the social cost of computing, is this the state of affairs when we must be held hostage by a bunch of thieves. Don't take this lying down, if this ever happens to you report it to the FCC, blog it, ning it, digg it, facebook it, tweet it, talk to your friends - spread the word.
The name of the company is "spyprotect 2009". If you find this on your computer don't buy their software - start your computer while holding down the shift key, once its booted up use a reputable anti virus software to clean it, or just go to www.trendmicro.com and use their free online scanner to clean your computer.
Of course, the virus, had done the usual stuff that you would expect a malicious little fellow to do. It went ahead and disabled my antivirus software (all of them!), all executable files, internet access to any site other than the software vendor, spyware, adware..you name it. In a netbook that doesn't have an optical drive removing something like this can be quite a task. Anyway, now that the removal is complete, the virus has been wiped from my hard drive and I am able to use my laptop again, I have some time to stop and think, and be very incensed that a rogue company can hold someone hostage so easily.
This goes beyond deceptive marketing practices: it reeks of thuggery, thievery and holding people hostage to your whims. Imagine the desperation faced by a business executive finishing off a last minute presentation, a school student meeting a deadline on a term paper, a doctor's office trying to bring up a patient's chart...just any application that could be mission critical...of course, there are usually backups for mission critical apps...but this situation would still be mildly more than annoying, a waste of time, productivity and resources.
Is this the social cost of computing, is this the state of affairs when we must be held hostage by a bunch of thieves. Don't take this lying down, if this ever happens to you report it to the FCC, blog it, ning it, digg it, facebook it, tweet it, talk to your friends - spread the word.
The name of the company is "spyprotect 2009". If you find this on your computer don't buy their software - start your computer while holding down the shift key, once its booted up use a reputable anti virus software to clean it, or just go to www.trendmicro.com and use their free online scanner to clean your computer.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Just use Assembly language - why I blog
Why do I blog? I had quite a struggle with this. I set up a blog quite a while back, wanting to write about technology, but strangely had nothing to say, and well, thought it prudent to not say anything while that was the case. So was it writer,s block, a lack of passion, nothing to talk about, too much to talk about, a fear of the known, a fear of the unknown...after all, there are more than a 100 Million ENGLISH blogs on the web according to technorati, and I can assure you, there are plenty of people who have more meaningful things to say. I am not famous, not a politician, not a journalist, not highly accomplished in any art field...not the type of person that people would line up to listen to. Well, whatever the reason, there was something between the muddle of thoughts in my head and my fingers that was simply not making a connection, not allowing me to put my thoughts on this medium.
Well...something did break this cycle and I finally got some directon about my first blog post. I was watching a program on CNN called "we were warned, cyber shockwave". A doomsday scenario of what could happen if the United States were to face a cyber attack. The panelists were a distinguished group of politicians, technorati, and advisors. It was quite interesting to follow how each group answered questions as they were posed to them. However, at the end of the simulation, the moderator, Wolf Blitzer, asked some very pertinent tough questions as he cut through the ambiguity that hung in the air. He just broke the material down to the basics in a very rapid fire session...and all of a sudden I just developed a new found respect for the "talking heads" on CNN.
This program though, did more than that. It simply opened the floodgates to a host of memories, recollections, quotable quotes, life experiences in a way that I have not experienced recently. Reminded me of a quote from a dear friend back in the college days "simple living, high thinking", just taking things back to the basics.
It also broght to mind a statement, which, though innocuous at that time, turned into the butt of jokes much later in life....but also helped me start this blog. One semester in college as I struggled with a heavy load of programming classes, I discussed my dilemma with a young man I admire for his wit, grace, vocabulary and unflappable attitude towards life. However, this chap WAS technologically challenged, and in his own inimitable style, trying to make life easier for me, he simply said "Why don't you use Assembly Language"..and that was the extent of his knowledge of computer science. For some strange reason this just broke the gloom of that night and both of us rolled with laughter at his suggestion. As we went through life - we attempted to make light of many of life's challenges by simply "trying to use assembly language".
As I think back now, I wonder, really, why can't we use "Assembly Language" to get us through life. After all, all Assembly Language does is reduce every component to a very basic form or 1's and 0's that a computer understands. And somehow, I know what I wanted to write about, what it was that was stopping me, and self doubt shall not stop me ;-)
Well..I was able to pen down some thoughts and this will give me an impetus..so for the patient, stay that way, for the not so patient....try to be the former..and keep checking back as I add more stuff about my passion, technology, but I'll try to give it a twist, my own twist, with thoughts, analysis, reviews......some well informed, some uninformed, and who knows what else. Lets not limit ourselves.
Well...something did break this cycle and I finally got some directon about my first blog post. I was watching a program on CNN called "we were warned, cyber shockwave". A doomsday scenario of what could happen if the United States were to face a cyber attack. The panelists were a distinguished group of politicians, technorati, and advisors. It was quite interesting to follow how each group answered questions as they were posed to them. However, at the end of the simulation, the moderator, Wolf Blitzer, asked some very pertinent tough questions as he cut through the ambiguity that hung in the air. He just broke the material down to the basics in a very rapid fire session...and all of a sudden I just developed a new found respect for the "talking heads" on CNN.
This program though, did more than that. It simply opened the floodgates to a host of memories, recollections, quotable quotes, life experiences in a way that I have not experienced recently. Reminded me of a quote from a dear friend back in the college days "simple living, high thinking", just taking things back to the basics.
It also broght to mind a statement, which, though innocuous at that time, turned into the butt of jokes much later in life....but also helped me start this blog. One semester in college as I struggled with a heavy load of programming classes, I discussed my dilemma with a young man I admire for his wit, grace, vocabulary and unflappable attitude towards life. However, this chap WAS technologically challenged, and in his own inimitable style, trying to make life easier for me, he simply said "Why don't you use Assembly Language"..and that was the extent of his knowledge of computer science. For some strange reason this just broke the gloom of that night and both of us rolled with laughter at his suggestion. As we went through life - we attempted to make light of many of life's challenges by simply "trying to use assembly language".
As I think back now, I wonder, really, why can't we use "Assembly Language" to get us through life. After all, all Assembly Language does is reduce every component to a very basic form or 1's and 0's that a computer understands. And somehow, I know what I wanted to write about, what it was that was stopping me, and self doubt shall not stop me ;-)
Well..I was able to pen down some thoughts and this will give me an impetus..so for the patient, stay that way, for the not so patient....try to be the former..and keep checking back as I add more stuff about my passion, technology, but I'll try to give it a twist, my own twist, with thoughts, analysis, reviews......some well informed, some uninformed, and who knows what else. Lets not limit ourselves.
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