I say, “Not”!  And this article from TechRepublic writer, Debra Littlejohn Shinder gives my reasoning exactly.  I am especially in agreement with the even numbered items in the list.

I would add an 11th reason to the mix and that is I never want the first version of anything.  That includes tech stuff, cars, phones, etc.

The engineers and developers never consider every option and everything you and I can do with the device.  I have found that the 1st of anything is usually the poorest of the versions with more issues.

I would like to add that even though I have been reading the TechRepublic site for years to great techie benefit, I will have one of my articles appearing there within the next month or so.  It does require a membership to read all of the information and articles there.  However, it is free and I have never gotten spammed from them.

They send me updates on the specific parts of the site that I want to receive them for.

Tags: Apple, computer, desktop, iPad, iPod, Mac, not ready for prime time, storage, zune

Several weeks ago I commented about wireless mice.  Since then I have received a surprising number of emails with regards to mice.  The major one seems to be that some people think the blue light laser mice work great on glass and an equal number say they do not.  Since I do not have one I cannot toss in my two cents worth.  All of you “blue lighters” out there need to keep me posted.

Several others asked me if there is even a need for mouse pads today.  I have a couple of different answers for you.

If you have a mouse with a large gray ball on the bottom I would say, “yes, definitely”.  The mouse pad will help the tracking ball on the mouse work much smoother.  It also makes it easier to keep that area of your desk clear of junk.  You know like water drops, papers and other things that get in the way of your mouse.  It is also easy to clean the pad if it does get dirty.

If you have an optical mouse, either wired or wireless the need is not as great.  I have wireless mice, as you read about in that previous column.  I always use a mouse pad for my desktop computers.  I think it is psychological but it keeps that area of the desks clutter-free.  However, with my portables I do not use a mouse pad.  I do not feel like carrying around something else in my already overloaded backpack.  I think it would be goofy to pull out my little mouse pad and lay it on the table a Panera’s.

Now, after all this talk about mouse pads I have to get you to take a look at a very interesting site that I found this week.  I was at a friend’s place of business writing a column.  I asked if he had a mouse pad that I could borrow since his table was glass and mine would not function.  He brought me his that was an (in my opinion) exact duplicate of an oriental rug that my mother used to have…but it was a mouse pad.  With the fringe and all?!

I flipped it over and on the back it had the URL where you may purchase them online at  Mouserug.com.  The Mouserug site has a large number of mouse pads that look great.  The one that I am going to purchase is the “The Claire Murray Liberty Mouse Rug”.  I may put it off for a while as the price is a little higher than I like for a mouse pad, a little less than $20.

By-the-way, I had an article published on the Microsoft.com site last week.  Please go take a read and let me know what you think.

Tags: microsoft, mouse pad, rug, rugs, wireless

If you read the column regularly you will know that I occasionally give you general warnings about viruses, scams, etc.  However, there is one running like crazy right now that I feel I need to talk about.  I interrupted the regularly scheduled column this week to let you know about it.

A lot of my readers use Facebook.  It is a neat site and different people like it for varying reasons.  My wife likes it to keep up with friends, relatives and see baby pictures of all of those peoples’ offspring (and their offspring).

Me, I like to read strange thoughts people choose to talk about in public.  15+ years ago they would only tell their psychologists these things.  I also like to see if the old high school jocks are still jocks or fatter slobs than me.  I win sometimes!

Over the last week or so many of us have been receiving emails purportedly from Facebook.  The emails subject line states, “Facebook Password Reset Confirmation Customer Support”.  It has an attached zip file and includes a short message about “providing safety to our clients” and you can find your new password in the attached file. OK, red lights should start flashing as soon as you get this.  First off, if you did not ask Facebook, or anyone else for that matter, for a new password you will not get one.

Second, if it were really a new password, why would it be in an attached file much less a zipped file?  If it is a new password it would be just that, a “word” typed in the email not anything you would have to open.  By-the-way, the antivirus software company McAfee states that after testing it was found that, if opened, this attachment can, “potentially access any username and password combination utilized on that computer.”

Opening the email that is safe but DO NOT open the attachment.  You may receive the email multiple times.  All you should do is delete the email and be done with it.

Third, if you are like me and have several email accounts for miscellaneous uses and it arrives in an email account you do not use with Facebook, well…think about it.

If you are interested in Facebook’s opinions and what they are doing about spam and viruses you should go to “facebook.com/security” and see what they say.  I stumbled on this site while doing research for this article and found it to be interesting.

If you are a Facebook user, visit the Double Click fan page on Facebook and become a follower.

Tags: Double Click, facebook, Fan Page

Many of you had questions and suggestions about Windows 7 after last week’s column.  Thanks for asking them!  And no, that is not all I will be writing about now.  Since it is the newest and one of the most popular Windows operating systems I will talk about it from time-to-time.  I do realize that not everyone has W7 or plans on upgrading to it so I will continue with other various computer/internet topics too.

Having said that, today we will look at another W7 feature…themes.

For years people have said that you should be able to change your wallpaper automatically (the picture on your desktop).  Windows 7 allows this through the use of themes.  First, we need a definition of themes.  A theme is a collection of digital images, possibly related sounds, coloring and shading to make your desktop environment more personal.  Interestingly enough Microsoft calls it “Personalization”.

Microsoft estimates that one of the first things that approximately 90% of windows users do is to personalize their desktops.  You know you have a picture of your kids, grandkids, dogs, cats, etc. on the desktop in XP.  Windows 7 allows you to use a themed group of graphics that change at a predetermined interval.  You can also personalize your themes even more by including your own collection of pictures in a theme.  That way you can cycle through your own pictures throughout the workday.

To change your computer’s theme simply right click on an empty space on the desktop and click on “Personalize”.  Next, click on one of the available themes, close the personalization window and you are done.  The new set of graphics will start cycling through at a predefined rate which you can speed up or slow down if you wish.

Now I have a secret for you.  There are several themes loaded in to W7 when it is new; however, there are some hidden ones too.

Getting to them is a multi-step process.  Step one is to click the “Orb” (Start button) and type “Show hidden files and folders” (always without the quotes) and press enter when it appears in the menu area.  Next, under the “Hidden files and folders” section select the radio button labeled, “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” and then remove the checkmark from the “Hide extensions for known file types” checkbox and also from “Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)”.  The only warning here is that you will now be able to see “secret” windows files that you should never try to edit or delete.  If you do you WILL have major issues.

The final step is much quicker.  Navigate to “C:\Windows\Globalization\MCT” and you will see several other themes.  Once you double click them they will each load into the themes window and be ready for use.

You may also create your own themes if you have artistic abilities…or, if you’re like me, Google or Bing for them.

Tags: bing.com, desktop, Globalization, google.com, MCT, Personalization, show hidden files, Slideshow, wallpaper, windows 7, Work

Get your own  USB Laser Guided Missile Launcher so you can win your own office arms race!

Jim is going to get a couple of these for hosts that make mistakes (I better stay away).

Another way to clean your computer’s keyboard in case of spills.  This article is a couple of years old from NPR but it still stands.

“At first glance, this seems insane. But the computer – keyboard – in – the – dishwasher advice is all over the Internet. And don’t we wish it were true? My keyboard is an old Hewlett Packard that’s encrusted with a kind of mysterious black grime. I thought, "Well, why not try my Kitchen Aid?’"

Also a couple of good free Anti-virus applications.

With a couple of warnings:

1. Only install one anti-virus program on your computer.
   If you already have another MAKE SURE you completely uninstall it first.
2. Only run one of these at a time too, with the possible exception of Microsoft’s Security Essentials which can run alongside of others…but do it at your own risk.
3. The first two will steer you to the paid versions, so install the correct one.
4. I have used them all with no ill effects; however, install any software at your own risk.  (i.e., don’t call me – I’ve warned you here.)

• Avast!
• AVG
• Microsoft Security Essentials

Tags: Harrisonburg, Jim Britt, Local & Live, Virginia, WSVA

I have been written to by several of the "Double Click" readers as to why I have not mentioned Microsoft Windows 7 very often.  The answer is that there are about 50 bazillion other geeks out there, who have written about it relentlessly since it rolled out to the public in October, 2009.  I figured I would let the clamor die down some before I started.

Today I come out of hiding with W7 (get used to the abbreviation, it saves column space). 

I will start with the question that I usually get first. "Do you use W7, yet?"  Yes, I do, everywhere!  I have been testing the pre-launch versions of W7 for about a year now.  I have been using the final version since it launched. 

All of my computers run this new Operating System (OS) including my wife’s notebook, save one.  I still run Vista on my home desktop because that computer has more software and data on it than any of the others.  Rebuilding that particular machine will take several days to get "just right". Procrastination wins! 

The next most common question I get is, "Should I switch to W7?"  That really depends on you.  If you are not happy with your current OS (Vista?) and you have the extra money, sure go ahead and make the change.  If you do not have any complaints, why fix it if it ain’t broke? 

That being said, I will as good as guarantee that if you do go to W7 you will like it.  It looks similar to Vista. However, it is much faster since it uses less system resources.  It has many very positive features that you will like.

When conversing about W7 the next question usually is, "What do you like best about the OS?"  My wise guy answer is, "Everything."  However, the primary element I enjoy was also present in Vista; though, it did not function nearly as well…the search feature.

Say for instance I want to run Excel.  I can click the orb (used to be called the start button when it was rectangular) or press the Windows key on my keyboard and just type, "excel".  A menu list is generated with everything on my computer that has "excel" in it.  The Excel program is at the top of the list.  All I do is press the Enter key and Excel starts right up. 

If I know that I have a file with the words, "Windows 7" in it.  I just type it, like I just did, and three files are listed.  Three columns which I wrote; one each in April and June of 2009 and the one you are reading now.

That is a great, efficient and very speedy way to work.  So thanks, Microsoft, for that as well as the additional features we will be talking about in the future.

Tags: excel, microsoft, orb, Ron Doyle, vista, windows, windows 7, xp

My mouse has no tail! No, I do not mean the little rodent variety, but the ones fitting comfortably under your hand that you poke and prod all the time at your computer.

One of my readers/listeners, Jenny saw me in a local eatery the other day while I was working on something.  I go to several of the fast-food, pastry shops, coffee shops, book stores, etc. in the area that offer free Wi-Fi access to work on columns, etc.   If you ever see me, come over and say, “Hi!” too.

But now back to the story.  Jenny had never seen a netbook and she thought it was a “cute little thingy”.  Uh, thanks Jenny.  She had also never seen a wireless mouse – she did not say that was cute.  She wanted to know about them.  If one person does not know about something there must be plenty of others who do not know about it either, so here we go.

You know how it is when you are intent on something at your computer.  Your mouse slips to the edge of your mouse pad; you pick up the mouse and have to untangle the wire to get it back just where you like it.

A wireless mouse uses a laser instead of a ball on the bottom .  What do they look like?  Look at   the mouse you use now and cut the wire off of it really close to the mouse body.  That’s it, now you have a wireless mouse…NO! STOP! Not really, but that is what one looks like.

They work just as well as a wired mouse, are much easier to keep straight and fit into your backpack for traveling with your notebook.  They have a little USB bar maybe 1.5″ long that plugs into your computer which is how they communicate.

There are two slight drawbacks to the unwired mouse.  First is that they will not work on a glass top.  Before someone out there writes me, yes I know that they do make a type of blue-laser mouse that works on glass.  However, I have a friend who bought one.  He says that it does work, but it does not work as well as advertised.  Also it cost about 3 times as much.

The second little problem is that they use batteries for power.  I have two different brands, a no name that uses two-AA batteries and one from Microsoft that uses one-AA battery.  The one that I use at work five days a week, probably nine hours a day, lasts for approximately six months before needing a new battery.  The other, I would guess even longer.

Now you are asking, “OK, Ron how much?”  You can get the Microsoft mouse for less than $20 in the local area.  Try one out.  You will like it.

Tags: computer, Double Click, internet, microsoft, mouse, usb