Computer Class Schedule - June-July 2008

Thanks to all those that attended my first round of classes. I hope you all found them beneficial and fun! We now have new classes scheduled for June-July. We will continue to have them on Tuesdays at Central City, but, this time, they’ll repeat on Thursdays at Harbin Memorial. Hopefully this will give everyone a chance to attend that wants to.

Click MORE to view the complete schedule for our upcoming classes along with information on how to register.

Tech Term: PDF

Short for Portable Document Format, a file format developed by Adobe Systems. PDF captures formatting information from a variety of desktop publishing applications, making it possible to send formatted documents and have them appear on the recipient’s monitor or printer as they were intended. - webopedia.org

Since all my study guides are uploaded in the PDF format I thought I’d define the term for those unfamiliar with it. As the above definition states, this format was created by the company Adobe to allow documents to display as their creator intended no matter what type of computer someone is browsing it on.

Due to custom settings and differences between computers sometimes websites and documents can display in weird ways. For instance, maybe a picture will be in an odd position or text not where it should be. PDF eliminates this problem by displaying the same across all platforms. There are also options for searching the document (handy if it is a lengthy one) and magnification for hard to read text.

To be able to view PDF documents one needs to install the Adobe Reader program or web browser plugin which can be downloaded from the Adobe Website.

Those interested in creating their own PDF documents have a few options. Adobe offers a outrageously priced program ($449.00 SRP) called Adobe Acrobat which does this, but, their are more attractive options. Open Office, the open source alternative to Microsoft Office, allows users to create PDF documents easily. Foxit Reader is another good option that offers both a free and paid version, but, the free version puts a watermark on each document you create.

Class Notes: Microsoft Excel Basics

Here are the notes from Tuesday’s Microsoft Excel Class. Thanks, and, as always, comment with any questions you may have.

Click to download Microsoft Excel Basics Study Guide

(for an easy way to access older guides, click “class notes” underneath this post. this will produce a list of every blog posting under that category.)

How to Downgrade from Vista to XP

Many computer users have grown frustrated with Windows Vista. This frustration has inspired them to remove the operating system from the personal computers and “downgrade” to Windows XP. While upgrading an operating system is simple, going in reverse can be a bit more tricky. If you fall into the category of disgruntled Windows Vista users, and you wish to downgrade your machine, I suggest you check out PC Magazine’s step-by-step guide on how to do it (click here to view guide).

Grisoft Releases AVG Free 8.0

Grisoft has released a new version of my personal favorite anti-virus program, AVG Free. This, for those who don’t know, is a 100% free anti-virus software that works incredibly well. The company does offer a paid version of the product with a few advantages over the free version, however, for home use, AVG Free works quite well. I’ve been using it on my home computers for quite some time now and have managed to stay secure.

One thing that I have disliked about past versions of AVG Free was the user interface. Its old, clunky looking interface has been modernized and is now more pleasant to the eye. Those who’ve used Norton’s Anti-Virus in the past should have an easier time adjusting to the new AVG interface as it shares a similar look to some of Norton’s products.

In the coming weeks I’ll have a full review up of AVG Free 8.0. But, if you wish to check it out on your own, click the link below.

Download AVG Free 8.0

Apple’s Safari 3.1 for Mac and Windows

Apple released a new version of their Safari web browser on April 1 for both Windows and Macintosh platforms. It’s a bare bones, lightening fast way to surf the internet. This is definitely worth a look for those who find using Firefox and Internet Explorer cumbersome. I, however, am still partial to Firefox.
Click Here to Download Safari 3.1

Class Notes: Microsoft Word Basics

Thanks to all who attended the Microsoft Word classes on Tuesday. For those who were unable to do so, click the below link for a PDF of the study guide we used. Thanks!

Click Here to Download the Microsoft Word Basics Study Guide

(for an easy way to access older guides, click “class notes” underneath this post. this will produce a list of every blog posting under that category.)

MacAfee’s Site Advisor

The internet, as you all know, can be fairly dangerous. Spyware, viruses, and nefarious souls desiring to con you out of your money seem to be waiting around every corner. Those who fear to trust new sites should check out MacAfee’s Site Advisor.

Most know MacAfee from the anti-virus software, which, in my opinion, is far inferior to AVG’s Anti-Virus. But, even if you dislike the anti-virus, you can’t help but love the site advisor. To use the tool simply go to http://www.siteadvisor.com, and, after the page loads, enter in the website address of some new site you’re interested in using. In a matter of moments you’ll be given a rating on the site’s reliability which is compiled from MacAfee’s experts and everyday user reviews.

Those using the Mozilla Firefox web browser can download an add-on which will put the Site Advisor right in the browser window. This allows you to get a rating on the site while viewing it.

MacAfee’s Site Advisor
Grisoft – Home of AVG Anti-Virus (I’ve used the free version for years and highly recommend it)

Speeding Up Windows Vista

Extremetech.com has posted an excellent article on why Windows Vista tends to take a while to boot up. They also give a few tips on how to speed it up. Some of their tips are advanced, but, a handful are easy enough for users with minimal experience to try. Click here to read the article and see what you think.

Extremetech.com is a very well known, reputable site that is respected by the tech community. You can trust the things they published without fear.

Class Notes: Introduction to Windows Vista

Here are the notes for yesterday Introduction to Windows Vista class for those who happened to miss it. Hopefully you’ll find them beneficial. Thanks!

Click to Download Introduction Windows Vista Study Guide