USB! USB! What is the state of USB? What is it? All Things USB We’re going to try and keep to the most current, relevant stuff, so no history lesson here. There’s enough stuff currently and more coming to keep us busy anyhow! If you take one piece of advice from Sam this show, then it should be “label things!” What do all these plugs look like? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_hardware#Connectors Need a chart? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB#Connector_type_quick_reference Current as of last year: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/09/usb-if-is-once-again-trying-to-logo-its-way-out-of-usb-c-confusion/
Life without a Microsoft Account? (5/14/22 Part 2)
You get a new computer and it wants you to make a Microsoft Account. Yay? Do I HAVE to use an MS Account with Windows 11? Why would you want one? Why wouldn’t you? How can you NOT have one? Well, we answer that and more! Join Jonathan, LD, and Sam as we talk about that! https://www.extremetech.com/computing/324134-i-will-never-use-a-microsoft-account-to-log-into-my-own-pc https://www.extremetech.com/computing/299341-microsoft-needs-to-stop-screwing-with-local-accounts-in-windows-10
Peripherals 101: Video Cards! (5/7/22 Part 1)
Video cards and GPUs (graphics processing units) are an essential part of your computer! All About That Video! Doesn’t matter if you’ve got a desktop or laptop*, you’ve got one in there. So we talk about that! And if this gets you asking more questions, you can shoot us an email to ask them at mauionline@q-a.net! Helpful links: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-buying-guide,5844.html https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-cc-gpu-card-faq.html https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/multi/gpu-acceleration-and-hardware-encoding.html
Word and word processing! (4/23/22 Part 1)
The Word processor is one of those programs that most everyone will use at some point. So, we found a few tips for you to make the experience better, including not using Word! Word Processing 101 Find a keyboard shortcut cheat-sheet Windows keyboard shortcuts: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows-dcc61a57-8ff0-cffe-9796-cb9706c75eec#WindowsVersion=Windows_10 Microsoft Word keyboard shortcuts: Windows keyboard shortcuts: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows-dcc61a57-8ff0-cffe-9796-cb9706c75eec#WindowsVersion=Windows_10 W10/11: go to Settings, System, Clipboard, you can enable “Clipboard History.” Win + V for Clipboard History Win + . for emoji ❤️ Word has a Focus feature so you can simply write with minimal distractions. Go to View then click Focus. Press Escape to get out of it. Add words to the dictionary! https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-or-edit-words-in-a-spell-check-dictionary-56e5c373-29f8-4d11-baf6-87151725c0dc You don’t need Acrobat to make a PDF of your document! https://www.howtogeek.com/352668/how-to-convert-a-microsoft-word-document-to-a-pdf/ Classes are available via Maui Computer Learning! https://www.q-a.net/maui-computer-learning/ You don’t have to buy Word! https://www.office.com/ for the free online version. Its more limited but more than enough for many folks. Also available on phones! Wordpad comes with Windows and is usable for basic use. Google Docs is pretty good, more robust than the free online Word, and free. Libre Office and Open Office are available for free! Macs come with iWork which comes with Pages, a nice little word processor.
We were the fools and forgot World Backup Day! (4/9/22 Part 2)
Did you know March 31st is World Backup Day? And they do it at the end of March so you’re not an April’s Fool? World Backup Day 2022 We did. And we forgot. D’oh! So, we talked about it! Things to do, to look into, and to think about! And don’t forget our show archives have TONS on backups too!
Digital Defenses 101: Introduction (2/5/22 Part 1)
Your computer is your castle! And the trick with castles is sometimes they come under siege. Digital Defense Overview – Part 1 We’re beginning a series on Digital Defenses! For more reading, PC Magazine has a great article!
Digital Defenses 101: The Introduction Continues (2/5/22 Part 2)
We continue our introduction of Digital Defenses. Digital Defense Overview – Part 2 In this overview we’ll go over what we’ll be talking about the next few shows. If you’ve got questions? Email us at mauionline@q-a.net!
Online Scams! And we’ve got a prize! (1/29/22 Part 1)
As always, there are online attacks, scams, and badness running amok. Online Scams – 2022 Are things the same as before? Or has it changed a bit? https://blog.malwarebytes.com/malwarebytes-news/2022/01/new-dazzlespy-malware-attacks-macos/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/ransomware-in-2022-were-all-screwed/ https://www.techrepublic.com/article/cybersecurity-best-practices-an-open-letter-to-end-users/ Also, our friends at the Dairy Road OfficeMax/Office Depot have given us a FANTASTIC prize! It’s Monster Quest RGB Corded Mechanical PC. What’s great about a mechanical keyboard? Well, Tom’s Hardware has an article about that. If you touch type (or game) its great!
Is it time to upgrade to Windows 11? (1/29/22 Part 2)
Is it time to upgrade to Windows 11? Windows 11 – Is it time? Its been out for a while, they’ve been working on it, and maybe it’s okay now? Well, depending on YOU? Yeah, it might be! We talk about it and how things have come plus why you might not. https://www.pcmag.com/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-windows-11 https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/26/22902477/microsoft-windows-11-update-android-apps-preview-taskbar-notepad-media-player https://www.windowscentral.com/people-are-adopting-windows-11-twice-rate-10-os-upgrade-offer-ahead-schedule
Are You Ready To Change Browsers? (12/4/21 Part 1)
How many web browsers are out there? A lot, actually. Comparing Browsers So, when if you’re ever unhappy with a browser, why stay? As such, knowing how to change browsers is a good thing! Changing will get easier in Windows 11. Eventually. https://www.neowin.net/news/a-welcome-change-on-windows-11-choosing-a-default-browser-gets-a-bit-easier-with-build-22509/ Get Firefox! https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/ Get TOR! https://www.torproject.org/ Get Chrome! https://www.google.com/chrome/ Get Opera! https://www.opera.com/ Get Vivaldi! https://vivaldi.com/download/ Get Brave! https://brave.com/download/