Home Server
Season 6, Episode 19
Original air date: 08/16/2008
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Original Airdate: February 16, 2008
Do you have all of your files spread out over a number of different computers? Now you can stream your media to all your computers with HP’s MediaSmart Server. The MediaSmart Server makes it easy for you and your family to share photos, music and videos, and back up all your important files, whether you’re on a Mac or a PC.
Steve shows us the business side of Voice Over IP (VOIP) with Vonage. He explains how using the Internet for your phone line can translate to big savings for small business.
On Tech Toys, Caroline shows us how to take a step beyond standard old photo frames with new digital photo frames. You can scroll through your photos manually, or run a photo slideshow automatically.
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Comments
I am 58yrs old and am not
I am 58yrs old and am not computer comfortable. I've used them in a very limited way for a few years. Last September I was given a Dell for my own home use. After several hours of set-up/installation by younger computer savvy friends, I was OK to go. I do enjoy banking the from my home, email, and access to job sites. I'm operating on Windows 2000 Professional and using hard disks. Do you think it's a good investment of my limited funds to upgrade my system to handle the CDs and to go to Windows xp (Around $80).I've have hear so many negatives about the Vista I'm afraid to install it. What would you suggest. With Thanks
58 and not Computer Comfy..
~*LorettaB*~
Hi, I just wanted to make a fast comment to your post. I just started using PC's myself only
1 1/2 yrs ago, I was terrified and had no past experience at all before purchasing my HP Pavilion. I never realized I was worrying too much, in no time I caught on and am now very comfortable though still learning all the time. I started on XP and was very concerned to try Vista, but I bit the bullet and gave it a try. Maybe I am just strange, or maybe I didn't use XP long enough to tell the difference but I actually prefer Vista and think it is easier than the XP was. We all pitched in together and bought my grandmother a PC 2 Christmas's ago, after only playing on it this full year she is on it everyday sending photo's, emails, using the webcam to keep in touch. She too was nervous to start with, but caught one fast once she sat with it a couple weeks. My point is, dont freak yourself out, take it slow and spend time on it, you really cant mess it up as bad as you think you can just by sticking with the basics at first. If my grandma and I can do it, I think most anyone can. As for Vista, if you haven't used XP to be used to it already, dont be afraid of Vista, you can learn it just the same. Sorry so long. Good Luck!! and ENJOY....LorettaB
Regarding Windows Vista..
Linda and all other Vista users,
I used XP for years and never had many problems at all.. I purchased a new computer around 6 months ago preloaded with windows Vista and it has been one of the most frustrating experiences I have had regarding computers. It ran extremely slow at first (partially because Im running 512 MBs of RAM, the bare minimum for Vista) however with a tweak here and there you can boost the speed.. I recommend right clicking your hard drives, click properties and make sure indexing is OFF.. it will take a few moments to complete this task so be patient and make sure you don't have any other apps running in the background or it will take forever to finish. Another way you can get it thinking faster is if you go to your control panel, double click performance information and click Adjust Visual Effects in the Tasks column. Give Windows permission to access the settings, click on Adjust for best performance and click apply. At the expense of a pretty GUI (Graphical User Interface) its will significantly boost the speed of Vista. There is also a neat little option called "ReadyBoost." If you have a Memory stick with 2GBs or more you can use the space on your memory stick to boost up your PC. Vista automatically asks you if you would like to use your mem stick for Readyboost as soon as you plug it in. There are plenty other ways you can boost the speed of your PC, I'm not going to list EVERY way but always remember in any situation, Google is your best friend. Another issue with Vista I've found is plentiful compatibility issues. Sometimes this can be easily countered simply by right clicking the program you are having troubles with, click properties, click the compatibility tab, check the box under Compatibility mode and change it to whatever OS (operating system) the program was intended for (if you are unsure don't hesitate to use Google to find out) Sometimes this does not work, and my only recommendation after that is to, again, use google to search for someone with similar problems with the same program.. in some situations you may even be able to download a patch for the program from the creators web page... I would try this first, or even ask someone from the creator for their advice. Alot of the speed techniques also work with Windows XP, to make it even faster than it already is.. I recommend going with XP, but if you do be aware that there are some things now, and in the future that you will not be able to do with XP, that you can Vista. I hope this helps you and some of the other Dotto Tech Fans.
Dave Reddon
Contact:
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LONG LIVE STEVE DOTTO, L337 c0mpu7er g3n!0u$ !!!!!!!
re: Regarding Windows Vista..
Great tips, thanks Dave
Hey 58!
Just wanted to make a few comments in response to your post. I am a tech for a major computer retailer so I understand your concerns. The answer tou your question about upgrading is simple. It is usually not worth it.
I don't know the secifications of your system but if it was designed to run 2000 finding parts other than say a hard disk drive or CD/DVD drive is difficult and if it's working to your satisfaction on 2000 you have no need to upgrade your operating system.
If you want to upgrade say your Optical drive, and add XP you are looking at about $150.00. You may find that XP slows your system down considerably if you have 512 RAM or less. so add $50-100 if this is the case. so we are looking at as much as $250.00 to upgrade a well used computer. A new computer with warranty and vastly improved performance can cost as little as $350.00 for a good XP system or $500.00 for a Vista system
As for Vista I wouldn't imagine your current system would be capable of running it. It IS a resource hog and sadly most computer manufacturers sell systems with too little resources to run vista properly. IF you do decide to wade into the new computer market the only computers I am aware of at this moment that still ship with XP are the Dell Vostro line. There may be others but this is all I'm aware of. If you go for a Vista system make SURE it is running either a Pentium or Athalon processor and 1 gig of RAM minimum. I find Vista works best with 2 Gigs of RAM.
Vista is a great operating system, as a tech the 2 biggest problems that are encountered with Vista are;
1. people who (totaly unknowingly) buy a Vista system with 512 megs of RAM (simply not enough to run it. it's like driving a bus with a 4 cilinder engine).
2. people who install drivers or high level access programs (like an anti virus program) that are NOT Vista compatible. This damages the operating system and can lead to data loss ( it's like putting diesel in a normal gas car). Vista warns you that what you are installing is NOT Vista certified and/or may have issues but that doesn't stop alot of people from trying it. then when the computer will not start they tell everyone how terrible Vista is.
Hope this helps answer your questions!
58 yrs and am not computer savy
I hope this is a help for you,`I am an older person (aound your age) and I have a Windows xp Proffesional, but I decided to upgrade to the Vista. I do not know why you should hesitate to upgrade to a Vista. I started two months ago with a Basic Vista that I networked with my xp Proffesional, and I realized that to speed it up it needed more ram memory. I added 1 gigabyte of ram and I plan on adding two more gigabytes of ram as well. That solved the solution of theVista being slow. I also added the micrrosoft Vista Ultamate disk to upgrade the new Vista with positive results. I really like the vista operating system, and I enjoy building my own computer to meet my needs. At the end of this month I will add the Windows Ultimate Office for Vista and have further plans too make the Vista operating sytem my main home computer.
Since I am a user of Network Majic on my operating systems, when I have the Vista completed too my satisfaction, I will be purchasing a Macintosh laptop computer and I will gladly pass on my windows xp proffesional computer. I have found that on a small budget anyone can upgrade and pay gradualy rather than buy a plug and play computer that may or may not end up suiting your needs.. The Vista operating system is better than the press it has recieved. I hope this is a help when you consider your home computer options. As time goes by, you will rely on your home computer more and more.
To spend money to upgrade a Windows Xp is investing in an operating system that will soon be obsolete. Good luck in your choices, but if you do not have a lot of cash for a computer I recomend that you look around for something new and basic that you can build to suit your budget. Good luck on your choices.
dvs_silvernite
vista
can i put a copy of micorsoft 2003 program in vista. I hear that if you do. you computer will close down.
Office 2003 On Vista
Yes Microsoft Office 2003 can be installed on Windows Vista.
hard drive problems
Bart T. Connors:
How do you take a hard drive from being partationed back to its
origional statious. It was a 250g hard drive and then it was put into a
pent.3 drive and the drive only recognized that it was a 128g hard
drive. What can I do To restore it ? Thank You.
hard drive problems
Good Day,
In order to return a hard drive to one large partition you would have to boot the computer using a Windows XP installation cd for example and when it asks for where to setup Windows you can tell it to remove all existing partitions and create a new one.
Fraser
Nice and thanks for given
Nice and thanks for given information to us.
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