** Issue #11 January 15th, 2007 **
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#1- News, News, News
I've added a new feature to this issue and the January 1st issue. You can now add your comments to articles that appear in the newsletter. It's a great way to share your thoughts and ideas with other readers, and me. At the end of each article is a comment link. Click the link, enter your info, and type away!
In This Issue...
#2 - Do you have a buck or two?
#3 - The Knock Down Drag Out Anti Spyware Cage Match Winner
#4 - Link or embed Excel Charts in MS Word - Carol continues her article explaining how to use a chart in Word.
#5 - My recommended Software - Updated to reflect the Anti Spyware winner!
#6 - The Lighter Side - Some humor to lighten your load!
#7 - Useful websites - Websites I've visited lately that you may find useful.
In the next issue...
Let's talk Vista. I'll tell you what I know about the new operating system.
Here is where I beg!
I hope you find this newsletter useful. I strive to provide information in a manner that is entertaining and useful for everyone. There is something in each newsletter for everyone. If you enjoy reading the newsletter I would appreciate if you would tell a friend, relative, or coworker. Use any means necessary to spread the word about Daves Computer Tips. A quick suggestion: How about a Daves Computer Tips sweatshirt?
As always I appreciate your comments and suggestions about the site and newsletter. If you would like to share please contact me at dave @ davescomputertips.com.
Carol is our resident "Office Goddess". If you have Microsoft Office questions or suggestions for future Office articles shoot her an email at carol @ carolscorneroffice.com.
#2 - Do you have a buck or two?
I know many readers received new computers over the holiday season and others are in the market either for a new PC or to upgrade to Vista when it's released. I hope to be in a position to continue providing Windows XP coverage and add some Vista content also.
I have two options: buy a Vista Ultimate upgrade for $259 (which I can't afford) or replace my computer (which I can't afford). I can truly tax the abilities of my current computer, and I'm highly suspect of the ability of my computer to run Vista and continue to multitask to the degree I require. My current computer is almost 4yrs old and it's had a hard life. I've actually worn the coating off the touch pad. Basically I need a new computer with a lot of guts to run Vista and the hoard of other programs I test and use.
I know that things are tight for everyone and we are all trying to recover from the holiday season (My timing is great). Basically I'm asking for those that have an extra dollar or two and appreciate the work I do if they would donate a couple of dollars to support the newsletter. The money will be used to purchase a new computer running Microsoft Vista. The new computer will allow me to begin adding relevant Vista content to the newsletter! If you don't have the extra money I understand. If you don't think this newsletter is worthy, I won't hold that against you. If you don't agree with me groveling for donations I understand. I won't hold anything against anyone. I won't give those that can donate special treatment (other than a heart felt thank you). I won't change the newsletter. The only purpose of this request is the purchase of a new computer to further the efforts of my site and newsletter.
If you enjoy the Daves Computer Tips Newsletter and find it helpful you may donate by clicking the PayPal button below. You may donate any amount you feel comfortable with. Every little bit helps and is appreciated!
#3 - Anti-spyware cage match winner
By David Hartsock
Here we are at end of the anti-spyware test. In the last issue of the newsletter I presented a table of results and Excel spreadsheets of all files and registry keys. If you missed them you should take a look. I've created a new table that shows the whole picture below. Have a look and I'll go into more detail.
| AdAware | AVG | CounterSpy | Spybot | SpySweeper | Spyware Doctor | Spyware Terminator | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Removed Files | 1353 | 623 | 1420 | 1810 | 1536 | 1700 | 551 |
| Unique Removed Files | 28 | 88 | 159 | 1061 | 337 | 480 | 118 |
| Total Removed Keys | 21460 | 18781 | 24234 | 18760 | 20032 | 22188 | 1271 |
| Unique Removed Keys | 25 | 4 | 67 | 45 | 68 | 51 | 4 |
| Unique program files | 8 | 51 | 25 | 17 | 57 | 17 | 17 |
| docs & settings | 63 | 140 | 572 | 90 | 350 | 894 | 53 |
| temp folder | 14 | 54 | 64 | 9 | 42 | 42 | 7 |
| start menu | 8 | 10 | 22 | 8 | 64 | 17 | 12 |
| desktop | 17 | 72 | 64 | 6 | 68 | 50 | 16 |
Applications, spyware and otherwise, generally store themselves and their data in the registry, program files, documents and settings (and it's temp folder), desktop, and start menu.
Total Removed Files - Total number of files removed by the anti-spyware program
Unique Removed Files - Number of files removed ONLY by that anti-spyware program
Total Removed Keys - Total number of registry keys removed by the anti-spyware program
Unique Removed Keys - Number of registry keys removed ONLY by that anti-spyware program
Unique Removed Program Files - The is the number of specific program folders in the Program Files directory that the program removed at least one file from.
Documents and Settings - The total number of files in the Documents and Settings directory the program removed.
Temp Folder - Number of files removed from the Temp folder within the Documents and Settings directory.
Start Menu - Number of items removed from the Start Menu.
Desktop - Number of items removed from the Desktop. This is interesting because there was a folder on the test desktop full of spyware samples.
To add to the confusion a spyware infection might add 10 files and 10 registry entries. One anti-spyware program may remove 2 files and 3 registry keys. This may "disable" the spyware, but leaves behind lots of garbage. I don't like garbage! With that said, no program completely removed every trace of each infection.
Spyware Terminator was a huge disappointment, both in infections removed and traces of removed infections left behind. I do not recommend Spyware Terminator.
AdAware and Spybot were about right where I envisioned them. Both did a admirable job of deleting what they did find, but both missed quite a few infections. If I were limited to only one I would choose Spybot.
AVG was in the low end of everything except desktop, temp folder, and unique program files. This tells me that AVG did a great job attacking the spyware samples I stored on the desktop, removing desktop shortcuts created by spyware, and removing parts of many spyware installations. I also like the number of files deleted from the temp folder, which is a common place for spyware to hide.
Spyware Doctor held it's own in the test. I was very impressed with the number of files removed from the Documents and Settings folder. This is where most programs leave a lot of garbage. The Start Menu and Unique Program Files left something to be desired. The low number of Unique Program Files entries mean that Spyware Doctor left 40 folders in the Program Files directory untouched.
CounterSpy and SpySweeper are the top two anti-spyware programs in my opinion. CounterSpy did a great job in everything except Unique Program Files and Start Menu entries. Because CounterSpy missed 32 folders in the Program Files directory and 42 Start Menu entries, as well as the size of the installation download I believe SpySweeper did a much better all around job!
If I only had the option of running one antispyware program it would be SpySweeper, which gets the Daves Computer Tips Anti-Spyware Seal of Approval!
That's not the end of the story. If you look at the spreadsheets in the last issue and the tables in the last few issues you will see that no single program removes all infections. I recommend running SpySweeper for it's real-time protection and good detection and removal. You should also install Spybot and AdAware and run them occasionally to clean up any garbage left by SpySweeper.
I do not recommend running more than one program that offers real-time protection. The conflicts and slow down created by running multiple programs with background processes (real-time protection) is just not worth the potential problems. One program offering real-time protection (hopefully SpySweeper) and the free programs AdAware and Spybot will give you plenty of protection without any headaches.
In the next few days I'll update the website and picks section of the newsletter to reflect SpySweeper as the winner and CounterSpy as runner-up. I'll update the RSS feed to notify readers when the update is complete!
#4 - Link or embed Excel charts in Word
by Carol A. Bratt
If an Excel chart already exists, it's a simple matter to link or embed one into a Word document. The techniques are similar to those for linking and embedding Excel worksheets by using the Paste Special command.
Documents dealing with numeric data can often bog you down in details, causing a reader to miss the main point. A well-placed chart can show at a glance the trend or relationship among the numbers. While you can create a chart from scratch in MS Word, you don't need to do so if the chart already exists in Excel.
Follow the steps below to link or embed an Excel chart into a Word document.
- Launch MS Word and Excel.
- Open both Word and Excel files.
- Switch to Word and place the insertion point where you want the charge to be inserted.
- Choose Edit | Paste Special to see the dialog box.
- Click Paste and Microsoft Excel Chart Object to embed, or click Paste Link to link the chart.
The chart appears as a picture within the document, surrounded by sizing handles to adjust it, and change the text wrapping to position it on the page so that text wraps around it. Double-click it to modify the contents of the chart using Excel, as with worksheets.
Don't just dump a charge into a document. Always label it as a Figure, Exhibit or Chart and refer to it specifically by name in the document.
Even if an Excel chart requires an entire page, don't just print it in Excel and insert the sheet between your report pages. Instead, insert the chart right into the document so the page numbering and headers and footers are consistent throughout. If necessary, change to landscape orientation to make a large chart fit on a page; just be sure to insert section breaks above and below the charge before you change to landscape.
Carol writes the monthly Word Bytes Newsletter with more tips and tricks each issue. Visit Carol's website for more great Microsoft Office tips and tricks! Visit Carol's site at www.carolscorneroffice.com.
#5- My Recommended Software
Anti-spyware and Anti-malware Software
Webroot SpySweeper - Daves Computer Tips Seal of Approval Winner! See the test results HERE. Spysweeper provides the best protection of the seven anti-spyware programs tested! Great detection and removal rates with a small real-time protection memory footprint. This is the one you want! SpySweeper includes the ASK toolbar. Be sure to uncheck this option during installation. Free 14 day trial.
CounterSpy - Runner-up in my Anti-Spyware test. Not only does CounterSpy scan and remove spyware, it also uses real time protection. Real-time protection prevents spyware infection. Free 15 day trial. Winner of Computer Shopper Magazine's Best Buy Award!
Antivirus and Firewall Software
ESET Smart Security - New from the maker's of NOD32. Antivirus, Antispyware, Antispam, and Firewall all wrapped into one effective, swift, and low resource package. It is what I use to protect each of my computers!
Kaspersky Antivirus - Kaspersky is my second choice for antivirus software. A good program that is very close in performance to NOD32. Free trial.
Online Armor Firewall - You shouldn't be on the internet without a software firewall that offers inbound and outbound protection. Online Armor is the Best of the Best. Online Armor uses an interface that is easier to navigate than most other firewalls and the protection level can't be beat! Online Armor is available in both a free and reasonably priced paid version, which offers even more protection!
Audio and Video Software
Acoustica Audio Converter Pro - This program converts audio formats and bitrates. Perfect for those with portable audio players or large music collections. 30 day trial.
Adobe Premier Elements 7 - Elements is the home version of Adobe Premiere, the best professional video editing suite today. Premier Elements costs 1/6th the price of the professional version, but is very capable of making videos that will impress everyone.
DVDFab is my favorite DVD software. I tried over 30 different programs before settling on DVDFab. It offers every function of the other programs and more! Copy, burn, shrink, convert for mobile devices, or convert for streaming. Almost all of the other programs I've tried did not function as advertised, were extremely slow, or did not have features that worked as advertised. DVDFab works, and works as advertised! It's easy to use, has a pleasant user interface, and it updated often.
Computer Hardware
Crucial Memory - Memory (RAM) is the upgrade that gives any computer the best bang for the buck. If you want to speed things up with more memory, why not purchase it from the leading source of quality RAM memory. Great selection, good prices, excellent support, and a lifetime warranty! A real winner!
CyberGuys - The place to get those hard to find cables and accessories for your computer!
HP Computers
- My current pick for new laptops and desktops. In the current market I don't think you can beat HP's combination of price and performance. Their laptop line is very cost effective and the design is absolutely beautiful!
Newegg - Newegg.com is known for great service and awesome pricing on computers, upgrades, and electronics. If you're looking for computers, computer parts, or electronics you owe it to yourself to start here! Great Products. Great Prices. Great Customer Service!
Computer Maintenance Software
Diskeeper 2008 - My current favorite defrag program. As files are written and erased from the hard drive they begin to leave "spaces" behind. When the drive is written to again files are broken up to fill in these spaces. This causes the drive to go to several different locations to read an entire file, which slows performance greatly. Diskeeper has several advanced features such as; automatic defrag, scheduled defrag, and the ability to defrag the MFT (Master File Table) and paging file. 30 day trial.
Registry Mechanic - A very thorough and efficient registry cleaner and defragmenter. A definite must to maintain peak performance and stabile operation. 30 day trial.
Computer Utility Software
Acronis True Image 2009 - Do you value the data on your computer? Do you value your time? How much time will you spend recovering data and returning your computer to its original state after a hardware failure or software glitch? True Image is my #1 choice in backup tools. Whether you choose file or image based backups (you should use both!) True Image will perform better than any other application I've used. Disk images created with True Image are generally 10-20% smaller than those from comparable programs. If your time and files are as important to you as mine are to me this is a must have.
Acronis Disk Director - My favorite tool to partition, format, and resize hard drives.
Roboform - This program is the next best thing since sliced bread in my book! This program integrates into Internet Explorer and firefox. It generates very secure passwords at the click of a button. How do I remember these complex passwords? Roboform allows you to save passwords and personal data in an encrypted format. A master password (yes only one password to remember!) allows access. Roboform in IE and FireFox works like a super powered bookmark. You click the site you want to go to and Roboform opens the site, enters your username and password for the site (if required) and as if by magic clicks the submit button. If you shop online Roboform can enter your personal information and credit card information, which is also stored in a secure encrypted file, in one click. A real time saver with great security thrown in to boot! 30 day trial.
WinRar - What is commonly called a zip utility, similar to the more widely known WinZip. WinRar is faster and works with more formats for about 1/2 the price of WinZip. 30 day trial.
Desktop Utility Software
LogonStudio - Change the screen that appears when you boot Windows (the one with the moving bar graph). Hundreds of free skins available online. It's free.
Cursor XP Plus - Change the cursors on your computer. Hundreds of cursor packs are available online for free.
Icon Packager - Change the icons on your computer. Icon Packager puts you in control to change every icon with the click of a button. Tired of the plain icons built into Windows? There are hundreds of Icon Packs available online for free, which will add a truly personal feel to your computer.
WindowBlinds 6 - This is the icing on the proverbial cake. WindowBlinds changes the look and feel of Windows. By changing the appearance of the task bar, start menu, and any other window or program you open. It adds transparency, shadows, alpha blending, and animations. Hundreds of themes are available online for free.
Internet and Email
1&1 hosting - If you want to start your own website, blog, photo gallery, or have a personalized email address then 1&1 is for you. 1&1 can not be beat for reliability, features, support, and price. 90 day guarantee.
Google Gmail - The best internet based email (webmail) available. Each mailbox has a 6.5GB limit. The interface is superb, and the spam filter is top notch. You will never need to delete an email again! It has a great search function and a feature called thread view, which makes finding emails easy. A webmail account offers several advantages including not being required to change your email address if you change service providers. Gmail requires an invitation from a current member. If you are interested shoot me an email and I'll send you an invite.
Microsoft Outlook 2007 - Outlook is the current email client of choice for corporate America. I get well over 200 emails a day. Outlook has a few features I really need such as a plug in for automatic backups, office sounds which offers me some audible feedback, and the ability to change headers. I've used Mozilla Thunderbird and liked it a lot. With the amount of mail I go through I really need the features of Outlook. If you aren't a heavy user, or don't need the features I do then Thunderbird is a great alternative.
Firefox 3 - An amazing, free, web browser. If you aren't using it you should be! Highly customizable through addins called extensions. There are thousands of extensions which can allow FireFox to do just about anything you can imagine. More importantly, Firefox is not subject to ActiveX, which is a large part of Internet Explorer, AOL, and MSN. No ActiveX means much less chance of getting spyware! Firefox also conforms to web standards more closely than Internet Explorer, which means you will see what the authors intended, not Microsoft.
Mozilla Thunderbird - A great free email client, from the same folks that brought us FireFox. Easy to use and highly customizable through extensions.
Photo and Picture Software
Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 - Photoshop Elements is the home version of Adobe Photoshop. If you are serious about digital photos you will find Photoshop Elements a great program to have at your disposal. Elements provides all the functionality most will need at 1/6th the price of the full Photoshop version.
Picasa - A great (FREE) way to organize, edit, and share your digital photos.
#6- The lighter side
After spending countless hours surfing the web in search of various funny or interesting things to share with you here are a few of my finds to lighten your day! I go through a lot to please my readers!
Vector Scape - A space shooter video game. 1MB download. This might remind you of an arcade game from the 80's :)
Tiny Combat 2 - Protect the headquarters!
Jail Escape - A cute little flash game. Use your mouse and your brain to get out of jail.
Coins - Another instance of someone with too much time on their hands (and too much change).
#7- A few website's you may find useful
Tadej's Computing Homepage - Tadej and I have exchanged a few emails. He's from Slovenia and has a ton of info on his site!
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