COMPUTER CORNER #1039 – 04/03/08<br />

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COMPUTER CORNER #1039 – 04/03/08

Apr 3, 2008

Occasionally I have mentioned some Web sites that I find interesting. One of them seems to have generated more interest (or comments) than most.

Zipskinny.com is loaded with local statistics, mostly from government data comparing areas by zip code as related to adjoining ones.

Contrary to what one reader thought, I did not invent the data to denigrate his town. It originates with the census bureau.

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Although Microsoft is pushing to standardize everyone to the latest version of Windows, it looks like market realities are going to keep Windows XP around for a little while past the current June deadline which had already been extended from January.

Overseas, Microsoft consented to stretch the deadline in about 100 emerging markets which are planning to sell the entry level Windows XP Starter Edition through 2010. This is for use on ultra low-cost PCs.

Another new and important market is in the nascent but growing demand for low-cost, flash memory-based notebook computers, such as the Asus EeePC (which I have discussed here). In mature markets people are even willing to trade a few features for getting a low-cost, light machine that allows full Web browsing on the go. While I favor Windows Vista for my own needs, using pretty standard software applications, others don’t want to be limited.

Publicly Microsoft is still sticking to the revised June deadline, but the company has shown a willingness to make changes in the past.

My big question is whether it will extend the deadline only for certain types of computers. There are plenty of mainstream models today where XP remains an option, particularly on custom machines from the likes of HP, Lenovo, and Dell.

Caps Lock alarm

My computer at work has a feature where it will make a beep sound when I accidentally press the Caps Lock key and a boop sound when I hit it again. I would like to have the same feature at home on my Vista laptop. Our Data Processing gal told me that this is only available on corporate networks. Is there some way I can easily do it on my laptop? Thanks. Hank D.

Dear Hank: This feature has been available for quite some time. It used to be under “accessibility options” but in Vista you can also set the sound yourself. It is now in the Control Panel under “Ease of Access Options.” Go to Start | Control Panel | Ease of Access Options | Make the keyboard easier to use | checkmark “Turn on toggle keys.” That will do it.

You also have the option to checkmark only “Turn on Toggle Keys by holding down the NumLock key for five seconds” if you do not want to Toggle sound to be effective permanently after you reboot. This would be in the case when using your computer in an environment where silence is golden.

Windows Explorer

I would like to get to the Windows Explorer in Vista with the minimum number of mouse clicks and would like to see the folder view where the drive and folder structure are on the left, and the filenames in the main window. Thanks. Mike E.

Dear Mike: There is an even easier way to get to the screen that you want with a Windows key. Just click the Windows key and the letter E. The size of the display can be windowed or full screen, depending on the setting which you last used.

Funny keys

My computer keyboard has a couple of funny looking keys with icons that look like nautical flags. They are identical to each other and located on both sides of the bottom row. Can you tell me what they are good for? Thanks. Johnny.

Dear Johnny: Those keys represent the Microsoft logo, and can vary quite a bit in appearance. Like the Shift and Ctrl key, they are normally used in conjunction with one or more other keys to perform some useful function.

They are not well advertised as few people use them, but should. The question, above, from Mike represents one possible use. You can find a complete list in the Help files, now that you know that we are referring to the “Windows logo keys.” The most useful functions are D: display the desktop, M: minimize all windows, Shift M: restore all windows, F: search for file or folder. There are several other ways to bring up these functions. Use whatever technique is easiest for you to remember.

Skype

I recently saw a demonstration of a program that allows people to speak for free across the Internet while looking at live pictures of each other. When I downloaded the free software, I found out that it wanted a credit card to pay for phone calls. It was just a couple of pennies a minute but I seem to remember that you said that it was completely free. Can you clarify? Lloyd S.

Dear Lloyd: You heard me right. People can speak face to face on their computers without paying anything for the privilege. Where charges come in is where you are trying to communicate with a party that does not have a computer. In that case, it requires access to a telephone line in the country of destination. Also, you are then limited only to voice.

Where there is a computer on the Internet at both ends, it is completely free, and full featured.

Obviously, you will need a camera and microphone at both ends, which is standard on most laptops and notebooks, including some of the very inexpensive machine. I know of several local users with overseas friends, or family members, who have frequent contacts that way. Typically you would see the other party live, full screen and your own picture as a smaller insert on your screen. I have found the setup to be very easy with excellent picture quality.