Log On with Larry

Booting up your day

Written by Larry Schneider
Thursday, 19 January 2012 00:00

Dear Larry,

When I start Windows on my computer, I have to wait a long time before it’s ready to go. I’ve been told this is because my computer has been set up to run a number of different programs automatically. How do I make changes to this list? —L.N.

Dear L.N.,

To those of you who are not sure what we’re talking about here, consider this: Do you find yourself performing some of the same tasks each time you start Windows? For example, do you always open your e-mail program to check for new mail? Do you regularly start your calendar software to keep track of the day’s events? Perhaps you always start your word processor and open your journal to record the previous day’s happenings, or you open the book you’ve been writing. Maybe you always start your financial software to help you keep track of where the roller coaster is heading today. Whatever your set of circumstances may be, it’s easy to understand how gaining control over what opens automatically with Windows can get you off to a more productive start in the morning.

Folders: Computer Tupperware

Written by Larry Schneider
Thursday, 05 January 2012 00:00

Dear Larry,

What exactly is a folder?

— M.L.

Dear M.L.,

A hard drive is in essence an oversized filing cabinet, and it helps if you think of a folder as a drawer in this electronic filing cabinet. If you buy a real four-drawer filing cabinet, you can expect that until its dying days, that filing cabinet will contain four drawers. On the contrary, a hard drive is intended to be a filing cabinet whose drawers may be reshaped by its owner many times over.

Get Siri-ous

Written by Larry Schneider
Thursday, 15 December 2011 00:00

Dear Larry,

I’m going to be upgrading my iPhone to the new 4S model because of this new “Siri” feature. Can you tell me what it can and cannot do? —P.S.

Dear P.S.,

Siri is the name of the “personal assistant” built into the new iPhone 4S. It’s capable of listening to you and taking appropriate action. Of course, it’s not able to do everything you ask of it, but it’s very good at what it can do.

Smile for the acronym

Written by Larry Schneider
Thursday, 10 November 2011 00:00

Dear Larry,

For the second time now, I’ve received an e-mail containing the “word” IMHO. I’ve been too embarrassed to ask what this means. Can you fill me in? —R.S.

Dear R.S.,

All users of e-mail and the Internet eventually come to learn the language you’re referring to. This “secret” form of communication includes a number of acronyms (such as IMHO) representing common English expressions that ease the typing of many a messenger. There are some 50 or 60 of these that I’m familiar with, and I’m certain that there are plenty more that I’m not. Let’s see how many of these you can figure out on your own. (Answers follow.)

How to deal with windows

Written by Larry Schneider
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 23:00

Dear Larry,

One of my friends asked me to move a window, and I didn’t know what she was talking about! Please clue me in.

P. D.

Dear P. D.,

First, be sure you understand why they call it “Windows!” A window is a rectangular box in which a program runs, a folder or document is viewed, a Web site is perused, and so forth. These windows are used to separate one task from another.

How can I protect my children from all the sex that pervades the net?

Wednesday, 17 August 2011 23:00

Dear Larry,

How can I protect my children from sexual content in e-mail and on the Internet?

—D.D.

Dear D.D.,

It’s not surprising that pornography has permeated the Internet. The open-ended freedom of the Web makes it an excellent delivery vehicle for this type of content. The irony is that these Web sites have in part been responsible for many of the Internet’s technological breakthroughs. Pornographic Web sites, in an effort to distinguish themselves, have led the way in advances such as Internet advertising, video, online conferencing, user customization and other leading edge technologies.