Mr. Modem
features syndicated
columnist, speaker and author Richard Sherman responding to questions
from on the latest computer topics. His latest book, Mr. Modem's
Internet Guide for Seniors is available at bookstores. E-mail your
questions to him at MrModem@home.com
Five Views to Choose
Which Windows Vista Suits You?
Q. I’m confused about the different versions of the new Windows Vista. Could you sort that out for me, Mr. M?
A. Sure. There are five versions of Vista. Though most home users will opt for Vista Premium or Vista Ultimate, the full line-up includes:
Vista Home Basic. Similar to Windows Home Edition, this version does not include Vista’s fancier media features, such as DVD burning, HDTV and TV recording features.
Vista Home Premium. This is Vista Home Basic, but with the media features included. It’s primarily for users who watch TV on their PC or who want to create DVDs from camcorder footage.
Vista Business. This version targets the business market, as did XP Professional, with networking and faxing features, but it lacks the media-related features found in Home Premium.
Vista Enterprise. Of little interest to home users, this upgraded business version contains support for additional languages and larger networks.
Vista Ultimate. A combination of Home and Business versions, Ultimate targets the hearts and wallets of power users or individuals who simply want all the bells and whistles. (And yes, I’m running Vista Ultimate. I never met a bell or whistle I didn’t like.)
If your current system is meeting your needs, there’s really no great urgency to move to Vista. In that situation, I suggest waiting until you need a new computer, which will have Vista installed. All versions reside on the Vista installation DVD, so upgrading is a snap.
Q. I’m thinking of changing from Outlook Express to Outlook, but I occasionally use the Stationery feature in Outlook Express. Can you tell me if that is also a feature in Outlook? Thanks for your help, Mr. M.
A. Yes, it is, but you have to have HTML format selected for your email to use stationery. To do that, click Tools > Options > Mail Format tab. In the “Send in this Message Format” area, select HTML.
Next, click Stationery Picker > New. In the “Enter a Name for Your New Stationery” box, care to guess? That’s right, enter a name.
Under “Choose How to Create Your Stationery,” select whether to start from scratch or use an existing stationery. To select an existing file, use the Browse button to navigate to your selection, then click Next and select the option you want to use. For Help with any option, click the ? button in the upper right-hand corner, then click the option.
You explained how to check what programs launch automatically when Windows starts, by clicking Start > Run, typing in “msconfig” and going to the Startup tab. I disabled a bunch of programs that were running in the background, but every time I start my computer now, I get a message that says the computer is in the selective start-up mode for troubleshooting. How can I get back to the regular startup mode?
That “selective start-up mode” message you’re seeing is only a cautionary message, confirming that you disabled one or more of the programs that were automatically loading at startup. The next time that message appears, just click to place a check mark in front of “Don’t show this message or launch the System Configuration Utility when Windows Starts,” followed by OK. That will prevent the message from appearing again in the future.
Q. I need to install the Adobe Reader, but I’m running short on hard-drive space. Can you recommend a smaller PDF reader ?
Yes, the Foxit PDF Reader (http://tinyurl.com/4a4a6) is small, loads quickly and has an integrated search utility. Like the Adobe Reader (http://tinyurl.com/6ip), it’s also free, but Foxit is a scant 1.5MB compared to Adobe’s bloated 27.5MB size.
Mr. Modem Sites of the Month
All Things Laptop
View notebook computer reviews and articles about laptops, including brand names such as Acer, Dell and Toshiba. If you’re looking for information and user-based opinions about a laptop, this would be an excellent place to start.
www.laptopical.com
Mr. Picassohead
An online do-it-yourself portrait center for creating art in the style of the abstract artist Pablo Picasso. Click “Create a Picassohead now,” then drag and drop Picasso elements onto a blank canvas. Click the “View the Galleries” link to see what other abstractionist wannabes with too much time on their hands have created.
www.mrpicassohead.com
Wi-Fi Finder
Find any of more than 115,000 wireless hotspots in 100+ countries. Search by address, airport, ZIP code, city, state, country, type of business, pay/free/both or distance.
http://laptopmag.jiwire.com
