| In This Issue |  | | | | | Recycle previous editions of Taming Your Computer |  Many of you who have purchased copies of my new book, Taming Your Computer -- The Simple Basics and Beyond, also own one or both of my previous books. Give them a new life by donating them to your public library or a senior center. The new book contains everything that was in the two previous books plus 20 new lessons. Several senior centers around the country have ordered copies of the new book to use in their computer labs. They love the large print and easy-to-understand instructions. I received an e-mail from a lady last week who said, "I have really learned from your new book. Sat down and changed some things on my computer without my son's help! It was great." Would you like to write a review of this book on Amazon.com? Click here to go to their website and add your comments. If you haven't ordered your copy yet, click here to do so. | | | |
Greetings! Have you purchased a computer, printer, digital camera or other electronic equipment with the promise of one or more mail-in rebates? It sounds good at the time of the purchase, but once you get home and discover how many forms you have to fill out, copies to make, and envelopes to address, you wonder if it was worth it. I think that's why manufacturers have rebates in the first place. Rather than reducing the price of the item in the store, they make you jump through hoops to get the promised rebate. One of my favorite columnists in the Rocky Mountain News, Humberto Cruz, writes for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel newspaper and is syndicated in many papers around the country. Today's column in the News discusses that situation. I thought you might find his thoughts interesting. Click here to read the column. He states that some stores are phasing out the rebates in favor of store discounts. That one gets my vote, how about you? |
| Calling Tech Support |
Do you dread calling tech support as much as I do? (Yes, I really do call tech support once in awhile.) My reasons for dreading this chore are: - Spending an interminable amount of time on hold.
- Finally reaching a tech support person in India who claims his or her name is Steve or Stephanie and has an accent so thick I can't understand a word he/she says.
I had a recent experience on behalf of a client that reminded me that we have certain rights. In this instance I asked the tech support person to change the free 3 months of Internet service to the 6 months offered on the installation disk. The tech support person said this could not be done without signing up again with a different e-mail address. Now this sounded absolutely ridiculous to me. How tough can it be to go into their computer and make this change? He continued to insist that it could not be done and I continued to insist that it could. Finally I said, "Let me speak to your supervisor." He put me on hold and after about 4 minutes he came back on the line and said his supervisor would be with me in just one minute. Hold again. Another 5 minutes. Now he said his supervisor was standing right beside him and would be with me in just a minute. Another 5 minutes on hold and he finally came back and gave me the address of a website where I could print out a form to mail in with proof of purchase of the computer and then they would extend the free service. I know that he was hoping every time he put me on hold that I would hang up. He has no idea how stubborn I can be. If you're ever in a similar situation, either ask for a supervisor or hang up and call back. You probably won't get the same tech support person and you might get someone you can understand and/or will be willing to help you with your problem. One more suggestion: If you receive poor service from a company, remember it when you purchase new products. Ask others if they have received good tech support from the makers of their equipment. Your dollars speak. Spend them where you will be taken care of. |
| Advances in Alzheimer's Detection |
The Internet is a constant source of information on any topic you're interested in. My son keeps tabs on new developments in Alzheimer's detection and forwards them to me. This debilitating disease has found its way into both sides of my family and we're always watching for new advances in the research. Several months ago he forwarded an article titled "Simple Eye Test Could Spot Alzheimer's Early On." This test shows great promise but is not yet available to the public. Click the link below to see what's happening in this important field of research. |
| The Internet makes the world even smaller |
I had an amazing experience this week. Let me tell you a story. Mom and I are preparing for our first genealogical research trip to Salt Lake in April. Her mother's family came from the village of Bellaghy in Co. Derry, Northern Ireland. The photo above is Mom standing outside the old family homestead. On a whim I Googled Bellaghy Ireland and one of the results was a link to the website of the church our family attended. We visited the church and graveyard six years ago when we went to Ireland. We found the grave containing my great-great grandparents and four of their 11 children. The website said, "We would be more than pleased to hear from you from anywhere in the world (including Bellaghy!). Tell us about yourself, your family, whether you have, or had, links with Bellaghy and if you want more information on the site or an ancestor or the local area. We can easily provide local information and, for the more difficult questions, we can find you a local expert!" I was so excited I immediately e-mailed the church telling them what we know about the family. Imagine my shock, surprise and delight when I received a reply from the gentleman who is the church secretary and webmaster saying he had worked for our family 45 years ago during his summer breaks from high school! He also said his 79-year-old aunt lives on the same lane our family lived on! Is that a small world? He went on to say that the church was not able to do research for us but he referred me to a researcher in the village who could help us. I contacted him and he also knew the family! We are eagerly awaiting more information about our family. Do you know where your family originated? Google the town and country and see what you find. You might be in for an exciting surprise too. I keep reminding myself that the world is getting smaller and smaller! |
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