Next Meeting is Thursday, September 16, 2010, 9:00am

September Presentation:  Troubleshooting and Repairing Problems with Your PC - Dean Steichen  (ppt) (pdf)

Save Ink and Paper!  4 Slides per page  (pdf)

August Meeting Notes by Jack Bevis, Secretary

August Presentation:  Buying a New Computer and Moving Your Data to Windows 7.  Selecting Computer Components and Printer Options - Phil Goff  (ppt) (pdf)

 

Phil Goff opened the meeting at 9:00am.  Executive Committee members attending were Derek Southern, Dick Curry, Jack Bevis, Jim Saavedra and Bill Phelon. Total attendance was 46.

Phil said that $5 contributions were back on again to cover rent and other expenses. Phil said that Dean is working on a presentation for September that will focus on How to make your old computer run faster.                          

Phil’s feature presentation for today was entitled” Buying a New Computer

and Moving Your Data to Windows 7”.

Volunteers for this meeting were: Coffee Master Dick Curry and for setup Bill Barnard, Frank Comprelli, Don Reichert and Bill Turnquist.

We adjourned at 11:00

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 PRESENTATION

Buying a New Computer and Moving Your Data to Windows 7.  Selecting Computer Components and Printer Options - Phil Goff  (ppt) (pdf)

Phil’s very comprehensive slide presentation covers the WHY, the WHERE, the SIZE and the NEEDED COMPONENTS. He really recommends paying a little extra for a good CPU.

An interesting survey along the way showed that the largest Monitor owned by anyone in the room was 28-inch. Phil said that is great. You will be sorry if you settle for a small monitor.

As Phil warmed up to his subject I could only think of an old expression. At our age don’t buy green bananas. Phil says Just Go Do It.

It is fear of screwing up that holds us back from all of the benefits of owning a nice new computer. Windows 7 includes Easy Transfer software, which simplifies the transfer of data from XP.  Clean house; don’t be afraid to get rid of all of that old, legacy stuff.

One way to hold cost down a bit is to consider refurbished equipment.

Phil says not to be afraid of it. It is probably new equipment that someone has returned to the store. It has been checked out but can’t be sold again as new. He says if it works it will last for a long time.

A new one to me that he suggested for clearing out all of the trial software that clutters up a new computer is “Decrapifier Software”. This is available for download at http://www.podecrapifier.com/

 

That gives you a feel for this presentation. For the detail visit our website.

 

As a final fun thing Phil demonstrated the use of the WolframAlpha.com computational knowledge engine. It does all sorts of amazing things with numbers and information. Enter Exxon e.g. and the site presents what seems like a whole book on the company.