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Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, October 21, 2007
In this Issue:
Special Feature: A New IRS Email Scam
Keyboard Shortcut: Switch between Open Programs
Tips and Tricks: Deleting Bookmarks
This Week's Topic: Increase Your Printer's Lifespan
Question: Windows Vista Font Size
Websites of Interest: Sporting News; Movie Accuracy; How to Clean Stuff; Starfall; The Pulitzer Prize
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Special Feature: A New IRS Email Scam
The following is from scambusters.com.
The Internal Revenue Service is warning taxpayers to avoid falling for another new variant of an IRS email scam in which victims receive a fake email claiming they are the subjects of a criminal probe by "IRS Criminal Investigation."
The email states that the recipient filed a false tax return to the California Franchise Tax Board, and must click on a link in the email -- or download an attachment -- to learn more about the complaint.
Anyone clicking on the link or opening the attachment will unleash a Trojan Horse that can take over the person's hard drive and allow scammers to gain remote access to the computer.
"The IRS [urges] people not to click the link in the email or open the attachment." Similar email variations suggest a customer has filed a complaint against a company and the IRS can act as an arbitrator. The latest versions appear aimed at business taxpayers as well as individual taxpayers.
"The IRS does not send out unsolicited emails or ask for detailed personal and financial information. Additionally, the IRS never asks people for the PIN numbers, passwords or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank or other financial accounts."
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=170894,00.html
The IRS asks that anyone receiving such emails forward them to phishing@irs.gov
Action: If you receive ANY unsolicited email supposedly from the IRS, DELETE it.
It's 100% guaranteed phony!
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Keyboard Shortcut: Switch between Open Programs
Question: I love the keyboard shortcuts you occasionally include in your email. Do you have one that will allow me to quickly switch between open programs? I usually work with more than one program at a time and would love to not have to reach for the mouse each time I want to switch.
Answer:
Hold down the Alt key and press the Tab key. In the middle of the screen, a small box will display listing all of your currently open programs. Keep holding the Alt key down and press Tab again; this will bring the next program up front. Continue doing that until you get to the program you want to work in.
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Tips and Tricks: Deleting Bookmarks
Question: I have a few websites in my Favorites list that are not good anymore. How can I get them out?
Answer:
You can delete a Favorite, also known as a Bookmark with these steps:
Open your browser. Open Favorites and right click on the one you want to delete. A menu will open; left click on Delete. You will see a small window in the middle asking you if you want to send the bookmark to the Recycle bin. Click the Yes button (or OK, depending on your version of Windows).
To learn more about Bookmarks and Favorites, including creating, backing up, printing and more, visit our newsletter archives:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/060307.html
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Today's Topic: Increase Your Printer's Lifespan
The following is from worldstart.com
Did you know that color printers have a lifespan that’s perfectly acceptable for both personal and professional use at the price they come, even while laser printers generally last a bit longer? Basically, you end up replacing inkjet printers every three to four years, but laser printers generally last a few years longer. Some users have reported a handful of personal grade laser printers that have been churning out pages for a full decade. Wow! But no matter what kind of printer you use, here are a few tips that will help you maintain your printer in tip top shape for as long as possible!
Tip 1: Go Easy on a Paper Jam
In case of a paper jam, never force the paper out. This can not only damage the printer, but also leave bits of torn paper inside, which could cause harm later on. To get the paper out smoothly, most printers have a hatch attached at the back that can be easily removed. Once this hatch is removed, you will gain access to the paper wheels and you should be able to see the jammed paper to get it out.
Tip 2: Avoid Shutting Down the Printer in an Improper Manner
Turn off your printer when not in use. This can prevent drying of ink and it also helps to keep the printer functioning at an optimum level. Remember to use the printer’s power button and then remove the plug if need be. Don’t turn the power off if you are in the middle of something.
Tip 3: Avoid Cheap Toner/Ink Cartridges
Often times, we are tempted to use either compatible, refilled or remanufactured ink/toner cartridges, which is something we all should avoid. That is like buying a compatible spare part for a car instead of buying the original parts. It may somewhat perform the same function as the original, but it would not last as long and it could affect the performance of the vehicle itself. In addition, we need to look at how such companies manufacture their products. In the case of remanufacturing cartridges, what actually happens is this: the manufacturer would first purchase empty toner cartridges from end users. They would then strip the toner cartridge to its bare minimum and they would then reassemble them after a little bit of cleaning. The area of specific concern here is the toner drum. There is a set lifespan for this item and no amount of cleaning would extend it.
And finally, the lifespan of a printer depends on the sturdiness of the machine, how much you use it and how well you maintain it. Printers will eventually fail, but some will last nearly forever. Take good care of your printer and it will take care of you, for a much longer time. And one more thing: to ensure your printer has a long lifespan, you should not base your purchase solely on its speed or its price. The monthly duty cycle indicates the maximum number of pages the printer is designed to produce. Buying a printer that has a duty cycle that is two to three times your expected print volume will help ensure its longevity as well.
Sidebar: Lifespan of Cartridges
The lifespan of an ink cartridge varies, depending on how often and how much you print. Light users might replace their ink two or three times a year, while heavier users may go through cartridges every few months (cartridges left sitting for a year or more may dry out as well). If you want a more concrete answer on how many pages you’ll get out of a cartridge, consult the manufacturer for the rating on a specific model printer and cartridge. A typical answer will be something along the lines of 350 pages at a five percent coverage. That means a cartridge can print 350 pages with an average of a five percent surface area inked on each page.
The lifespan of a toner cartridge varies greatly, depending on the type of laser printer you have. Cheaper toner cartridges cost under $100 and output 2,500 to 5,000 pages. More expensive toner cartridges are meant for printers that do a lot of printing (a very common reason to have a laser printer in the first place) and will yield tens of thousands of pages. Some of the most expensive, heavy duty cartridges will even yield hundreds of thousands of pages. It just depends on what you buy!
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Question: Windows Vista Font Size
I just got a new computer with Windows Vista on it. So far I like it. I do have a question, though. I was able to change the text size on my old computer but have not been able to figure out how to do so on this one. Could you tell me how?
Answer:
Right click on a blank spot on your desktop. In the resulting menu, left click on Personalize. This will open the Personalize Appearance and Sounds window.
in the left pane, click on the Adjust font size (DPI). A window will pop up asking for your permission to continue; click the Continue button. (This is a security precaution that Windows Vista takes. Something is being changed on your computer and Vista wants to confirm that it is you, and not a hacker, initiating the change)
The DPI Scaling window will open. Click the option that says Larger scale (120 DPI) - make text more readable. Click the OK button and then close the Personalize Appearance and Sounds window.
You will need to restart your computer to see the larger font size take effect.
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Websites of Interest:
Sporting News
At this website, you can find the latest news on just about every sport that is being played today.
http://www.sportingnews.com/
Movie Accuracy
Many movies are based on true stories. Have you ever wondered if the facts are accurate? You can find out at this website.
http://www.chasingthefrog.com/
How to Clean Stuff
If you look for new, better and more efficient ways to clean, you will learn a lot from this website. And, if you have some tips of your own, you can add them as well.
http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/
Starfall
For the kids, this site is for younger children who are learning how to read.
http://www.starfall.com/
The Pulitzer Prize
This official website gives information and fascinating facts about 90 years of the prizes history.
http://www.pulitzer.org/
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