Scanners at the ready

When you have a large number of documents that need to be scanned, it can be time consuming, especially depending on the quality of the equipment you are using to scan. It's why many people and businesses turn to services like RoyalImaging.com document scanning for their needs. A company that does this as a service typically has higher quality (which means faster) equipment and it frees up the employee hours needed to stand or sit there at a scanner.

Things to consider when printing

One aspect many don't stop to consider when they are buying a printer is to compare the prices of the ink cartridges before buying. If several printers you are considering are all within the same quality range and a similar price range, checking to see how much it's going to cost you to actually use the printer is something you should look at. It's also important to check your settings. While that color laserjet 3500 may give you beautiful color portraits similar to photo quality, if you are printing something that doesn't require that depth of color, using the quality settings on your printer will save you ink and money.

Marketing curiousity

A popular marketing technique designed to take advantage of our natural curiosity are ones that advise you to click here without telling you what you are clicking on. Unfortunately hackers and those with less than honorable intentions have taken advantage of this natural curiosity as well, which means if you do decide to click here or there, if you are asked to download something? Don't do it unless you are certain it's safe. I recently experienced this on classmates.com where some spy scam pop up began. So don't just assume if it's a place you believed to be credible that it's okay, it may not be.

Would you click?

A catchy marketing ploy is to tell you to click here -- knowing that our typical human curiosity will most likely make us "click there" to see what is on the other side of the click. While it's a great marketing tool, it's also something you should be careful of if when clicking you get any kind of a message that you need to download something. If that's the case - back away from the website. It's also another reason you should use a good virus protection system, since if there is malware or other nefarious things lurking, you'll be warned and protected.

Plunging in...

When I hear the word "plunger" I think of the tool used often in this house, a toilet or sink plunger, destined to be an often needed item with girls who clog the sink or tub with hair and who forget we don't have a garbage disposal when it comes to cleaning up their after meal adventures. So when I saw the term spring plungers, I thought it was some type of a extended plunging device with a spring. I was partly right, it does have a spring, and does a plunging action but it's designed for tool engineers...

Warranties and insurance...

While I love my netbook and the laptop that I had before it, the simple fact is they are easier to have stolen and are a bit more likely to experience a mishap than my tower that I use for the larger portion of my work. It's why depending on what you spent for your netbook or laptop that you should consider laptop insurance as a protection. Look at the replacement cost versus the total cost of the insurance and the deductible, also look at the claims policy to determine if it's a cost you can justify compared to what you would have to pay for a replacement.

Going wireless

My home operates on a system of computers hooked up via cat5 and wireless connections. It's very easy to do using a wireless router -- what I do recommend is you buy a router that will do both, offer wireless and hardlined connections. This way you have the option. My tower as an example has the ability to be wireless but it's much easier to connect it through ethernet. No matter what, make sure you secure your wireless connection, while the neighbors might appreciate the ability to connect, others may have a bit more nefarious ideas in mind.

Looking for receipt printers?

If you own a business that requires you print out receipts for customers, one of the most popular ones out there right now is the epson receipt printer. It's reasonably priced, the cost to operate it is also reasonable and Epson has a great reputation as far as reliability. Another aspect of Epson is customer service, when I've had issues with an Epson product, they've been much more helpful than some of the other printer manufacturers I had in the past.

I'm not completely plugged in...

While I may spend over 80 hours a week on my various blogs and doing research for the newspaper I work for, I admit I am not completely plugged in. I have resisted getting a BlackBerry or any type of a phone that has internet on it. My phone as an example has an SD card slot where supposedly I can download more music and other things to it. Yet, the idea of attaching my phone to my computer is one I have resisted. It's as if I realize that if I start there, I may decide that I need an iPhone or a BlackBerry or a similar model that connects to the net. Then? I would never be unplugged...Part of the reason only a select number of people have my cell phone number is so that when I need to? I can escape it all...

Laptop versus netbook

Since we now have another member in our household, my work laptop has been borrowed on a regular basis (when I'm not at work) so that he can go online for homework and entertainment needs. Even prior to that I've been thinking about the netbook versus laptop purchase scenario for several reasons.

One being for the netbook, I'd like something smaller and lighter since I take the bus to work and it's a little bit of a walk from the bus stop downtown to where I work and an even longer walk at night if I have to take the bus home. My current laptop is not one of the newer lighter models. One being against the netbook is they don't come with a CD drive and I'm not sure how it would hold up for the live blogging that I do from time to time. However, the price of the netbooks continues to drop, as well as laptops, so when I get ready to purchase one or the other? It will be much less expensive than the older laptop was when it was new...That much I know for certain.

Next level? SEO...

SEO is "Search Engine Optimization" and it is the difference between your site being one of the top ranked on a search engine for particular key words or the last. Whether you are blogging politics or selling a product, you want to be placed as high as possible in search engines. It is a really complicated system to fully understand and there are times when you should consider turning to a professional SEO firm. However, for the basic blogger or starting internet entrepreneur, making use of a seo tool can be a starting point.

I've been blogging six years, I understand the basics, but even I am far from an expert beyond knowing that, tagging and keywords are critical...

Go online to look for cheap seats...

When you are looking for tickets for a sporting event or a concert, at times that event may be listed as "sold out" but it's still possible to get tickets online. From a variety of different BRADLEY CENTER TICKETS to RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM TICKETS or many places in between you can not only order tickets but view seating charts to see which ticket price is not only the price but the seating location you are seeking.

Recently this happened with a friend of mine who was looking for Taylor Swift tickets for his girlfriend. He did not buy them when they first went on sale and then found the local site stated the tickets were sold out. Thankfully, he called me, so I directed him where to search for online tickets and he found the perfect seats to surprise her with, and unless she reads this? She'll have no idea that he thought he waited too long.

:-)

Walleye for us -- other options for you

In about an hour we'll be leaving to head downtown to watch our first Walleye game at the new arena. It will be the first time I've been inside the new Lucas County arena since it's been completed. Thanks to the internet, buying tickets to sporting and other events, even if you think they might be sold out, is possible without having to wait until you get there to try to buy a ticket from someone outside...

Have your heart set on Blue Cross Arena Tickets? Online you can find them, the same with a variety of other events. Chicago Bears Tickets on your mind? You can not only reserve a hotel room but buy your tickets right from your home pc.

While my favorite NFL football team is the Miami Dolphins and someday I will be able to watch them at Landshark stadium, those of you looking for any team event, even Philadelphia Eagles Tickets can find them online...Probably even the Superbowl, though that one is always a bit more of a challenge, and could be much more expensive.

:-)

On the big screen...

This is the season where many fancy plasma tvs and it's a hot item to buy as a gift or to gift to yourself. Typically the price drops after the item has been on the market for several years, we are starting to see that now when it come to plasma and lcd televisions. The downside is they are also one of the most stolen items this time of year. When you buy one? Don't leave the box out for the world to see that you've just gotten a new one. Either shred and bag it or take it out right as the trash for your home is collected. My neighbors learned that lesson, right after purchasing the new television, they put the box outside, two days later? Their home was broken into...

Why you should back up your computer information...

Whether you take advantage of an online backup service or you have an external harddrive, it's important that you back up your computer information. Just the other day one of my daughters had work to do for her college classes. Her computer did not want to start up, which meant she had no access to all of the notes and materials she needed. Had she taken just a few moments to back up the work, since her computer had previously given her some warning signs, it would have been a non-crisis. My husband ended up having to take the harddrive from her computer, put it temporarily in his so she could get the information she needed since there was not enough time to fix her computer...

Want to work in the Big Apple?

If your dream has included a New York Job Search it's possible to search for a job online that may just make your Big Apple dreams come true. Before the internet, job searching in a location where you did not live was not quite as easy. There were of course job agencies, and it was possible to get copies of a New York newspapers, but now you can share your resume and easily be able to communicate with a perspective employer without having to travel there first...Many times initial interviews are done via phone or through web chats, creating a scenario where you know you are a serious candidate when you are asked to travel...

New math got you frustrated?

Chances are if you are a parent of a child in K through 12, you'll come across math problems that you have no clue as to what your child is learning. They call it "new math" and it can be a challenge to solve math problems because while it seems like the "old math" you knew, they call it different terms. If you don't have an older child around to ask for help, you need to turn to an online Math problem solver to be able to get help with math.

TutorVista is one of the more popular online tutoring systems out there, they offer an unlimited monthly package for under $100.00 a month, they also have a free demo that you can try out and they offer free algebra help for both high school and free college algebra help as a part of their free online math help. This can really come in handy when your child comes to you, with a problem that you know you can't solve. Since it's available 24 hours a day seven days a week, you can also use the service to brush up on your "new math" skills, which is especially helpful if you are considering going back to school...

Live chats are popular

I've actually looked at some of the different live chat software for my local blog, I think it would be helpful when I'm live blogging events to be able to use that as opposed to the traditional blog software which requires constant updating to have the new material appear. I recommend using a test blog to try out the different types so that you can play around with the settings without interfering with the normal operation of your blog, that way when you do start a live chat? You already know what works and it makes a much smoother operation for you.

Advantages of a laptop

I do most of my main blogging and computer work on my tower, but there are certain times when my laptop computer can come in handy beyond being able to take it to work with me or to live blog something. Here in our home it's an easy way to cook. No, not cooking on the laptop but it's easier to pick up the laptop, put it in a safe place in the kitchen and read recipes from the laptop screen. That way no printing is involved nor does someone have to keep going back to where their tower is to read what's next...

The key is of course to not have the laptop be in a place where it will get wet, get food on it and is fully charged...

After Circuit City now what?

I didn't often buy things online from Circuit City but we used to go to the store here in Toledo because at times if we needed things in a hurry, like our last internet router, they were cheaper than any of the other stores in town. Now, of course they are gone, and it's smarter to try to wait and buy things online because if you are not careful some of the stores charge more at the store than they do online. I've discovered this several times and when you point it out, they will match the price, but only if you point it out. It's one reason why you should always check online...