Neff Zone Column -- May 2, 2009

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Print Edition: May 2, 2009

TECHNOLOGY FOR CHEAPSKATES

My brother, Big Dave, is the king of gadgetry. By the time I hear about a new gizmo or gadget on the market, Big Dave has usually installed it months ago in his Los Angeles apartment.

As I noted in a previous column, Big Dave has so many wiz-bangs at his place he keeps all the remote controls in a huge box (roughly about the size of a refrigerator crate). The last time I visited him I got up early and the only thing I could figure out how to turn on was a lamp, which naturally required a remote control.

Anyway, we were talking a few months ago and he was extolling the virtues of his new NetBook computer. Of course, after ten minutes of conversation, I had to have one too. As usual, Big Dave nailed this critter; I have one and I love the little bugger.

The thing I like best about my NetBook is the fact that is has turned out to be a really inexpensive answer to my computing needs. I wanted something on which I could access the Internet, answer e-mail, and word process. I also wanted something that would be easy to take along when I travel. Bingo! Interested? Here’s the skinny.

First of all, a NetBook is about the size of a hard cover book and weighs about 1.5 pounds. Several manufacturers sell them, but the one I bought is an Acer Aspire One for $299.

My Acer has Windows XP, a 160 gig hard drive, 1 gig of RAM, a 9-inch rectangular screen, built-in wireless, built-in web cam and microphone, a full keyboard, a network cable port, a port for an external monitor, three usb ports, a storage card slot, a card reader, and headphone and speaker plugs. I can use it alone or plug in an external keyboard, mouse and monitor.

What it does not have is a CD player, which has not been a problem because almost all software is downloadable off the Net these days, and a phone modem, so dial-up connections cannot be made.

When I got the NetBook I removed all the trial version software from the machine (like Microsoft Office, McAfee Anti-Virus, and others). I didn’t want anything on the machine that would eventually cost more money (to buy the full versions).

I the downloaded and installed the following: The free AVG anti-virus www.avg.com and the free Zone Alarm firewall www.zonealarm.com for protection; Open Office www.openoffice.org which gave me a full office suite equal to or better than Microsoft Office; and the free Picassa http://picassa.google.com photo management software. I updated the Adobe Reader and Flash programs www.adobe.com. With the basics all set up, for free I might emphasize, I went onto some personal tweeks.

I went to Microsoft and ran the Clear Type Tuner www.microsoft.com/typography/cleartype/tuner/step1.aspx. This little application makes the text on your computer, particularly on web pages, crystal clear.

Next, I made my G-Mail account the default e-mail program by installing the G-Mail Notifier http://toolbar.google.com/gmail-helper/notifier_windows.html. Now, when I click on an e-mail link my G-Mail fires up instead of Outlook Express.

Then, because I like to have more than one Internet browser at my disposal, I downloaded and installed the new Google Chrome browser http://google.com/chrome. This is by far the fastest and most streamlined browser I’ve ever used.

Last, I downloaded and installed Skype www.skype.com so I could make free audio and video calls using the webcam on the NetBook. I called Big Dave and we chatted about our NetBooks face-to-face. Pretty slick!

I know you might have some reservations. The top one might be the size of the NetBook’s screen. Just hold off your skepticism until you see one of these. I think you’ll find the screen is so sharp and clear that, in this case, size really does not matter. Another might be the size of the keyboard, which is about 65% the size of a standard keyboard. When I want a bigger keyboard I just plug in a $10 usb model and off I go.

The bottom line here is that I put together a very nice package that met all of my needs for $299. All the software was free. Not a bad way to go for someone who just wants a machine suited for travel, a second computer to take out on the porch in the summer, or as a gift for a student heading off to college.

Now, three websites for you to try on your new NetBook:

-For the munchkins, check out The Color www.thecolor.com. This is an online coloring book with thousands of pictures for kids to color online or print out and color at home.

-For all ages, see how smart you are and help feed the hungry at Free Rice www.freerice.com. Questions are presented in a variety of categories and when you answer correctly sponsors donate some rice to the United Nations World Food Program. You can do a lot of good here and it won’t cost you a penny, although it’s pretty easy to come away feeling humbled.

-Look into the near future of free long distance telephoning at Google Voice www.google.com/voice. This free service is set to launch within months. Basically, Google will give you a phone number. You will set up your new number to access phones you already have, so when someone calls your Google phone number your landline, cell phone, or both will ring. When you make a call (by dialing from your Google Voice account on your computer), your home phone will ring and you will pick up and then the party whom you are calling will be dialed and then you’ll talk phone-to-phone just like you do now. How nifty is that?

Jim Neff is a local columnist. Comments to neffzone@gmail.com. Read Neff Zone columns online at www.neffzone.com/cadillacnews.