More on Windows 10

A few weeks ago I wrote about Windows 10 and suggested that you may wish to upgrade to this newest operating system from Microsoft.  Over the past few weeks I have received more than a few questions about Windows 10.  Most of the questions are about compatibility.  Will your printer, scanner and other peripherals work with Windows 10?   How about the programs that you regularly use?

If you have a computer that is now running Windows 7 or 8 there should be no problem with compatibility.  In fact, after you do the install for Windows 10, all of your programs should still be on your desktop.  In most cases you will need to do nothing.

There are some printers and scanners that might require a new driver.  A driver is a small mini program that allows your device to send and receive information to and from the computer.   The driver works in the background.  If you have a very old printer, scanner or other peripheral device it may require a new driver written for Windows 10.   The good news is that in most cases this new driver will be retrieved automatically as you install Windows 10.

There may be some readers who have peripheral devices that are very specific to their work.  If you are unsure you can always google the device name and see if there are any Windows 10 issues.  Again, for most home and small office users this should be a non-issue.

I was able to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 with no problem whatsoever and I do have some specialized video and audio editing programs.  They all work fine.

As I said in my previous column, Microsoft seems to have gotten this one right.  After about a year in general use, the Windows 10 operating system seems to be very stable and bug free.  For most users there will be no need to buy new software or devices.  For once having the newest doesn’t require you to spend more money.

Keeping the Holiday Bright

It is that time of year when you may need to make a trip to the hardware store to pick up some batteries.  More than a few of the gifts under the tree will require at least one battery to function.  So it seems like a great time to give some hints on getting the most out of these indispensable power sources.

There are two main types of batteries used in household devices and home electronics.  There are batteries that are used once and thrown away and there are rechargeable batteries.  Among the most popular of the single-use batteries are alkaline batteries.  If fact, they account for about 80% of all manufactured batteries in the US.  Worldwide more than 10 billion individual units are produced annually.  These batteries come in a variety of sizes from the popular AA and AAA cells found in the TV remote to the C or D cells in your flashlight or a kid’s toy fire truck.  You know, the one with those mind-numbing shrill sounds.

When buying alkaline batteries, don’t over think it.  In most cases going with a name brand with the lowest price will serve you well.  Store the unused batteries at room temperature.  When they are spent throw them away in the trash.  Most manufacturers have removed any mercury or other environmentally bad stuff that once made disposal a pain   Placing spent batteries in the kitchen drawer will not bring them back to life.  This was a concept that my kids never seemed to grasp.  Never try to recharge non-rechargeable batteries as only bad things can happen.

Mobile phones, tablets and other digital devices most often use rechargeable batteries.  There are many myths about rechargeable batteries. Many of these myths are a carryover from old technology.  For example, modern batteries do not have a “memory.”  There is no need to ever completely discharge them. You can charge them as often as you like.  You can even keep them attached to the chargers whenever possible and this will not at all diminish the life of the battery.  The chargers have circuits that will prevent overcharging.

Most instruction manuals suggest that you fully charge the battery before first using a new device.  This practice, while a good idea, has nothing to do with the ultimate life of the battery.  Having a fully charged battery will allow you to play with all the functions on the new device and complete all the set up without having to recharge.  It will not, however, have any bearing on how long the battery will last.

Keeping the Creeps Out

In many households the “hearth” at the center of the home has gone from a warm fire to a large screen TV and now to a high-speed internet connection.  Many families have more than a dozen devices connected to their Wi-Fi router.  Desktop computers, smartphones and tablets share the connection with game consoles and telephones.  A robust and reliable internet connection can be as important today as plumbing and electrical power systems.  Some would say even more important.

With the ubiquity of internet access —for many families, especially those with young kids—comes a rising concern of unwanted and inappropriate content coming into the home.  It is unrealistic to personally monitor every second your kid is connected to the internet, and severing the connection with the outside world could deprive you and your family of important and worthwhile information.

Some new internet routers may help to control what content is available to members of your family. A router is a device that connects to the Internet Service Provider’s connection, usually a modem, and distributes the signal around your home wirelessly.  Up until recently these routers were passive devices allowing connection with any site on the internet.  The new “Family Friendly” routers allow you to pick and choose what content comes into your house and even allows you to set up tiers of access.

A young kid may have very tight restrictions placed on his or her access while a teen may need to have more options available.  The router allows you to set parameters for several different users.

Many provide real time monitoring and reporting functions, and can send messages to parents identifying what sites the kids are currently accessing.  Some can also be programmed to limit the number of hours each user is allowed on the internet each day or week.

For some people this may seem like “big brother” and it may not be appropriate for all situations.  Nevertheless, there continues to be some very unsavory material online and keeping it out of your house may be worth the personal limits to privacy.

You can find several router options by going online and searching “family friendly internet.”  Here are two models that PC Magazine scored well that you may wish to research: Linksys EA6900 and Netgear Nighthawk AC1900

A Different Perspective on Election Day

Election Day is here. If this election is like most non-presidential years, the number of people that actually vote will be very low, perhaps as few as one in four.   This statistic has always made me sad.  The right to vote and have a say in how we are governed is at the very bedrock of our country and to know that less than 30% of those who can vote do so is just wrong.

My day job is at the National Voice of America Museum in West Chester.  A recent experience there really made an impression on me as it demonstrated what some people in other countries will do to exercise the freedoms we take for granted.

The Museum has acquired a unique piece of history. A few weeks ago a couple drove up to the Museum and donated a 1960s Soviet Union manufactured shortwave radio that they had used when they lived in Ukraine.

The radio was sold in the Soviet Union during the cold war and was designed so it could not receive VOA broadcasts. Felix and Lola, the couple who made the donation, related to me how they and many others in their village would have their radios modified so that they could pick up VOA programming.

As we talked, the couple related how they would “listen under the blankets” so as not to be discovered by authorities critical of their search for the truth. They noted that many in the village did the same thing even though they would be punished if found out by the local authorities.

In this country we have access to information.  Unfortunately there is so much available it is like drinking from a fire hydrant.  Nevertheless, we can find information and we can use it to make decisions about our country.  Many around the world still cannot.

Maybe next election we can all think about this little under-the-blanket radio and what it symbolizes for millions.