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mommalina
06-22-2006, 01:59 AM
A dozen members showed up for our KH Computer Help Desk Wednesday Night PalTalk Chatroom: Rich, Kern, Dan, Photolady, Elliot, Al, Loop, robcohan, June Byrnes, Tonyd aka Kelly, Seth, and me.

Breaking news! Al has decided to abandon his old PC jalopy and buy a new computer. Not only that, but he also plans to forgo dial-up and subscribe to RCN cable! Hip-hip-hooray for Al! Hmmm, we are going to need someone else to pick on--any volunteers?

Al's search for a new computer with desirable features led to many in-depth discussions, i.e.:

- any added risks of damage during transportation if you order online rather than buy a computer from a retail store?

- what would Al need to use his current printer with the new computer?

- what are the pluses and minuses of HP vs Dell? Intel vs AMD processors? Windows XP Media Center vs Windows XP Home? (BTW, you can find this subject in a post on our forum.)

- how much RAM is preferable? Rich thought 2G of RAM can make a difference for PhotoShop or games but not for average user for whom 1G would usually suffice.

- parallel ports

- video card

We also discussed:

- unplugging laptop batteries. Dell and HP have had battery fires.

- Roxio vs Nero

- MACs

- foreign tech support. According to Rob Cohan, Indian techs are being trained in Texas! It seems that the Texas drawl slows down Indian speech; thus, the techs are more easily understood by Americans! Wonder who figured out that one!

- web hosts. Rich recommended a look at www.powweb.com

- members' web sites. We got to check out Rich and Rob Cohan's web sites.

- connection of a printer to two machines. June is still struggling with this.

- the difference between virtual memory and physical memory.

- explanation of dual-core processors. Tony explained it as "like having two houses under one roof."

- testing Vista. Needs strong hardware.

And there were some non-computer topics, too:

- automotive problems. Photolady sought some help for her ancient truck. Kern thought her starter problem could actually be transmission trouble.

-- value of college degrees. Again!

See you next week, same time (9 PM), same station, www.paltalk.com, KH Computer Help Desk.

Lina
compusimple
06-22-2006, 07:27 AM
Lina
Many thanks for summary. Nice to know what when on after I went to bed.

Elliott
kelly
06-22-2006, 08:43 AM
Also nice to know what happened before signing in.
-td
mommalina
06-22-2006, 09:17 AM
Elliot and Tony, thanks for the feedback.

BTW, as an amateur reporter and computer-challenged user, I welcome suggestions for the weekly chatroom synopsis. I can't report a lot of technical details (over my head). You can post your questions here or stop by the chatroom Wednesday nights for guru replies.

Lina
Seth
06-22-2006, 11:40 AM
Lina,

Thanks for not telling anyone that as soon as I logged in, everybody left! :alien:
mommalina
06-22-2006, 12:03 PM
Lina,

Thanks for not telling anyone that as soon as I logged in, everybody left! :alien:

Nothing personal. Everyone was just talked/typed out. And that's what happens sometimes when you arrive late at a party and the food :hungry: and booze is all gone! And when you take a 15-minute break just before closing time! :nono:

Sorry I could not wait for your return, Seth. I needed to relax, watch my Korean soap opera, and then tackle turning in my synopsis of the chatroom session. Anyway, no way I could have helped you with any computer problem!:noidea:

Lina
mylanta
06-22-2006, 03:43 PM
Seth I felt bad about that, just so you know, but my head was down on my desk with exhaustion...had a tough day and we usually do stay later, so you know it!!
Seth
06-23-2006, 05:34 PM
No worries Rich and Lina, I was just kidding around.

BTW- 9:00 doesn't help much. What time zone?
mylanta
06-23-2006, 06:23 PM
No worries Rich and Lina, I was just kidding around.

BTW- 9:00 doesn't help much. What time zone?


EST, sorry most of us are in Greater Philadelphia area.
Seth
06-23-2006, 06:30 PM
ok,thanks.
mommalina
06-24-2006, 07:23 AM
No worries Rich and Lina, I was just kidding around.

BTW- 9:00 doesn't help much. What time zone?

Thanks for the alert, Seth. I'll try to remember to include EST in the future.

Lina
photolady
06-24-2006, 08:45 AM
foreign tech support. According to Rob Cohan, Indian techs are being trained in Texas! It seems that the Texas drawl slows down Indian speech; thus, the techs are more easily understood by Americans! Wonder who figured out that one! Maybe because Texas is Dell country. Dell faciality is just down the road from where I live. ;)
mommalina
06-24-2006, 09:09 AM
According to Rob Cohan, Indian techs are being trained in Texas! It seems that the Texas drawl slows down Indian speech; thus, the techs are more easily understood by Americans!

Photolady wrote:Maybe because Texas is Dell country. Dell faciality is just down the road from where I live.

I wonder how many Dell training facilities there are in the U.S.? And if more than one, perhaps Texas was chosen for its drawl.

Let's bring this to Rob Cohan's attention next Wednesday night.

Lina
photolady
06-24-2006, 06:52 PM
Good idea Lina. Remind me though, I'll forget by the time Wednesday gets here. ;)