What's your homepage?
Your homepage is the URL (website address) that is automatically loaded when you open your web browser (eg. internet explorer, firefox) and when the browser's "home" button is pressed. We have designed a homepage that incorporates a Google search box, a local business directory, links to local events and local photos, and some very valuable TechTips!

Click here to see our suggested homepage. If you like it, click on "Make This Your Homepage".

Skype - What's it all about?

The latest version of Skype has been released!

Skype 3.2 has recently been released with free calls to other users on Skype, free video calls and an instant message chat facility.  Although Skype has been around for a while, the latest version of Skype allows for, among other things, full screen video calls on wide screen monitors, easier handling of menus and contact lists, and a slicker look. 

For those of you who are not familiar with Skype, it is a free voice-over-internet program designed to keep the world in touch.  The program can be easily downloaded from the internet and installed onto your pc free of charge at www.skype.com.  Once installed you can build a contacts list of other users of Skype with ease and then chat to them for an unlimited time absolutely free of charge.

You will need a microphone and speakers to be heard by and to hear others on your pc.  Some computers will have these built-in while other earlier models will not, but fear not, because if you do not have a microphone and speakers built into your pc you can purchase a headset easily from any decent computer retailer or from our Online Shop (Skype Headsets).

Skype also offers video calling between users with a webcam.  The Skype video calling system is the best free video package on the internet at the moment (it is more advanced than Windows Messenger video calling).  All you need is a webcam.  These are relatively inexpensive, starting at about £10 from our Online Shop (Skype Webcams). The most wonderful thing about video calling is that it helps you keep in contact with, and feel close to, family and friends who live at a distance.  In today’s world of travellers, this is becoming increasingly necessary.  By seeing the person as you are talking to them, you come away feeling like you have just spent quality time with that person. 

Jessica Sammut, a Brit living in Australia, says:  “Skype has radically changed my life.  Even though I am living on the other side of the world, I do not feel too far away from my friends and family.  With video calling and webcams, I am able to see my family as I talk to them.  I can see the expression of the person I talk to and how they are looking that day.  It allows me to really relate to and bond with that person and I come away feeling like that person has been in the room with me, which is a great sensation when you are away from home.  Best of all, Skype is free, so I can chat to my heart's content!”

System requirements include Windows 2000 or XP (Windows 2000 users require DirectX 9.0 for video calls) and broadband internet connection.

Skype also offers further services which can be seen on www.skype.com.

If you need any more information or would like us to install Skype, a Skype phone, a microphone or a webcam for you please don't hesitate to contact us! 

Vista - Still not recommended yet...

We are still finding an enormous number of peripherals which don't have drivers available for the Windows Vista operating system yet. Most popular and modern printers have Vista drivers available for download from the manufacturer's website, but if you have other peripherals (such as Skype phones, older printers, TV cards, older scanners, U3 flash drives) we strongly advise checking for available drivers before upgrading. It's not really the fault of Microsoft - it is up to the manufacturers of the hardware to make the drivers (software) which work with these peripherals, but either way you're stuck waiting for the driver to become available.

If you are thinking of upgrading your system and wish to know if your system is up to the challenge use the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor program. We must mention again that we recommend that your system has no less than 1GB of memory to run Vista. Vista is memory-hungry, and we've noticed a big difference between those machines running on 1GB and those running on 512MB (half a Gig). If you've already bought your machine with 512MB you can always upgrade.

Recommendations:

• To buy a PC or Laptop, we recommend John Lewis*.
• For broadband, we recommend Virgin, BT, Tiscali or Waitrose.
• For free antivirus, we recommend AVG FREE.
• For free antispyware, we recommend Windows Defender or Spybot Search & Destroy.
• For free antispam, we recommend SpamFighter.

Norton Internet Security 2007 - where are the Parental Controls?

For some reason Symantec have decided that unlike previous versions, Norton Internet Security 2007 (£37.48 from here) does NOT include Parental Controls. However, if you wish to add these on you can download the free Add On Pack available from the Norton website. This pack also includes Norton Antispam, Confidential Information Protection and an Ad Blocker.

Bargins*

• 4GB USB Flash Drive £19.99
• 7 inch LCD Digital Photo Frame £39.99
• Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote £87.98
• Freeview Digital Terrestrial Receiver with SCART Lead £21.99
• TomTom ONE Great Britain GPS v2 £149.98
• Apple iPod nano 4GB Pink £113.99
• 320GB External Hard Drive (Backup Drive) £64.62
  

*Prices subject to change.

Ejecting iPod using Windows Explorer on Windows Vista may corrupt iPod (article taken from Apple's website here)

Solution

Microsoft has released an update for Windows Vista that addresses a situation where ejecting iPod from Windows Explorer or by using the "Safely Remove Hardware" feature in Windows Vista could corrupt your iPod. Apple recommends Windows Vista customers who own an iPod install this software update. For information on how to install this Microsoft hot fix, refer to the "Update your software" section below. Tip: iPod can always be ejected safely by choosing Eject iPod from the Controls menu within iTunes.

Update your software

Microsoft has made this Update for Windows Vista (KB936824) available via Windows Update as well as a separate download package. To download this update via Windows Update follow the steps below:

1. From the Start menu, choose Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, select Check for updates in the Security section. If the Control Panel is in Classic view, open Windows Update.
3. Click the View available updates link and be sure that Update for Windows Vista (KB936824) is checked.
4. Click Install.

This update can also be downloaded from the following Microsoft support document:

• "The Safely Remove Hardware feature and the Windows Explorer "Eject" command do not work correctly with an Apple iPod that is connected to a Windows Vista-based computer"

"He who laughs last, probably has a back-up."

Total Revamp: Claygate Flower Show Website
All the information you need in one place: www.claygateflowershow.co.uk

Claygate Country Five Run
The entry form is now available. See the website: www.claygatecountryfive.co.uk

Claygate Gallery
View our Photos of Claygate (and its neighbours!). Email your photos of Claygate to us at info@claygatecomputers.co.uk.

Looking for a local shop, business or trade?
Try the Local Business Directory. It's FREE to view and FREE to be listed. Have you got a sale on, or a beer festival, or an event of some kind? Let us know and we'll add it to the next issue of TechTips.

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Got something to add?
If you have any news or tips you think might be useful to others please email your tip to info@claygatecomputers.co.uk.