Patron Computer Classes: April 2011


Computer Class Calendars NOW AVAILABLE!

This month, Bossier Parish Library is only offering 4 computer classes for the public. Why only 4?!? The reason is the I.T. Staff is hard at work preparing for our annual Spring Festival on April 30th at the Louisiana Boardwalk. Therefore, the classes are as follows and are in no certain order:

  • Internet FundamentalsUsing Internet Explorer 7 and through hands-on exercises, you will learn the basics of navigating the World Wide Web (WWW) using the most popular search engine, Google. (1.5 hrs) We ask that patrons know how to use the mouse and keyboard for this class.

  • Email FundamentalsSetup a free email account using Yahoo! Learn basic navigation and become acquainted with account features, such as, Inbox, Drafts, Trash and Sign Out. Create and reply to your first email and learn basic email etiquette. (1.5 hrsWe ask that patrons know how to use the mouse and keyboard for this class. We also ask that patron be familiar with the Internet.

  • Computer Fundamentals - Got a brand new computer at home collecting dust? If so, come and learn the basic components of your personal computer and printer, along with basic terminology. Learn how to turn on a computer on/off. Lecture only class! (2 hrs)

  • Word FundamentalsUsing Microsoft Word 2007, learn the basic features,   how to create, edit, open and save a document as well as use templates for quickly creating a resume, letter or calendar. (2 hrsWe ask that patrons know how to use the mouse and keyboard for this class.

Stop by your favorite library branch and pick up an April 2011 Computer Class Calendar TODAY! Calendars outline the dates, times and registration details. We look forward to hearing from you soon! 

3/29/11: Tech Tuesdays Podcast #1 (32 min)

TECH TUESDAYS
EPISODE #1

Podcast Topics:
  1. Library Tech News - Spring Festival/Gorilla Joe Video/Computer Classes (00:39/31:53)
  2. Tips for Buying a New PC / How this Pet Can Harm Your PC? (04:25/31:53)
  3. Saving $$$ on Printer Ink / $4.99 Black Ink Cartridge (18:41/31:53)

Resource Links:






Thanks for listening to our first Tech Tuesdays podcast on the Digital Lovers Blog (http://bpl-it.blogspot.com/) brought to you by the Information Technology Department of the Bossier Parish Libraries (http://www.bossierlibrary.org/). We would love to hear from you! Feel free to use the online form provided by FormSpring.me to submit a question or comment on today's topic.

New Windows PC + Old Printer = Will They Work?

If you recently set up a new Windows PC at home, plugged in the USB cable for the printer, then saw that little yellow box in the lower right-hand corner pop up saying "Your printer has been installed!" You probably got all excited and thought, "Great! That's one less thing for me to worry about!"  But then, when it came time to print.... The motor geared up or maybe it didn't do anything but one you do know that is this stupid thing isn't printing. Ugh!

The bad side is that you are likely too frustrated to read the rest of this blog posting to see that there is a good side which does not involve going out and buying a new printer. So today we will focus on how to install an old printer on a new Windows Vista or Windows 7 PC, which is somewhat easy. Please note these instructions are intended for those who do not have an actual printer software installation CD. If you still have the installation CD for your printer, then use it instead.

How to Download Printer Drivers:

[1] Avoid plugging in the USB cable that connects the printer to the computer or turning on the printer until told to do so. If you have already done so, then unplug and turn off the printer. The reason is because the printer software installation will tell you when to turn on the printer as well as when to plug in the USB cable.

[2] Now, look at the printer and get its brand name and model number. For example: My office printer is a color laser printer made by Samsung with a model number of CLP-300.

[3] Once you have the brand name and model number, now its time to find the manufacturer's website, where you need to supply the make and model of your printer. 

Below, I have provided the links for each manufacturer's drivers/downloads section:







Unfortunately, it would take many blog postings to explain how to navigate each manufacturer's website. So, here are a few tips to help you get started. 

Once you have entered your model number information, you will need to select your computer's operating system. For example, if your new Windows PC has Windows 7 installed, then you need a printer file that is compatible with Windows 7. So, you must download the printer driver listed under Windows 7.

After you have selected your operating system, you will be provided with a list of printer file options. Even if you own a multi-function printer, we advice that you to stick with downloading a printer driver labeled as BASIC. Even if you have a multi-function printer, it is likely that you want to utilize all of the features available to you. This would require downloading a printer driver that is likely much larger in size, would take much longer to install and is far too advance for blog posting.

[4] Lastly, we will download the 'printer driver" to your desktop (or Downloads folder) and then we double click on that file to begin the installation. Printer installation could be quick or slow depending on your printer type.

Thanks for reading this posting. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post a comment below.

One or Two Easy Ways to Save on Printer Ink

Image Source: computershopper.com
Unless you've been living under a rock, everyone knows that printer ink cartridges are expensive!

Most people give little thought to this when buying a printer. Usually, we're more consumed with what features our printers offer - monochrome vs. color, media slots, photo or two-side printing, etc. So we find ourselves falling in love with a particular printer, only to learn that the ink cartridges are going to cost an arm and a leg.

For this reason, many people simply won't buy additional ink for their home printers, but that defeats the purpose for having it in the first place. So, here are a few tips for how to preserve your printer ink and no using refillable ink cartridges is not on our list.

Before you begin, make sure your most used printer is set as your default printer then proceed.

First, printing in draft and/or grayscale (black/white) mode. Sometimes we just want to print something simple like a To-Do list or an email, but we really don't need to it to use up a lot of ink, since we'll likely throw it soon anyway. So, the best way to handle this is to change your printer settings to save on how much ink is printed onto the page.  

To use this feature, whether you're in Internet Explorer or Microsoft Word, when you get ready to print and the print dialog box opens, look for a button called Properties... or Preferences.... Clicking on it should open another window.

Now look at each tab because you need to find two options, which are usually together and they are Print Quality, which has choices like Best, Normal, or Draft and Color Mode, which has choices like Color, Grayscale or Black & White.

Once you have found those settings, you will want to change the Print Quality to Draft and maybe even the Color Mode to Grayscale or Black and White. After doing so, click OK to close out the Print Properties (or Print Preferences) box and then click OK to print your document. Please note that you will need to change this setting every time you print. But its worth it since it will save you money in the long run.

Second, print more than one page on a page. No, I'm not talking about reusing old printer paper and printing on both sides. I'm talking about setting your print to print multiple pages on the same page. Think in terms of a BINGO card, where there are multiple options to win and its easy to work with because you have multiple cards on a single page. 

For example, if you have a four page document, instead of printing four separate pages, you can set your print to print all four pages on the same page. Or you could have it print that entire document on only two pages. To use this feature within your favorite software, click on File | Print and when the print dialog box opens, click on the Properties or Preferences....

But this time we are looking for a feature called Layout or Layout Options.... This feature will likely have more than one component. For example, in one box you need to set it to "Multiple pages per sheet" and in the next box, you will need to tell it how many pages you want printed on a sheet. After doing so, click OK to close out the Properties box and then click OK to print your document. Just like the draft settings, you will also need to turn off this settings, when you are ready to print normally.

That's it! Do you know of additional printer settings for saving on ink? If so, let us know by posting a comment below.

Windows 7 vs. Vista vs. XP - Computer Speed


The first topic we are going to discuss is Windows 7 vs. older Windows (OS) operating systems. Windows 7 is Microsoft’s most recent OS. Windows 7 became available to the public on October 22, 2009, ending the terror named Vista. Microsoft approached the development of Windows 7 differently than previous OS. Microsoft had a solid OS in Windows XP, but Vista fell short of its hype. However, Vista did introduce a stunning graphical user experience that Windows 7 uses. To better explain the differences of the 3 operating systems and to make this article as simple as possible, I have broken the article into a few sections: Article 1 – Computer Speed


Computer Speed

In the first part of this article, I am going to talk about computer speed. I have been asked many times what computer speed is and why it is important. The first and most common speed issue is the start-up process. This process is called the “boot-up” process. This process is measured from the time the power button is pushed; to the time the computer becomes fully operational (i.e. desktop is loaded, programs can be accessed, etc.). The boot-up process can be affected by many things, but mostly it’s the computer’s hardware (hard drive, RAM, etc.). As mentioned earlier, Windows has addressed this issue. Windows XP takes an average of 2-3 minutes to start up; while Vista takes an average of 90 seconds. Windows 7 on the other hand is faster than both of them; best start up time of the three with 30-45 seconds. That’s the fastest Windows OS start up.

The second most common computer speed issue is the reaction time of the computer. If you click on a program to open it and it doesn’t open right away, chances are you are going to click on it again, and again, and again, and …….. you get where I am going. Doing this will cause your computer to “freak-out.” Your computer will try to open the program multiple times. This will drastically slow your computer and can sometimes cause the computer to crash (which is never good). When you click on a program to open, give it a few seconds. If no response is given, try this again.

The third most common computer speed issue I get asked about is Internet speed. Internet speed is not necessarily an issue with the computer. You service provider (ATT, Suddenlink, etc.) controls you internet speed. When it comes to fast internet, the old saying it true; you get what you pay for. Your computer can affect your internet speed, but this is mainly seen in older computers. 

March is PCs & Printers Month...

Image Source: PowerPCNet.com
Recently bought a computer or thinking about buying one? Or maybe you received a new computer for Christmas and you're not quite sure what to do with it. Well, for the entire month of March, we'll focus on helping brand new Windows 7 computer owners.

To help you out, we'll bringing back a SPECIAL EDITION of Tech Tuesdays as well as focus on how to select a new home printer or how to take your old printer and save money on ink and other techniques for printer efficiency.

Our anticipated postings are as follows:
  • Windows 7 vs. older Windows operating systems, such as Windows Vista or XP
  • What Should I Buy First - Laptop, Netbook, or Desktop?
  • MACs  vs. PCs
  • Home Printers 101
    • Learn about the different Types: desktop, inkjet, photo, laser, multi-function/all-in-ones...
    • Ways to Save Your Printer Ink...
    • The Importance of Using the Right Printer Paper...
    • What to Do When You Have a New Computer & an Old Printer...

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DID YOU MISS LAST MONTH'S DISCUSSION ON eREADERS?

Throughout the month of February, we covered eReaders from the most popular devices to the eReader benefits, apps and much more. In case you missed it, check out these links!

  • Kindle vs. Sony vs. Nook: Part II (Feb. 28th) - Read now
  • eReader Apps (Feb. 24th) - Read now
  • Benefits of an eReader (Feb. 23rd) - Read now
  • Kindle vs. Sony vs. Nook: Part I (Feb. 18th) - Read now
  • How to Get Started with Overdrive (Feb. 14th) - Read now
  • eReader Terms You Should Know (Feb. 11th) - Read now
  • Introduction to eReaders (Feb. 11th) - Read now