Wow!

I’m stuffed and overflowing with technology! This is what I’ve been doing:

• I finally got around to updating Wordpress (Wordpress is the software behind this blog).  The new interface is actually much more user friendly than it was before.  That wasn’t too bad except I decided to copy all my files to my desktop – the files were previously on my laptop.
• While I was copying my files I was browsing around the Internet and I got a low memory warning.  Uh Oh!
• I realized I have 2GB of RAM running at 667MHz even though my computer has a 800MHz front side bus.  I ordered 4GB of RAM running at 800MHz which will hopefully pep up my system a little bit.
• Since I was in the ordering mood, I added 4GB of RAM for my laptop.  The desktop memory was considerably cheaper.
• My wife’s Christmas present.  Wow.  My wife works from home so she is on her laptop everyday.  Her current laptop is slow by today’s standards so I thought I would get her a new one for Christmas.  That was easy enough until the fact that it is the 64-bit version of Windows Vista made things difficult.  I found out that the VPN client she uses to connect to her job doesn’t work on the 64-bit version so that caused a little bit of a headache.  I finally found another version that works, but we will have to pony up some $$$ once the trial expires.
• While things are being worked out with my wife’s new laptop, her job sent her a touchscreen to test a new kiosk system.  In addition to the monitor, she was sent a fingerprint scanner.  The setup went together with no problem except the software isn’t working properly.  I don’t have anything to do with that.
• I got a new Xbox 360 – an early Christmas present.  Well, I didn’t want to lose my game progress so I wanted to copy the old information to the new hard drive.  Microsoft, with all their wisdom, doesn’t make this an easy task since you have to have both Xbox serial numbers before you can request the proprietary cable to make this happen.  No, it cannot be purchased anywhere.  A co-worker bought the old one from me so I had to order the cable and wait patiently.  Once I got the cable the copying process worked without issue.

All of this went on in the last week.  I need to go sit down somewhere and chill.  I don’t have to work until the 29th so I have some time to relax…finally.

Sssshhhh!  I have a secret to tell you, but you have to keep it quiet.  After I tell you this you can’t tell anyone.  No, really it would be better if you told EVERYONE so they may know this super secret.  Are you ready?  Here we go – hold on to your seat because this is going to blow your mind…really blow your mind.

Computer technology, things like taking your computer apart, installing software, configuring software, adding peripherals (printers, cordless keyboards, etc.) and other things dealing with your desktop or laptop isn’t all that difficult.  Additionally, if you have to get on the internet to pay bills, set up a service or even design your very own page, it is not above your level of learning.  I can’t absolutely guarantee this, but I’m almost certain you can learn to do these things without too much sweat.  I’m going to tell you how in three easy steps that will not cost you anything.

1.  Adjust your mindset.

I don’t like to hear people purposely talk above someone’s head and people in the Information Technology (IT) field have a bad habit of doing this.  Sometimes I think the goal is to keep people intimidated by IT and keep the money rolling in.  Sure, the “professionals” will be able to do most things faster and more efficiently and that should be the case because they work with IT everyday.  But don’t be fooled into thinking you must depend on IT “professionals” to do everything you need.  As long as IT is uncomfortable for you, it will cost you more money to use.  This doesn’t even take the level of frustration you feel.  I know this to be fact because I have been there.

Stay positive, know that you can do this.  From “Positive Mindset…the Keys to Success”: Winners don’t seem to be any more intelligent than losers, nor do they seem to be any better educated.  Social status doesn’t seem to be a factor either.  When you come right down to it, the profile of the average winner and the average loser is the same….except for one thing.  Winners have a positive mindset….losers are, almost without exception, negative people.

Just think like a winner.

2.  Use your best friend.

You know who your best friend is right?  I bet you don’t.  When you are on your computer, your best friend isn’t Bill, Susan, Mark or Lisa.  Your best friend, when you are on your computer, is Google!  You can ask Google almost anything and it will always have an answer for you.  Try to ask Google a question just like you would ask a real person and see what happens.  Type “How do I setup Microsoft Outlook?” and see what happens.  Now you know I tested it out and Google returned 19 Million results!  We both know all of those probably will not give you the information that you need, but Google has your back.  The most popular and hopefully, best matches to your question, will be on the first page Google returns.  Just ask Google.

* If you want to save energy there is an alternative for you.  www.blackle.com is supposed to be Google in a black screen which saves energy.  Of course I did some quick research on this and it may be more hype than anything else.  How did I find out about this?  Uh, I Googled it.

We are almost there, there is one more thing you must do to overcome some of your apprehension about technology.  This is something my mother used to say all the time.

3.  If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.

You ever heard the term “Nothing beats a failure but a try?”  We, me included, just have to keep trying things over and over again to make progress.  Trust me when I tell you, every little victory will add to your confidence and soon enough you will be what many people call tech savvy.  Seriously, just stay at it and you will see results in no time.

I’m not an expert or anything – I’m not sure anyone truly is – but if you have any questions we can help you with feel free to ask in our comments section.