Researchers Edge

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KEN'S RESPONSE:

I took a look at their website. What they are doing is an accepted, although not widely used technique. They act as a relay point for all your internet access, and "compress" the information before it comes to your computer. Then the software you download "uncompresses" the info before you see it. Commonly this is used to download files (you may have heard of "zipped" files). Pages with lots of text may see significant increases in speed. There is processing time, involved however. Both their server computers and your computer have to process all the info being sent.

The downside? Graphics files (jpegs) are already compressed as far as they can go, so you'll see no benefit there. And they use your browsing habits (which they monitor) to establish demographics for Internet users. They do assure that your "individual" information will not be sold; they are tracking it, however, and selling the compiled information.

In addition, you always run a risk every time you add another piece of software to your computer. It may clash with software you're already running. This may be your biggest risk.

-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2001 10:44 PM
To: ken@wedoconsulting.com
Subject: Temp Internet Files.

Hello. I have used Disk Cleanup a bunch of times, and have deleted cookies, and have defragmented my files. Now I found another file, by accident: through Windows Folder on Desktop / Temp Internet Files. How to delete them, there are hundreds of them.

[Ken Burton/ PC Gizmos]

It is nearly impossible to consistently keep your hard drive free from Internet and other temporary files. Disk cleanup utilities in Windows and Norton probably offer as good a solution as any, especially if you're not a technician (it's pretty easy to delete an important file and toast your Windows Installation). One thing to do is go to your browser settings and set up your temporary files as small as possible. The default for Internet Explorer sets this as a large portion of your drive (I've seen it as large as 500MB); I set it to 5MB. Click Tools>Internet Options to get there. Defragmenting doesn't delete any files; it just rearranges them.

When deleting headers from E-mails before forwarding to other, I have such a hard time to start the Highlight process. Have to keep trying and trying, and once in a while I can't do it at all.

[Ken Burton/ PC Gizmos]

Make sure you click the forward button first. You have to make system changes to edit a received email, but you should always be able to edit a forward (now don't send too many forwards out; some people hate just getting forwarded mail.)

Also: I have many photos is my "My documents" folder, and often, when I click on an item to bring it up [a box pops up with "Open With" followed by a list of programs, such as ACQUIT, Dr. Watson, AOL, Atavist, Explorer. I always press Explorer. Then it comes up.

[Ken Burton/ PC Gizmos]

Select the "Always use this program" when picking IE to open graphics files. Those settings should then stick.

Many times I am unable to download photos, because the "File is too large"< SOMETIMES THEN I am able to find it in Start/Programs/Windows Explorer/AOL/Download. Sometimes I then get the file, other times still not. Wonder if there is another way.
Thank you so much. these questions have been on my mind for a while.

[Ken Burton/ PC Gizmos]

When downloading you always want to pay attention to the path (location of the directory) that you're downloading to. You've got the right idea regarding searching for files if you don't remember where you put them, but you have to note the filename at download time to be able to find them using "find" or "search" later. I've never gotten a "file too large" error on downloading before, so I can't help you with that one. Most email servers won't let a file over 5MB be sent via email, however, and that 5MB limit depends on the amount of compression the file will take (email attachments are changed to text to be sent).

Also, when I use spellchecker the little screen almost covers the text I am trying to correct, so I always have to move it upwards.

[Ken Burton/ PC Gizmos]

In Microsoft Word you can correct the error right in the spellcheck screen. If you can't do that with your spellchecker, you'll just have to move the window out of the way (the positioning is a default in the software).

Your systems integrator, Kenneth Burton, has served as a computer consultant for over two decades, and has worked with the personal computer since its inception. Burton worked in grants analysis for over four years, and is a writer, media analyst, and a specialist in on-line information systems.