. . NEWS ALERT

5/09/08 -  If you have  a Windows XP  PC that uses an AMD chip, you should read this article before updating to  Service Pack 3  (SP3) .  Some  systems are having reboot issues.
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Outside Help - Week 19
This week I've got some fixes for Microsoft Windows. The long awaited Service Pack 3 arrived and created some problems for people. The flip side is Ed Bott wrote a piece about how to speed up windows Vista. And if you're not into "waiting", I've got a simple, but effective email rule that will help you track pending items. Rounding out this week is a podcast about getting better sleep.
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Using Outlook to Document Phone Calls
Do you ever wish that you had a good record of the times when you talked to a company? Maybe you needed to make notes about a support call to your PC manufacturer or a call to your insurance company. Regardless of whom you’re calling, Outlook’s Journal can help you keep good records and even dial the number in some cases.
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Excel Basics and the IF Function
Oh, have times changed. When I was a kid, my parents constantly told me, “no ifs and buts”. Clearly, Microsoft Excel wasn’t around at that time or I could’ve provided a better argument for using these words. Excel’s “IF” function is a useful feature and one my parents could have mastered. (Includes sample Excel worksheet)
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Web Due Diligence
In the last several years, I’ve done articles on how I use this site’s web log data. This year, I’ll provide insight on how I look at web services before I share my data. Like many of you, I’m storing more of my information online. I’ve got a list of 12 evaluation questions I try to answer before becoming dependant on a site. You might think of these questions as a "web due diligence".
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Resources for Converting Microsoft Word Files to HTML
Few people would argue that Microsoft Word is a versatile program. The problem is that the software may not be the best tool for converting your Word documents to HTML. This is true if you need watch files sizes as it adds code that increases page size. It may also include information you don’t expect. If you need to get your Word content to the web, we’ve got some tips and alternatives.
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Add IE Search Prefixes with TweakUI
One browser feature that gets little coverage belongs to Internet Explorer. In 2005, Microsoft added a feature called “IE search prefixes”. These shortcuts allow users to type a prefix & query and get answers from some of their sites. For example, you can type “define” and a word to get a listing of definitions. The good news is you’re not limited to just the ones Microsoft provided. I’ll show you how to edit or add your own search prefixes for other sites if you use Windows XP.
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How to Use RSS in Your Job Search
Looking for a new or better job? If so, take a look at how RSS feeds can help your job search. A RSS job feed can compliment your other job hunting methods by regularly bringing you targeted employment listings. (Includes screencast showing how to create a RSS feed with Indeed.com)
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Learn to use Pivot Tables in Excel 2007 to Organize Data
Pivot tables are an Excel feature that you should learn how to use. Instead of analyzing rows upon rows of records, a pivot table can aggregate your data and show a new perspective with few clicks. You can also move columns to rows or vice versa. The problem is people believe creating a pivot table is too difficult to learn. Grab a seat and we’ll walk you through a short tutorial using Excel 2007. (Includes tutorial in PDF format with larger images)
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