Posts Tagged: ‘Hardware’

Using a Gaming Mouse (2022-08)

July 31, 2022 Posted by Tiny

Thoughts From a Clicker
By Tiny Ruisch

Whenever a bunch of computer enthusiasts get together and discuss their hardware, we often talk about our CPUs, Graphics Cards, SSD speeds, Monitor Resolutions, Web Cameras, etc.  Over the years, I’ve noticed that many people overlook what I consider to be a most important computer peripheral.

How many buttons does your mouse have?  If you answered “two” you might be wrong.  The scroll wheel on many can also function as a third button.  If your mouse has a clickable scroll wheel, it can be used for many useful functions.  (Note: these tips work in most, but not all programs)

1)  Hover your cursor over a link and middle click the wheel to open the link in a new tab.
2)  Quickly close a browser tab by middle clicking on it.
3)  Open all bookmarks in a folder at once by middle clicking on the folder in your bookmarks.
4)  Enable auto-scroll by middle-clicking on a blank spot on the page.
5)  Open a new instance or window of a program by middle clicking its taskbar icon.
6)  A web search will find other functions.

In the early years of computing, I wouldn’t buy a computer mouse because I thought that they were useless technology that just wasted your time.  After all, you had to remove one of your hands from the keyboard to use it.  My thoughts have definitely changed over the years.  I don’t just use any mouse though. I spend a little extra money and buy multi-button programmable mouses.  I currently am using a Redragon Perdition Gaming Mouse.  It has three extra buttons on the top.  On the side, there are twelve more programmable buttons.  After using for a while, my fingers have developed memory movements and I navigate without thinking about what I’m doing.

I like any technology that makes my computing easier.  I’m lazy.  I like pushing a button to check my e-mail, another button to shift to my web browser, another to start various programs, etc.  I’m sure you’d enjoy using programmable equipment too.

Thanks for reading and keep on clicking.

Cutting the Cable and Streaming (2019-05)

July 11, 2022 Posted by Tiny

Thoughts From a Clicker
By Tiny Ruisch

Last month at the monthly meeting, I demonstrated the Roku Ultra, one of many streaming media players that can be purchased.  A streaming media player is simply a device that is programmed to stream video, audio, pictures and other media over the internet to your TV.  A simple search on Amazon shows that there are many options for buying a device.

Most of the questions were not about the Roku, but instead about the services that you can stream.  Many attendees wanted to know “how much does streaming cost?” or “will I be able to watch a specific channel?”

Unfortunately, my answer to most of those types of questions was, “I don’t know.”

The truth is that the answer would be different for each person.  It is kind of like somebody that says they are buying a car and asks how much it will cost them to operate it.  There are many variables: the cost of gasoline, how many miles they drive, how often they take a trip, etc.

The same can be said about cutting the cable and streaming.  There are various streaming services, each with their own pricing structure.  To make things harder to choose, most of them have different pricing plans.  For instance, Netflix has three different plans, ranging from $8.99 to $15.99 a month.  Hulu has four plans from $5.99 to $50.99 a month.

With the thousands of streaming channels you can watch, how do you choose?  If you do an internet search, you will find hundreds of sites that will give you tips on how to stop cable service and stream your shows.  Most of them recommend that before you do anything, either keep a journal or make a list of what you actually watch on TV.

After you have determined what you want to watch, it is time to do some research on where you can stream shows that you want to watch.  This might be the hardest part of the process as there are so many services to choose from.  If you max out on different services, you may not end up saving any money at all.

Local channels and news can usually be watched with the use of an antenna.  You can also often stream the shows from the network’s website.  Many of the stations stream their news reports online via their website or a mobile app.  Some aggregator services such as Sling also include this programming.

I am not a big sports fan, but I can tell you that watching the various types is a whole different problem.  Usually, you will have to pay monthly fees for each sport/team.  Even then, you sometimes do not get all the games due to local blackouts.  You might have to use a Virtual Private Network to trick them.

One final thing you need to consider when streaming is your internet speed.  Most sites recommend a download speed of 15-25 megabytes per second.  Keep in mind that this is in addition to all the other internet devices you may be using.  Faster internet service almost always comes at an increased cost.

So should you quit your cable television and stream everything?  I am by no means an expert, but like a lot of other topics, I have an opinion.  My TV viewing habits are different than most. I like mostly older movies and television shows.  Most of these I can watch on free streaming channels that I watch on my ROKU streaming device.  I still subscribe to basic cable for some channels that my wife likes.  Do your research and compute your costs.  Then do what works for you.

Keep on clicking and thanks for reading.

Useless Gadgets (2022-07)

July 10, 2022 Posted by Tiny

Thoughts From a Clicker
By Tiny Ruisch

Back in the last century, I had a nifty little electronic gadget on my key ring.  It did only one thing.  If you pushed the button, it would indicate if there was a wireless network in range.  Back then, most networks weren’t secure and it was easy to get online.  Electronic gadgets have come a long way since then.  Many people have their favorite gadget, everything from a remote control to a robot that vacuums the floor.  Even the military has gadgets they use to blow up things.  In my opinion, many of them are useless.  There are many new technologies others have that I just don’t care about.

By now I bet you’ve figured out that this article is going to be about some high-tech devices that I can live without.

The cell phone might be one of the most annoying gadgets ever.  I got my first cell phone in 2005 when I first moved to Louisiana.  My daughter added the wife and me to her family plan and gave us both a phone.  Even people that can’t live without a cell phone would have to admit that they are often annoying beyond human endurance.  The photos and movies they take can lead to all kinds of problems.  They can be awful scary.  When driving, you have to watch out for the cell phone packing motorist.  When carrying one, you have to worry about being tracked.  When using one, you have to worry about the controversial possibility that the thing is slowly cooking your brain.  There isn’t a whole lot of privacy any more.  Don’t you just love it when you’re at a meeting and someone’s cell phone rings?  After all of the ranting, I have to tell you that I’ve put myself in a position where I can’t live without the darn thing.  If an incoming call is not in my contacts list, it goes straight to my voice mail.  I don’t need to sign up for the National No Call Registry.  If I don’t know who is calling, I just don’t answer the thing.  A while back, I received an e-mail that closed, “Sent from my mobile phone.  Please excuse any typos.”  As Colonel Potter often said on MASH, “Horse hockey!”.  (Once he changed it to “Cow cookies”).  I’m sorry, but I am not buying in to the notion that I should forgive poor grammar, bad spelling, or indecipherable texting because the sender is using a gadget with a lousy keyboard.

You don’t see electronic pagers much anymore.  The last time I saw one, I was at a restaurant.  They paged you when it was your turn to give them some of your money.  Talk about making you feel important.  “Dr. Tiny, we have your table prepared with some surgical instruments.  Please come to the check in counter.  We’re finished testing your patience level.  Don’t forget to return our useless gadget.”

Speaking of useless gadgets, how effective can a battery powered robot that automatically vacuums the floor be?  Can that Roomba do a good job as small as it is?  Maybe if you got one of those robot doggies, you could use your Roomba as a robot doggie pooper scooper.

I’m still undecided whether or not I like dedicated e-readers.  My tablet has e-book software that works pretty good for me.  The advantages that I miss out on are being able to read in bright sunlight and a much longer battery life.  Since I am seldom out of the shade for very long and I’ve got plenty of electric outlets, I’m not too worried.  I don’t have a dedicated e-reader, but with my tablet I can not only read a book, but write one, listen to the radio and play a game or two.

If I could take a poll of all the club members, I wonder how many would have a useless gadget in the junk drawer next to a key chain camera or a clapper.  That’s it for this month.  I’ve got to finish searching the internet for a new gadget.  I’ve been looking for a Swiss Army Knife with USB and Bluetooth capabilities.  I want one that will tell me if I need to sharpen the tools.  I sure hope I can find one that is upgradeable.

Thanks for reading and keep on clicking.

Belarc Advisor (2022-06)

May 29, 2022 Posted by Tiny

Thoughts From a Clicker
By Tiny Ruisch

I’ve got a lot of programs that I use to upkeep and maintain my Windows computers so that they operate smoothly.  To help me do this, it is important to know substantive information about my different machines.  I get much of this data by using Belarc Advisor.

The Belarc Advisor displays a detailed profile of your installed software, hardware and security vulnerabilities in a Web browser.  The Belarc Advisor is licensed for personal use only and is not permitted to be used for any commercial or government purposes.

Belarc Advisor scans your PC and builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware in the form of an HTML report that you can view in your browser.  This information includes local drive volumes, memory modules, printer information, installed licenses, installed software, multimedia information and much more.  All of your PC profile information is kept on your PC and is not uploaded to any web server.

After installation, you simply need to run Belarc Advisor and wait until the initial analysis of the computer system is completed.  This process may take time, depending on the speed of your computer, number of peripherals, programs installed, etc.  Once the analysis is completed, Belarc Advisor will display in your default web browser a Computer Profile Summary.  This is generated as an HTML file and can be stored on your computer.

Depending on the number of the programs installed on your system, the length of the page and the amount of information will vary from computer to computer.  Belarc Advisor identifies and reports the following information:
• CPU(s) installed on your motherboard
• Motherboard make, model, and serial number, plus BIOS data
• Hard drive and optical drive data, including total capacity and free space, as well as volume details like the drive letter and file system
• Total amount of RAM, plus number of modules installed
• Mapped network drives
• Local user and system accounts, last logon time stamps, and locked/disabled status
• Installed printers and which port each is using
• Storage controllers
• Video card and monitor make, model, and serial number data
• USB, eSATA, and similar controller data
• Sound card or other audio hardware
• Anti-malware program installed program and definition version data, last scan time stamp, and current status
• Group policy data
• Service tag of the computer model, and possibly a support link to the manufacturer’s website
• Networking, Bluetooth, and other communication hardware and protocol data

One of my favorite features is in the Software Versions and Usage report section.  There you can check the last time that you have opened any installed program.  This can help you decide whether you might want to uninstall old, unused software.

I run the program every month or so.  That way I always have a fairly up to date report of my system(s).  The information doesn’t usually change too much.  I haven’t included any screenshots of my computers.  You can find many pictures with an internet search.

I like this program and have been using it for several years.  After installation, it only uses less than 7MB of space on my hard drive.  Belarc Advisor runs on Windows 11, 2022, 2019, 10, 2016, 8.1, 2012 R2, 8, 2012, 7, Vista, 2008, 2003 SP2, XP SP3.  Both 32‑bit and 64‑bit Windows Operating Systems are supported.  The license allows for free personal use only.  You can download Belarc Advisor from this link.

Thanks for reading and keep on clicking.

Motorola Edge Review

February 7, 2021 Posted by Tiny

From the Dark Side
by Tiny Ruisch

Last time, I told you about how sad I was that I had cracked the screen on my Motorola Play phone.  The only companies I considered for a replacement were Google and Motorola.  The big advantage of a Google phone is that you get frequent security updates.  The comparative Motorola products tend to be a little cheaper.  I’ve replaced my phone with the Motorola Edge.

The Motorola Edge, not to be confused with the Edge Plus, has a list price of $699.99.  I bought mine for considerably less at Best Buy. For a mid‑range phone, the Edge has some pretty impressive specifications.

Network Technology: GSM/CDMA/HSPA/EVDO/LTE/5G
Dimensions: 6.36 x 2.80 x 0.37 in
Weight: 6.63 oz
Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, plastic back
SIM: Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Water-repellent coating
Display Type: OLED, 90Hz, HDR10
Resolution: 1080 x 2340 pixels
OS: Android 10
Chipset: Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G (7 nm)
CPU: Octa-core
GPU: Adreno 620
Memory Card Slot: microSDXC
Main Camera: Quad 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.72″, 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1.12µm, 2x optical zoom, PDAF
16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm
Video: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Selfie Camera: Single 25 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 0.9µm
Stereo Speakers
3.5mm Jack
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
Bluetooth: 5.1, A2DP, LE
GPS
NFC
FM radio
USB Type-C 2.0
Sensors: Fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro and proximity
Battery: Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable
Fast charging 18W

The Edge is named because of the way the screen wraps around the side of the phone.  This gives the display a gorgeous look.  The wrap around makes the screen look like there are no bezels.  It seems to be larger than other phones of the same size.  The only problem with this is that occasionally a program is too close to the edge and is a little harder to use.  This can be easily changed in the settings.

All of the programs that I normally use run fast with no slowdowns.  I often listen to a podcast in the background while I either read a book or play a game.  Everything is snappy and a pleasure to run.  The 4500 mAh battery is more than enough to keep me running for about a day and a half.  It usually takes me about fifty minutes to charge.  I’m more than satisfied with my purchase.

Thanks for reading.

Rooting An Old Tablet – Originally Published April 2020

April 18, 2020 Posted by Tiny

From the Dark Side
by Tiny Ruisch

One thing about Android products is that they are easily recyclable.  Years ago, whenever I’d buy a new Android phone or tablet, the first thing I would do is root it.  Rooting is the process of allowing users running the Android mobile operating system to attain privileged control (known as root access) over various Android subsystems.  Because Android uses the Linux kernel, rooting an Android device gives similar access to administrative (superuser) permissions.  In layman’s terms, rooting gives you complete access to the file system.  You are able to add, delete and modify any files on your device.

Rooting can be dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing.  If you change or delete the wrong file, you can “brick” your device and render it useless.  Rooting can also be dangerous if you know what you’re doing.  Sometimes, a moment of inattention and you’ve deleted the wrong file.

Years ago, the first thing I did to a new phone or tablet was root it.  I quit doing this when the devices came with hardly any bloatware.  I recently had to recall my old skills and do it again.

My wife exclusively uses a Samsung ten inch tablet for her online activities (which aren’t many).  She recently upgraded to the latest model and I gained control of her old one.  It is a Samsung Galaxy Tab E, about six years old, running Android 5.1 Lollipop.  My plans are to use it mostly for playing “The Room” games and watching videos.

There are several Nougat ROMs (Operating Systems) that I could download and install.  Instead I opted for installing TWRP (TeamWin Recovery Project).  This app allows you to install new operating systems, freeze files so they cannot be used by the OS or delete files.  One of the best features is that you can uninstall any application from your android device.

Although I could update to Android 6 or 7, I decided not to.  For my uses, Android 5 is more than adequate.  I may change my mind if I ever want to download an app that requires it.  Instead, I deleted all of the Samsung programs.  I also deleted many Google apps, such as Maps, Gmail, Cloud Print, etc.

This ended up being a good project while being stuck at home during the COVID-19 scare.  The result is that I now have a six year old tablet that boots fast and runs smoothly.  Additionally, I got the chance to hone some old skills that I haven’t used for a while.  Although it wasn’t as easy as “riding a bicycle”, it was fun finding out that I could still do it.

Thanks for reading.

Alienware Aurora R7 – Originally Published October 2018

October 7, 2018 Posted by Tiny

A Pain in the Whatchamacallit
By Tiny Ruisch

I’ve got a jealous grandson.  He is envious of me.  I think I have figured out why.  I recently replaced my HP Pavilion a6342p Desktop PC, circa around 2006 or so.  At the time this machine had some pretty impressive specifications.  Over the years, I made a few upgrades, but it was still becoming a frustrating machine to use.  Sometimes it would take minutes to load a program.  One day it will be re‑purposed, probably as a Linux media server.

I bought an Alienware Aurora R7 desktop with some pretty impressive specifications.
• Processor: Core i7 8700K (3.70GHz) Six-Core
• Memory 16GB, Speed DDR4-2666
• HD Interface SATA 6Gb/s, Capacity 2TB
• Video GPU Type NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, Memory 11GB GDDR5X
• Gigabit LAN
• LAN Data Rate Speed 10/100/1000Mbps
• WLAN Killer 1535 802.11ac 2x
• Bluetooth 4.2
• Wireless Technology 802.11ac
• 6 USB 2.0 (Type-A) Ports
• 3 USB 3.1 (Gen 1 Type-A) Ports
• 1 USB 3.1 (Gen 2 Type-A) Port
• 1 USB 3.1 (Gen 2 Type-C) Port
• and much more

I’ll admit it.  This machine is overkill for my typical use.  When I was running tests, I finally got it to slow down a little.  I had opened Scribus (publishing software), LibreOffice Writer (twenty documents), VLC Media Player (playing a movie), NPVR (tuned to a TV station with the sound muted) and FastStone Image Viewer (playing a slideshow with continuous loop).  I didn’t stop any of my normal system programs that were running.  Then I opened my Firefox Browser and started opening tabs from my bookmarks.  After about 120 tabs, I started to notice the other programs slowing down.  I didn’t check system resources because I knew that in real life I would never have this scenario.

Like almost everything electronic, there are a few downsides to this machine.  Although there are a lot of USB ports, there isn’t a dedicated SD card reader.  I was thinking of removing the 15-in-1 (4 slot) reader from my old desktop and installing on the new machine.  I have found that I don’t really need it.  Other than in my pocket computer, I just don’t use SD cards much anymore.  My only other quibble is that the machine comes with Windows 10, but that is a whole other subject.

The first thing my Grandson said when he found out I bought an Alienware, was “can I get one for Christmas?”  I told him he would have to talk to his Mother and Father about that.  I think he’ll start saving his money.  I did set up a guest account, so now I’ve got Steam, Epic Games and a few other things installed that I’ve never had before.  I’ll probably set up a Steam account myself as there are a few games that do look interesting.  I sure hope everyone that reads this article is as jealous as the Grandson was.

Thanks for reading.

My Internet of Things – Originally Published April 2018

April 2, 2018 Posted by Tiny

A Pain in the Whatchamacallit
By Tiny Ruisch

I just realized what a liar I’ve been.  For several years, I’ve been telling people that I don’t really have to worry about the Internet of Things (IOT).  I thought this was a true statement because I didn’t have many connected devices like thermostats, doorbells, web cameras, etc.
I finally got around to taking an inventory of my IOT.  The results surprised me.  I’ve got quite a few items that are connected all the time.

1. a desktop computer;
2. a laptop computer;
3. my cell phone;
4. my wife’s cell phone;
5. my wife’s tablet;
6. a HULU streaming device;
7. a Chromecast streaming device;
8. a computer with NextPVR; and
9. two portable hard drives.

Those are the items that are connected all the time.  I also have quite a few things that are connected at intermittent times.

1. a tablet I use for watching videos;
2. a convertible laptop/computer;
3. a Linux laptop;
4. an older laptop that I use for testing; and
5. several old cell phones and tablets the I start to re‑purpose and never finish.

I have four networks in my house.  One is for guests.  One is for devices that are connected all the time.  One is for my local network files.  The final network I use only for extra sensitive online things like my banking.  After initial setup, maintenance is not much of a problem.

So far I’ve resisted a smart TV, connected refrigerator, connected doorbell, web cameras, etc.  Every time I almost decide to buy a smart device, I find another article about how easy they are to hack.  This is partly due to consumer stupidity, but the greater problem is manufacturer disregard for customer security.  Don’t believe me?  Maybe a web search will change your mind.

I’ve often expounded on companies like Sony that will not get my money because of this problem.  Until IOT vendors show progress in their security procedures they won’t be getting any of my money.  Maybe one day that super duper got to have IOT devices will be released and I’ll just have to get it.  If so, it will probably be time for a fifth network.

Thanks for reading.

Watching Television – Originally Published November 2017

November 5, 2017 Posted by Tiny

A Pain in the Whatchamacallit
By Tiny Ruisch

Creating my presentation for the club meeting this month gave me a chance to reflect on how my television viewing habits have changed in the last fifty or sixty years.  I remember when I was young and my father bought our first TV.  Although I don’t recall the make or model, I remember how big the box was for such a small viewing screen.  There were never arguments at our house on what to watch.  This wasn’t because of the lack of channels.  My father made the decision and the rest of us watched.

After I grew up and joined the Navy, there wasn’t much TV for me.  This was because of a lack of channels.  There wasn’t any of them in the middle of the ocean.  This was long before satellites.  We relied on friends and families mailing us VCR tapes of popular shows.  That is how I first watched Star Trek, Gilligan’s Island, McHale’s Navy and many others.

Fast forward to the 1990’s when I briefly owned a satellite receiver.  The main thing I remember about the dish network is how the darn thing would be mostly static whenever we got a heavy downpour of rain or snow.  At the time, I was living in a really small town (population about 1500). The choices were dish or an over the air antenna.  This was also the era when I first put in a second phone line for the internet, but that’s a story for another article.

In 2000, four small towns in the area banded together and created The Community Agency (TCA). The TCA was (and still is) a locally owned municipality utility that provided high‑speed telecommunications service.  These included high speed internet, cable television and telephone service.  This was my first experience with broad band and that is all I’ve used for internet access since.

Today, I’m still using cable services.  My television in the living room gets all of the premium services: HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and the sports channels.  People that know me can tell you what a great pricing deal I have.  The funny part is that neither the wife or myself seldom watch any of these stations.

In my computer room, where I spend a lot of my time, I’ve installed two over the air antennas which I use to watch and record televison on Next PVR.  I get plenty of channels that I like and usually have a show running on one of the four monitors I have installed.  Sometimes I find myself watching so much television that I don’t get any reading done.  It can be a hard job keeping up with the vast wasteland.

If you’re wondering why I have bored you with this brief history of my television viewing experiences, it is because I’m hoping to entice you to come to this months club meeting.  I am going to demonstrate my latest TV viewing method.  I recently purchased a Roku Ultra.  I will also be showing some interesting web sites for obtaining free television and movies.  Come to the meeting.  I think you will enjoy learning about this technology.

Thanks for reading.

Downgrading My Phone? – Originally Published June 2017

July 5, 2017 Posted by Tiny

A Pain in the Whatchamacallit
By Tiny Ruisch

A couple of years ago, I gave a demonstration at both computer clubs on replacing your computer using your Android phone.  At the time, I was using a Samsung Galaxy Note 2.  I connected a powered USB hub and was able to run USB drives, flash drives, mouse, keyboard, etc.  Everything worked fine.  I opened and edited several word files, spreadsheets, images and others.  Two years later, there’s quite a few reasons I don’t do those things much anymore.

Samsung has just released the Galaxy S8 for around $800.  Of course that is the minimum price.  The price will be much higher with more memory and needed accessories.  Many reliable rumors indicate that later this year, Apple will release the iPhone 8 for $1000 or more.  It seems that every year, smart phone prices increase much more than specifications.

In another year or so, I’ll be looking for a replacement for my Moto X Pure.  I’ve been thinking that when the time comes, my next phone isn’t going to be as “smart”.  One of the reasons is security updates.  Although Motorola promised timely security updates, they haven’t been reliable.  As I write this, my last monthly security update was December, more than four months ago.  They promised an Operating System update to Nougat.  After almost nine months, there is still no affirmation when or if I’ll get it.  I believe that is unsatisfactory for a phone that is only about two years old.

This is not just a Motorola problem.  All of the Android manufacturers do the same.  For a year or so, updates are frequent when you buy an unlocked phone.  If you buy through a carrier, your chances for needed updates are even worse.

Another big problem with using your smart phone is the applications situation.  Although there are mobile applications that work well, they don’t seem to be updated with new and useful features.  Many of them tend to be stripped down versions of their PC counterparts.  With the ever increasing power of mobile processors and graphics cards, this is unsatisfactory.  Part of the problem may be due to the different mobile app pricing process.  If an app is priced more than two or three dollars, it is often perceived as unacceptable.  These lower prices are often offset by “data mining” our private information.  Although this also happens with PCs, it is definitely more ubiquitous on mobile devices.

In the past year, I’ve been using my phone less and less for real production work.  Although I can readily edit word documents, there are many things that I just can’t easily do.  An example is scanning and editing old club Newsletters.  There’s a good possibility that my next “smart” phone will be a little dumber than my Moto X.

Thanks for reading.