Computer Queries

I was listening to a news report on all our current power woes. Did you know your computer is about in the same neighborhood as a 100-watt light bulb? Dad only told us to turn the lights off though, so we're all leaving those computers on. The really big users of power are the servers that store all those web pages and host us on the Internet; they could use a power plant all of their own.

Now there's a good column I thought.

But then, I was just eavesdropping on a conversation about how fast is fast in the world of computers. They were dropping terms like bus speed and chipset and overclocking. And when it was all over, fast was still in the eye of the beholder.

I should write a column and put them straight, I thought.

Until I started getting e-mails and phone calls about viruses. I was so very proud of my dear friend that found, quarantined and killed a virus all in one swoop. He took the time to run his anti-virus and maintenance programs. He tamed his computer and took the mystic out of it. Now he's ready for more power. And there's the column. That's what I'll write about.

It was right about then it occurred to me that you are reading these articles. But who are you and what would you like to hear about? That seemed to be even more pressing a question than what to write about.

I've known from my business that the tasks we are accomplishing with our computers are awesome. Seamstresses download patterns from the Internet, Photographers enhance and create slide shows, and Pilots are flying their computers all over their virtual world. What are you doing? What is your hobby? What do you use your computer for?

And that is when it came to me. I will ask. I will ask my readers what they'd like to hear about in the upcoming year. Did you get a new fancy electronic toy for Christmas that isn't quite as easy to use as they claim? Maybe you got a new program that told you if you could write a check you could use it … and now you think you've been writing your checks wrong all these years. Or maybe you just want to know where to start.

Whatever your questions, whatever your thoughts …write to me. It gets lonely out here. Let me know you're with me. E-mail me at lauri@wiseowlops.com or write the paper, whichever you prefer. But, please, take a moment and just say hi!