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Pogue's tech tips for basic computer users
I have a confession. A friend of mine sent me a link to a list of tech tips written by David Pogue in the New York Times. Upon reading the title, Tech Tips for the Basic Computer User, I basically ignored it. Then this week, it showed up in my Instapaper list of articles to read, and I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did! While I don't want to toot my own horn, I have to admit that I would not consider myself a basic computer user. Yet this article pointed out at least two tips that I had not heard before. I'd love to send it to all of my computer-using friends and colleagues (essentially, everyone I know), but I'm afraid of them interpreting it as an insult. So instead, I'll write about it here and hope that some of them notice and go read it.
Probably my favorite tips from Pogue's post relate to digital cameras:
- The number of megapixels does not determine a camera's picture quality; that's a marketing myth. The sensor size is far more important. (Use Google to find it. For example, search for "sensor size Nikon D90.")
- Forcing the camera's flash to go off prevents silhouetted, too-dark faces when you're outdoors.
- You generally can't send someone more than a couple of full-size digital photos as an e-mail attachment; those files are too big, and they'll bounce back to you. (Instead, use iPhoto or Picasa–photo-organizing programs that can automatically scale down photos in the process of e-mailing them.)
- When you're searching for something on the Web using, say, Google, put quotes around phrases that must be searched together. For example, if you put quotes around "electric curtains," Google won't waste your time finding one set of Web pages containing the word "electric" and another set containing the word "curtains."
There are a ton more great tips in Pogue's blog post. What tips do you wish your friends and colleagues would learn?
Comments
5
Subscribe to commentsI'm Not ParanoidNov 11th 2008 8:53AM
"The number of megapixels does not determine a camera's picture quality; that's a marketing myth. The sensor size is far more important. "
Yes, partialy true. You should consider both resolution and sensor size => pixel density (or more correctly, photosite surface area) (you can have a larger sensor with a higher resolution that performs worse than a smaller sensor with lower resolution.
(I had to say this, because too many people believe all types of "marketing myths", including people who think they know better)
PeterNov 11th 2008 9:27AM
"What tips do you wish your friends and colleagues would learn?"
I wish they would learn not to get tech information from the New York Times.
The Times does a lot of things well, but tech is not one of them. Even the most basic search will turn up tons of better and more detailed information than you would get from the NYT.
Martin-TNov 11th 2008 7:27PM
As Mr Miyagi said to Daniel~san, "Go find balance."
A balance between megapixel, sensor, lens (size and quality) and your pocketbook.
blogwardNov 11th 2008 5:24PM
I wish more people knew Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X and Ctrl+V. And Alt+F4. And Ctrl+Esc. Etc.
Stuart HallidayNov 12th 2008 8:56AM
Your tip on Sensor size is very old. Back when film format 110 came out we all knew this. You shrink the sensor, you need to expand it more to get a decent size and so you increase noise. Be it silver crystals or pixels it works the same way. :-)
When in the past people would buy a disposable film camera, I'd tell them to put on the flash all the time. Film has an amazing latitude for over exposure.
I put up my photos on a web site and I put the url in my emails....
I knew about Google's search tips. I read Help files. Odd I know... ;-)
My tips are:
1.
Find out how it works before you buy it. Be it an animal or a gadget. Then you'll not kill it, be injured or be conned.
2.
Never, ever believe what a Sales or Marketing person tells you.
3.
Never use Version 1.0 of anything! Let someone else be the Guinea pig.
4.
Lastly never believe it will be fixed in the next release... (or is this tip 2?)
:-)