Welcome to the October 2009 Newsletter from PC Resolver.

Windows 7 - Upgrade and Full Prices
Laptop v Desktop - Which is right for you?
Business Email - How to get your businees email address
VLC - Free Media Player
InfraRecorder - Free CD/DVD Burning
Audacity - Free Audio Editing / Recording

Windows 7 - Upgrade Will Now Be Available in Europe.

You may remember in my last newsletter that I said you couldn't buy an upgrade version of Wiindows 7 in Europe because of EU rules. Well, Microsoft and EU have come to an agreement whereby you will be given a choice of Internet Browsers when you install Windows 7. This means that you CAN buy an upgrade version.

To qualify for the upgrade you need to have a computer running Windows or a Windows installation CD/DVD including the licence number.

If you are upgrading from XP or earlier versions of Windows it will require a clean installation (format your existing disk or install to a new disk) and the licence key from your original XP/Vista installation. You will need to backup your data because this will be wiped (a backup is a good idea anyway) and reinstall your programs. Microsoft say that during the upgrade process your existing data will be saved to a new folder on your disk. I have not tried this and therefore can't vouch for how effective this is. In any case, if there is a problem (power cut, disk error etc) during the upgrade there is a good chance that your data will be lost anyway. I still recommend backing up your data before upgrading.

This may seem like a lot of work but I would always recommend a clean install when changing Operating System anyway.

I will install Windows 7 on your computer for 50 Euros including IVA plus the cost of Windows 7 if you quote this Newsletter and you order during 2009. This will include a 'dual boot' option if required: this allows you to choose your old XP/Vista installation (including your installed programs) when the computer starts. Your data (files, photos, music etc.) will be retained at no extra charge (saving 20 Euros). This is subject to your computer meeting the requirements for Windows 7 and is based on the work being carried out in our office (Sax, Alicante).

Website Steve's Q&A

Introduction

PC Resolver, in partnership with The Inland Magazine, is publishing a Questions and Answers section in the published magazine. The purpose of this is to answer the most common questions that are currently affecting my clients and readers of the magazine. You are encouraged to contact me with any questions you may have.

The questions and answers themselves are in the Website Steve's Q&A section of Support. This section will grow and will include non-published questions.

A key part of Website Steve's Q&A is questions about websites. Having your own website has never been easier, cheaper or more necessary than it is today. A fully functioning professionally designed and built website costs 300 Euros to build to your requirements and less than 10 Euros a month to host (including your domain name).

I want to change my computer, should I buy a laptop or a desktop?

I get this question asked a lot and my first response is: “How would you use a laptop?” I ask this because, like for like, laptops are more expensive to buy, maintain and upgrade than a normal Desktop PC. If you need to carry your computer with you then buy a laptop otherwise: don’t!



As you can see from the table, the only reason to buy a laptop is for portability. In most cases, a desktop is the preferred option. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should buy a new computer. Your existing computer can upgraded for around 2/3 the cost of a new computer and this should include the transfer of your files, photos, music etc.

Buying a laptop is an expensive luxury that will very quickly lose value whereas upgrading your existing computer will give you excellent value for money.

How can I get my own business email address instead of using my personal one for my business?

I absolutely agree with the need to have a business name for your email address. In fact, if a business doesn’t have its own email address I don’t deal with it unless I have no other option! I also get very cautious if they don’t have a website. With websites being so affordable you’ve got to ask yourself: “Why don’t they have one?!”

The first thing I did after choosing a name for my company was to create my email address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . I also created steve@...; sales@...; ... etc. This was before I published my website.

So, how do you do it? The first step is to check if your name is available. The quickest way is simply to type it in your address bar! Next, go to a domain registrar and buy your domain name (you pay yearly). Finally, you need to find a host company and setup an email-only package.

It should cost you around 50 Euros a year for all of it, what a bargain!
If this sounds too complicated then give me a call and I will happily explain it further or do it for you.

Website Steve's Q&A FREE Stuff

1. VLC - Media Player

VLC media player is a highly portable multimedia player and multimedia framework capable of reading most audio and video formats (MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, DivX, MPEG-1, mp3, ogg, aac ...) as well as DVDs, Audio CDs VCDs, and various streaming protocols.

2. InfraRecorder - CD/DVD Burning

InfraRecorder is a free CD/DVD burning solution for Microsoft Windows. It offers a wide range of powerful features; all through an easy to use application interface and Windows Explorer integration.

Features

• Create custom data, audio and mixed-mode projects and record them to physical discs as well as disc images.
• Supports recording to dual-layer DVDs.
  
• Blank (erase) rewritable discs using four different methods.
• Record disc images (ISO and BIN/CUE).
  
• Create disc copies, on the fly and using a temporary disc image.
• Save audio and data tracks to files (.wav, .wma, .ogg, .mp3 and .iso).

3. Audacity - Audio Editor / Recorder

Audacity® is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems.

Some of Audacity's features include:

• Importing and exporting WAV, AIFF, MP3 (via the LAME encoder, downloaded separately), Ogg Vorbis, all file formats supported by libsndfile library
• Recording and playing sounds
• Editing via Cut, Copy, Paste (with unlimited Undo)
• Noise removal
• Converting cassette tapes or records into digital tracks by automatically splitting one track into multiple tracks based on silences in the track and the export multiple option.
• Multi-platform: works on Windows, Mac OS X, and Unix-like systems (including GNU/Linux and BSD) amongst others.

Final Word

As always, I encourage anyone with a comment, suggestion, question, idea or inspiration to contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

or click 'Add Comment' below to add a comment to this web page.

Please also see The Inland Magazine Computer Problems Forum if you have a specific IT problem.

Steve
PC Resolver
966 967 439
650 354 629

Please email Steve if any of the links in this article don't work.

Your email address is only used by PC Resolver for this purpose and is not passed on to anyone else.