There are many search engines available on the Internet and it depends on what you are looking for to determine if they give better results than Google. If you are looking for local results then it isn’t normally beneficial to go to Google to find the information you are looking for. There are many “vertical” sites coming online daily to assist with the needs of the local market.
MSN will give you different search results from Google as will Yahoo, Ask, Looksmart and depending on what you are looking for you can even go to Wikipedia to find more detailed information. If you are looking for local information, Yahoo will normally give you better results than Google. There is a new company that is working on the local market and that is wearenetwork. They have information on quite a few Canadian cities and a couple of US cities so far. I have found them to be helpful to me, also some property management sites are also improving their local search to assist the community, one of those is Mark-Taylor, which is based out of Phoenix, Arizona. More and more search engines are coming online to benefit the need of the local search community. If you are vigilant you can find them and maybe even find one for your city.
If you limit yourself to Google there will be websites you won’t find so if you don’t find the information you are looking for there then try one of the other search engines, but if you are looking local try and find something for your area.
http://www.helium.com/tm/182749/there-search-engines-available
Monday, February 26, 2007
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Online Dictionaries - FREE
When I need information, the definition of a word or a similar word there are a few different places I go to on the Web. They are helpful with the kids homework and for my writing. Here are a few of my favorites
www.m-w.com - Merriam Webster Dictionary & Thesaurus
www.answers.com - They give you definitions, encyclopedia notes, and much more
www.thefreedictionary.com - Offers definitions, thesaurus and references in literature
www.wikipedia.org - I think we all know what wikipedia is, but be careful because it is edited by general users.
dictionary.cambridge.org - They give you definitions from different dictionaries.
dictionary.reference.com - This is another one that you have definitions, thesaurus, references, encyclopedias, etc.
www.onelook.com - This site also offers reverse look up, which can be helpful.
There are many more out there, but these are the ones that I use on a consistent basis. If you can think of any others please let me know so that I can use them also. I hope these free online resources have been able to help you like they have helped me.
Thanks for joining me as we waddle through the Internet.
Patti
www.m-w.com - Merriam Webster Dictionary & Thesaurus
www.answers.com - They give you definitions, encyclopedia notes, and much more
www.thefreedictionary.com - Offers definitions, thesaurus and references in literature
www.wikipedia.org - I think we all know what wikipedia is, but be careful because it is edited by general users.
dictionary.cambridge.org - They give you definitions from different dictionaries.
dictionary.reference.com - This is another one that you have definitions, thesaurus, references, encyclopedias, etc.
www.onelook.com - This site also offers reverse look up, which can be helpful.
There are many more out there, but these are the ones that I use on a consistent basis. If you can think of any others please let me know so that I can use them also. I hope these free online resources have been able to help you like they have helped me.
Thanks for joining me as we waddle through the Internet.
Patti
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Is Microsoft Word 2007 worth the money?
We recently installed the new Microsoft Office 2007 suite onto our computer. If you are used to Office 2003 then things will look a little different for you. I mostly use Microsoft Word so will use it as an illustration on how it is different.
First we will start with the toolbars, which used to be one or two lines across the top with your favorite tools to use. It is now expanded, across the top are the different tools that are used a lot. What I mean by this is that there are different tabs which are Home, Insert, Page Layout, References, Mailings, Review and View. If someone isn't used to utilizing tabs it can be disconcerting in the beginning. Under home will have your basic functions, like font, color, copy, paste, etc. Insert provides many different objects you can insert into a document from a new page to pictures and symbols. Page layout is margins and the like, references is dictionary, word count, etc; Mailings is mail merge, labels, envelopes and Review and View are self explanatory. At first it can see complicated and disconcerting because you are used to it being a certain way, but it is actually pretty easy to use and the layout is user friendly.
They have new templates installed and different types of documents you can create like a blog entry, reports, and of course letters and faxes. They have kept the old favorites and added some new features that I like to include offering the online templates in your database and the easy way to find the information you need.
I would recommend Microsoft Office 2007 because it is easy to use but you have to make sure you change the type of document you are saving if you are sending it to someone else because unless that person has installed the new reader program they won't be able to read your document without Microsoft Office 2007. Is it enough to spend the money to buy if you already have Microsoft Office 2003, then I would have to say no, I wouldn't spend the extra money.
First we will start with the toolbars, which used to be one or two lines across the top with your favorite tools to use. It is now expanded, across the top are the different tools that are used a lot. What I mean by this is that there are different tabs which are Home, Insert, Page Layout, References, Mailings, Review and View. If someone isn't used to utilizing tabs it can be disconcerting in the beginning. Under home will have your basic functions, like font, color, copy, paste, etc. Insert provides many different objects you can insert into a document from a new page to pictures and symbols. Page layout is margins and the like, references is dictionary, word count, etc; Mailings is mail merge, labels, envelopes and Review and View are self explanatory. At first it can see complicated and disconcerting because you are used to it being a certain way, but it is actually pretty easy to use and the layout is user friendly.
They have new templates installed and different types of documents you can create like a blog entry, reports, and of course letters and faxes. They have kept the old favorites and added some new features that I like to include offering the online templates in your database and the easy way to find the information you need.
I would recommend Microsoft Office 2007 because it is easy to use but you have to make sure you change the type of document you are saving if you are sending it to someone else because unless that person has installed the new reader program they won't be able to read your document without Microsoft Office 2007. Is it enough to spend the money to buy if you already have Microsoft Office 2003, then I would have to say no, I wouldn't spend the extra money.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Computer Wallpaper
If you are looking for something different, something that doesn't match everyone else's background on their computer, I have the website for you. Are you tired of seeing the winter scene with the castle or the beach scene with the ocean and palm tree? We have all seen these images and we have also seen the images of the Grand Tetons with Snake River. They are all beautiful pictures but why not try something different.
For several years we have been using the website www.digitalblasphemy.com. It is a website not of photographs but of CGI images. They have a beautiful background that we used for years, it was a gazebo made of water located at the end of a pier. In the gazebo was a girl and she was looking out over the water at the two moons in the sky. This is just one of the pictures available of their free backgrounds. They have approximately twenty images available for free and have much more for a small fee.
So instead of trying to be like other the others, try something different and take a look at CGI. I think you will be impressed by what you find. They also offer images for dual monitors, PSP, and even triple monitors on their paid site. I think you will be happy you check them out. I know I was.
For several years we have been using the website www.digitalblasphemy.com. It is a website not of photographs but of CGI images. They have a beautiful background that we used for years, it was a gazebo made of water located at the end of a pier. In the gazebo was a girl and she was looking out over the water at the two moons in the sky. This is just one of the pictures available of their free backgrounds. They have approximately twenty images available for free and have much more for a small fee.
So instead of trying to be like other the others, try something different and take a look at CGI. I think you will be impressed by what you find. They also offer images for dual monitors, PSP, and even triple monitors on their paid site. I think you will be happy you check them out. I know I was.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Blu-Ray and HD dvd
With the influx of new videos on the marketplace, people are trying to determine with version of High Definition DVDs will survive.
The Blu-Ray website states the following:
Blu-ray, also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of a next-generation optical disc format jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), a group of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers (including Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson). The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. This extra capacity combined with the use of advanced video and audio codecs will offer consumers an unprecedented HD experience.
Which basically means that it is a type of high definition DVD. Another type is the HD DVD and according to its website it states the following:
HD DVD is a new optical disc format that stands for High-Definition Digital Versatile Disc. It uses a blue laser, which allows for more data density per disc. So what does that mean? Well, for starters, HD DVD delivers six times the picture resolution of normal DVDs, up to 7.1 channels of high-resolution audio, amazing interactivity and more bonus content than there are movies about unrequited love. And that translates into a truly awesome movie watching experience. So if your neighbor were to ask you, tell him HD DVDs are DVDs on steroids. Really, really good steroids.
Confused yet?
Basically they aren't much difference between the two, it will come down to what type the general public prefers. If it goes the same way as Beta and VHS then Sony will lose again and HD DVD will become the winner. But in my humble opinion another company will come out with something slicker and cooler that will blow the socks off of both HD DVD and Blu-Ray, much in the same way that DVDs did with VHS tapes. We will have to sit back and see with one is the winner. Personally I am buying normal DVDs for now until the public makes up its mind.
See you next waddle
Patti
The Blu-Ray website states the following:
Blu-ray, also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of a next-generation optical disc format jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), a group of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers (including Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson). The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. This extra capacity combined with the use of advanced video and audio codecs will offer consumers an unprecedented HD experience.
Which basically means that it is a type of high definition DVD. Another type is the HD DVD and according to its website it states the following:
HD DVD is a new optical disc format that stands for High-Definition Digital Versatile Disc. It uses a blue laser, which allows for more data density per disc. So what does that mean? Well, for starters, HD DVD delivers six times the picture resolution of normal DVDs, up to 7.1 channels of high-resolution audio, amazing interactivity and more bonus content than there are movies about unrequited love. And that translates into a truly awesome movie watching experience. So if your neighbor were to ask you, tell him HD DVDs are DVDs on steroids. Really, really good steroids.
Confused yet?
Basically they aren't much difference between the two, it will come down to what type the general public prefers. If it goes the same way as Beta and VHS then Sony will lose again and HD DVD will become the winner. But in my humble opinion another company will come out with something slicker and cooler that will blow the socks off of both HD DVD and Blu-Ray, much in the same way that DVDs did with VHS tapes. We will have to sit back and see with one is the winner. Personally I am buying normal DVDs for now until the public makes up its mind.
See you next waddle
Patti
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Ideas and the Internet
I have been trying to figure out some ideas to write about that are of a technical nature and it is harder than I thought it would be. But as I was thinking on this, I did come up with an idea and I wanted to share that with you today.
If you are working on your blog and are running out of ideas, there are a few different websites that you can check out that will assist you with your ideas. This is great but you don't want to copy everyone else. I thought of a way to come up with innovative ideas for your blog and still maintain your individuality.
One of the ways to do this is to read the different websites that have a similar interest to your blog. There are so many websites available on the Internet that you can research for years and never find all of them. By doing a general search on the topic of your blog you can come up with ideas that you can tweak and put your own spin on to make them your own.
Another way that you can come up with different ideas is to keep an eye on the news websites, this could be global news, i.e. Fox, CNN, etc or it could be your local newspaper or radio station. All of these news sources can give you ideas of different things you can write about and still maintain a freshness to your blog.
The final way that I thought of to come up with new ideas for your blog is to talk to people, whether it is online or in person. Normally people have different questions they want answered. It could be as simple as how to change a tire or as elaborate as how to build an extension on your house. It is up to you on what information you put on your blog. Your goal is to make it fresh and interesting so that people keep coming back on a consistent basis.
I hope this helped some of you with your blog ideas, I know it has helped me. Now I just have to remember to follow my own advice. Until next time, remember we are just a waddle away.
Keep Cool
Patti
If you are working on your blog and are running out of ideas, there are a few different websites that you can check out that will assist you with your ideas. This is great but you don't want to copy everyone else. I thought of a way to come up with innovative ideas for your blog and still maintain your individuality.
One of the ways to do this is to read the different websites that have a similar interest to your blog. There are so many websites available on the Internet that you can research for years and never find all of them. By doing a general search on the topic of your blog you can come up with ideas that you can tweak and put your own spin on to make them your own.
Another way that you can come up with different ideas is to keep an eye on the news websites, this could be global news, i.e. Fox, CNN, etc or it could be your local newspaper or radio station. All of these news sources can give you ideas of different things you can write about and still maintain a freshness to your blog.
The final way that I thought of to come up with new ideas for your blog is to talk to people, whether it is online or in person. Normally people have different questions they want answered. It could be as simple as how to change a tire or as elaborate as how to build an extension on your house. It is up to you on what information you put on your blog. Your goal is to make it fresh and interesting so that people keep coming back on a consistent basis.
I hope this helped some of you with your blog ideas, I know it has helped me. Now I just have to remember to follow my own advice. Until next time, remember we are just a waddle away.
Keep Cool
Patti
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
DVD Player and Game Consoles...Help!
A friend asked me the other day, how to hook up her game consoles if her DVD player was already hooked up. There are a couple of ways that you can do this and I will provide them both here.
First you can connect the game consoles into the back of the DVD Player and it will create a serial link to be able to play your game consoles and still be able to watch movies on your DVD Player without having to unhook everything to do one or the other.
Another way that you can do this, and especially if you have more than one game console, is to buy a port for your television. You can hook your different systems up through it and hook it into the television. You can connect your DVD Player, VCR, and multiple game consoles through the port and then hook it into the television and not have to worry about disconnecting items to work other systems. This way works best if you have multiple game systems and other connections.
If you have any questions or comments they are always welcome. Thanks
Patti
First you can connect the game consoles into the back of the DVD Player and it will create a serial link to be able to play your game consoles and still be able to watch movies on your DVD Player without having to unhook everything to do one or the other.
Another way that you can do this, and especially if you have more than one game console, is to buy a port for your television. You can hook your different systems up through it and hook it into the television. You can connect your DVD Player, VCR, and multiple game consoles through the port and then hook it into the television and not have to worry about disconnecting items to work other systems. This way works best if you have multiple game systems and other connections.
If you have any questions or comments they are always welcome. Thanks
Patti
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