Friday, May 9, 2025

1 May 2025 - Saving Old Records

Bob's Bytes #338 - and we don't mean just Long Playing (LP) records!

This was another thrown-together presentation, but besides the main topic, you also get to go with me down a rabbit hole.  Since retirement, I love to chase down these things, today's is entitled "1950's Super Panavision 70."  And I guarantee that if you've not heard of this, you have no idea what it's really about.

Topics and links:

  • Super Panavision 70 at Wikipedia:  <link>  Ha - a false lead.
  • The Internet Archive has an extensive collection of "Pulps" - magazines of the 40's and 50' printed on the cheapest paper available, "Pulps," usually with lurid cover graphics, but with well-known, recognized authors.  <link>
  • Aside: you'll have to go through the presentation below to see where the rabbit hole goes!
  • What to do if you computer locks up with a Tech Scam message - and beginner's questions on browsers and web pages
  • Converting (i.e. "Digitizing") LP’s and Cassettes <<Class notes>>
  • Elgato Video Capture, e.g., Digitizing VHS tapes  <link>
  • 8mm and DV tapes require an adapter
  • The Wolverine “MovieMaker-Pro” 8mm Film Scanner 
  • Lots of other things we can do in the NSC Computer Lab.
Posted by at No comments:

17 April 2025 - A Q&A

When we have an open date, we usually fill it with a 'quick & dirty' Q&A - Questions received in the presentation or in email and discussions and/or answers to those Q's.  This was one of those.

Topics:

  1. Blue Origin launches a New Shepard rocket with a "All-Women Crew"  <link>  We could argue over the 'Crew' part, they were passengers.
  2. Dr. Konstantin Batygin gave the Harcourt "Ace" Vernon Memorial Lecture at UD's Clayton Hall on the Planet 9 Hypothesis.  We didn't know he is famous, has his own Wikipedia page <link> and even a Wiki page on his (and Mike Brown's) planet 9 theory. <link>  Worth reading if you have any interest in Pluto.
  3. PC Mag had a good review of Satellite Internet <link> SpaceX's Starlink is the fastest.
  4. Printers: do I need a new one for Windows 11.  No.  But what if it doesn't work?
  5. Recommendation for a Ink Jet Printer?  Yes, if used a lot, the Epson EcoTank Series.  If not ... the cheapest one you can find on sale.  Throw it out when it stops working.
  6. How to tell your Windows version and 'feature release' number?
  7. Microsoft gives 7 tips to get the most out of Windows 11.  <link>  All of them are bogus!  Windows 10 is better or equal for all of these 'tips.'
  8. Good CNet video on Text Scams <link>
  9. Is Microsoft "Forcing" you to buy a new computer?  No, according to Leo <link> OBTW, 'Ask Leo' is a great side for lots more Q&A!  <link>
Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, April 10, 2025

10 April 2025 - Bob's Bytes

A two-part presentation:

  • A review of Windows 10 and 11 – what’s the difference, how to upgrade, how not to upgrade, and should you?  What happens if you don't?
  • An "Oatmeal" story and loosely-associated video, "765874"
    • (That's Yeoman's Colt Star Fleet serial number)

Some links for you:

By popular demand, we saved a video of the main discussions, Encrypting a Flash Drive and the Windows 10 to 11 'upgrade.'  It's 54 minutes long: <link>

 

“How we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life"

Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)