If you use Windows, you know that Windows Explorer – the file manager that comes with it – is not exactly the best. Actually, you won’t necessarily know much you’re missing until you try a third party file manager. That was exactly the case with me.

After reading glowing recommendations for FreeCommander, I decided to give it a whirl, fully expecting to be disappointed and uninstall it within a day. At first glance, the interface is far from lovely and there seemed to be tons of confusing buttons and options. It wasn’t looking good. I relied on my file manager countless times throughout the day. I really didn’t have time to learn how to use this thing so I could view my files. But I decided to give it a fair trial and stuck with it a little longer.

Screenshot courtesy of FreeCommander

It was actually much easier than I thought. Perhaps I was too used to looking at my files the old way. Stuff I like:

• The two pane interface is great because now I no longer have to line up two windows side-by-side to copy files. It’s a lot easier to locate the folders you want to copy files between using this interface.
• You can also save favorite folders (a must) and there are handy buttons running along the top that go to common folders like My Computer, Control Panel, Desktop and even a button to launch Command Prompt.
• Running along the top of the panels are also quick buttons to go directly to every drive in your computer, CD, DVD drives, removable disks.
• FTP connections. This I really liked. I no longer have to fire up a separate file manager just to copy files. This alone has shaved off minutes every time I need to upload something. My only gripe about it is it seems a little slow to me. Could be just my perception.

Overall, I’m awfully glad I gave this a whirl. I’ve hardly scratched the surface and already hooked. Looking for a good file manager yourself? Give FreeCommander a try. As the name suggests – it is free.

According to it’s maker, the BookBook leather case “brings three levels of security to your prized Mac”
… firstly by its hardback cover and spine for impact protection, secondly via disguise as a lookalike old leather-bound (and large!) book. It claims the third level of security is “the stylish case protects you from being like everyone else because BookBook is totally original, just like you.”

Am not too sure I’d agree to the last claim, for it sounds more like marketing-speak more than anything else …

Anyway, it definitely looks cool with such a design. It is closed with hidden twin zippers all-round on the edge of its very authentic-looking “pages”. The leather zipper pulls mimic that of bookmark ends really takes the cake! The Macbook Pro’s LCD screen and lid is secured into the case by way of elastic bands at the top two corners; not too sure about the bottom, though. Photos do not show how that is done – it could be using hook-and-loop strips, or just resting bare on the case without any fastenings. All BookBook cases are handcrafted and its leather hand-distressed, so no two of them are exactly the same … I suppose “one-off” exclusivity is good consolation for anyone that is willing to shell out $79.99 – $99.99 for a notebook case.

Twelve South also makes a similar case for the iPad/iPad 2, which doubles up as a landscape-oriented stand when the cover is folded back. The two halves are prevented from flattening out by way of a cord that attaches to both halves.

Am not too sure about protection via disguise as an old book is entirely a good thing, though … What happens if someone decides to use “that old book lying on the desk” to whack a trespassing roach or two? Oh, dear …

The drive is pretty neat, really, really small about the length of my thumb. It also looks so much like a toy I am a little afraid of losing it or one of the kids would grab it and it would disappear forever in their room. It does come with a password protection software if using Windows and works just like any other USB drive.

Verbatim claims it is tough and sturdy. We shall see. Soon, I this will be one of those things passed on to the little ones so we will see how much of their rough handling it can take. Good thing, we got it for so little.

Two ways. One, if your computer’s graphic cards have two outputs. Many of the latest cards do have two. One for regular VGA and one for DVI. Most monitors include the required cabling. But it never hurts to have one extra. If you are currently using the VGA, then you’ll need to get a DVI cabling and vice versa.

The other method works well if your computer only has one monitor output. It is a multi monitor adapter. Because it is USB, you can get as many adapters as you like and chain it into a USB hub. How sweet is that? One such adapter is the Arkview USB-1612. Check out the image below to get an idea how it works. It’s got pretty good reviews too. Although I already have two monitors, I think this might be the one I’ll look in to when we ever add a third.

Living in a hurricane prone zone meant we are aware of how even the smallest surges can completely fry our computers and just about anything really, but because the computers are such a big part of our lives, well, we put them all on a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) or backup power. We’ve added more since we moved because of that unreliable power company thing. I tell you, it’s a good investment. So many times, I would have lost all the work I spent hours on if not for the UPS. When the power goes off, it gives me 30 minutes to safely shut down the computer, monitor and any other peripherals we’ve hooked up to it.

This is huge – it is not fun to have to spend what you thought was your extra money that month on a fried monitor or computer or – fill in the blanks -

These things can get a tad pricey, if you can only afford a small one, I’d still say go with it. Remember, it’s not only the computer you may have to replace but you could lose all the data on the hard drive too.

Now, that doesn’t mean this is a magic pill, I do a lot of other things to keep my computer safe and secure as well – we’ll talk about that later, but ZA is definitely my first layer of defense. If you want to try something new, why not do it for less. There are no coupons required. Just visit this page or click the banner.

Image by Su

But what if really need to find the item whatever it is? It often amazes me why people don’t use the magic buttons – Ctrl+F or Command+F for Macs. It’s like having a built in mini search engine for the page you are on. Great way to find stuff on a page.

I use it a LOT, on all kinds of pages and sites. Sometimes, instead of reading through a long list of replies on a forum I use Ctrl + F. Also, sometimes download links are not always easy to distinguish from ads. What I do is, Right click on the page, View Source and then Ctrl+F and search for “.exe” or whatever extension the download is. May not work all the time especially if the download uses a click tracker, but in that case, search for the word “download” or the name of the file if you know it. Huge timesaver, especially if you’ve been on the site before and know something is there but somehow just miss it.

Then I came across Scratch. It works on Mac and PC and even has an online community to share the kids creations. Mostly games. Some of the games are pretty fun too. Heck, I just whiled away some time there when I should be blogging.

Another programming software for kids I came across is SiMPLE.

These days there is no better way to learn a new language than by using your computer and a program called Rosetta Stone.  With it you can learn one of 30 languages, just take your pick.  With Rosetta you learn the language as it is spoken and through spoken activities, not just with books and writings, making it easier to understand and pick up.

Rosetta is also self-paced so that you don’t feel forced or pushed further than you are ready to go.  You get to decide how slow or fast to take the course.  That way you’re sure to learn it and learn it well, at a speed at which you’re comfortable.

So, if you’ve been wanting to try a new language then this might be just the opportunity for you.

Choosing a headset for listening to online audio can be a bit tricky.  Not every headset is equal.  To get a headset that will offer you the best quality sound and allow you to hear and be heard clearly you want to look for one that connects to your computer via USB which gives a clearer sound quality, you want to look for one that has noise canceling capabilities which means it will clear up the noise in the background allowing you to be heard static free.

The Logitech ClearChat Comfort USB Headset does all this.  The microphone is noise canceling, plus it has the plugin and play USB plug.  It makes it everything we just described, and it is reasonably priced at just over $30.