I have an old ibook from about 2003 or so gathering dust in a corner. It turns on but doesn't function enough for me to delete the data on it, as far as I know how. Plus, I don't own a power cord that works for it anymore. I would like to be rid of it, but I do not even really remember what's there and I don't want anyone else to see personal info that might be on it. I live in the SF Bay Area. What should I do with it?
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posted by latkes
on Nov 15, 2012 -
7 answers
Is there anything better than an xbox controller to control xbox media center running on a windows 7 HTPC?
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posted by tehloki
on Nov 2, 2012 -
12 answers
Researchers, Writers, Grad Students, and Professors: Tell me about your technical setup (hardware and software). What do you use, and what couldn't you live without?
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posted by NotMyselfRightNow
on Nov 2, 2012 -
25 answers
I became a full-time author 2 months ago, and my hands are starting to get stiff. What do I do to prevent wrist/hand injuries?
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posted by sdis
on Nov 1, 2012 -
17 answers
I recently broke the screen on my laptop and I need to get it fixed. What are some good computer repair places in Baltimore?
posted by josher71
on Oct 31, 2012 -
2 answers
Former liberal arts nerd planning a return to university for Computer Science. How can I best catch up and prepare after years away from math and science curriculum?
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posted by f_panda
on Oct 30, 2012 -
10 answers
For a project, I'm trying to collect uses of Excel that do not include any formulas or other use of math.
What are some common documents that people use the format of Excel to create in an office setting?
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posted by sweetkid
on Oct 26, 2012 -
68 answers
Hey all - I have an old HP laptop from 2005, still working, but quite old now. I was tempted to recycle it, but I have a chance to give it a new life. I also have a kid on the way, so I was thinking about wiping it and making it the kid's computer in 2-3 years when he's likely to be interested in it. Thoughts, suggestions?
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posted by cyclotronboy
on Oct 25, 2012 -
7 answers
How do I sell "old" computers for their parts, without fuss and fairly. 2004 iMac & 2002 HP laptop. Both have minor operating issues. I don't know a lot about computers, so I don't want to get into specifics with eBay sellers. Prefer walk-in to computer shop and get a fair price. In Chicago if that helps. Thanks!
posted by Jason and Laszlo
on Oct 21, 2012 -
14 answers
So this involves a whole bunch of computers (Linux, Windows (server), Windows (7) and Macs and 6 monitors a keyboard and a mouse.
I am trying to find a way to dynamically assign a computer to one or more monitors, and change it around whenever needed. (So no monitor should be hardwired to a single machine)
I am thinking of a super duper KVM switch but I havent been able to find one yet.
posted by digividal
on Oct 19, 2012 -
10 answers
Trying to acquire as cheaply and efficiently as possible some fonts I don't have on my current computer. Working with a book/design project made in Quark XPress ten or more years ago, then put on the back burner and just now re-opened. The file opens fine in Quark XPress 9, which is the latest version, but a number of the fonts used in the original file are missing.
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posted by londongeezer
on Oct 15, 2012 -
6 answers
How can I set up a Windows 7 PC to be clean and stay clean? I don't want file bits and temporary files to clog it up, I don't want a million image files the size of a dot. I don't want this computer to run like molasses after a few years of web browsing and use. What is the best way to do that?
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posted by cashman
on Oct 12, 2012 -
20 answers
I went away for the weekend and when I returned this is what I get everytime I try to access the internet. Can't use google at all so IE is my only option. I'm freaking out a bit. I keep getting pop ups from "System Progressive Protection" that is trying to sell me stuff but I'm not buying into what I see as a scam. Every program I open is said to be infected. Everything was fine 3 days ago. It won't even let me Skype. Help, please
Ignore warnings and visit that site in the current state (not recommended).
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posted by Ohdemah
on Oct 11, 2012 -
10 answers
I am looking for a relatively rugged laptop (or tablet?) that I can use for data entry, word processing, internet browsing, and music playing while in the US, and then use for data entry, arcGIS, and music playing while in the rain forest in West Africa. It would be wonderful if it was less than $700.
I do not want a Mac. What should I be looking into?
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posted by ChuraChura
on Oct 8, 2012 -
19 answers
I am a college freshman in my
school's the College of Letters of Sciences. Currently, I'm pursuing a B.A. in Computer Science. I'd like to pursue a more technical understanding of software engineering as it applies to biological system, but need help maneuvering the many subfields.
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posted by ptsampras14
on Oct 3, 2012 -
8 answers
I am tired of this damn computer and its numerous problems. Before this, I've had to replace newly bought RAM and a new HDD, a motherboard and oh so much more. Anyway, moving on. After a power outage I had while running my computer, it has never been the same.
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posted by johnx
on Oct 3, 2012 -
17 answers
What is the best way to play MP3s on one computer, but controlled (prev, next, play, volume, etc.) by an interface on another computer. Complication level: there shouldn't be one because there is Linux and FreeBSD and NFS and shit everywhere. Why is this harder than it should be?
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posted by wrok
on Oct 3, 2012 -
9 answers
I need a new Desktop PC and I want it to run
well. First, what are good combinations of processor and memory? Intel's Ivy Bridge I7 processors look the best, and I'm guessing 10 gb of ram would suffice, or would it? I'm not buying an Apple, but HP? Compaq? Dell? What combination of processor/ram/brand would you recommend for a desktop somewhere around a thousand dollars? Thanks!
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posted by cashman
on Oct 1, 2012 -
31 answers
I need to learn Java/J2EE. Where do I start? What resources are out there? How do I become a good programmer overtime?
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posted by turniphead
on Sep 28, 2012 -
4 answers
Does anyone know how to access a Synology (or other) NAS remotely -- esp. if they seem to be behind multiple routers in a big network?
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posted by This_Will_Be_Good
on Sep 22, 2012 -
6 answers
Please help a not-very-savvy computer user make a decision. I have the potential to have either a Mac or a PC purchased for my use at work, and I'm not sure how to decide between the two. The story inside.
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posted by PussKillian
on Sep 21, 2012 -
16 answers
Browser say what? Trying to find some learning material (online or books) for a 35 yo adult.
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posted by timpanogos
on Sep 20, 2012 -
3 answers
My office just announced that they are installing Casper QuickAdd to all of our laptops in the next week or so. I want to know what they are going to be able to see after I do the installation.
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 19, 2012 -
7 answers
Good ways/ideas/tips for how to organize my external hard drive (because I put it off each time I added things to it...and now it's a hot mess). And ideas for keeping it organized when I add things in the future.
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posted by PeppahCat
on Sep 19, 2012 -
4 answers
Hi
I have programmed on eclipse, a reasonably straightforward program in Python 2.7 that applies image filters to user selected images e.g. by turning them to sepia, black & white, negative, etc. It uses Tkinter for the graphics user interface and the program functions ok. However, I was thinking about how to turn this into a web app. So to transfer this to an Amazon cloud server, I understand that for the client side user interface I would need to convert the program by adding html and javascript to the client side while python handles the server side? Does anyone know of any tutorials or other resources that are particularly good at covering web apps like this using python, html and javascript?
posted by conrad101
on Sep 19, 2012 -
3 answers
I need to quickly figure the 9th and 20th business days of each month for the rest of 2012 and all of 2013. Preferably not in a manual fashion.
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posted by reenum
on Sep 14, 2012 -
6 answers
What channels can I get from a tuner card in NYC using just the antenna? No cable hookup or FIOS or any of that fancy sh*t. I plug the card into the computer, I put the antenna in the window, I activate the relevant programs, and . . . . ?
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posted by jason's_planet
on Sep 13, 2012 -
9 answers
I'm trying to switch my laptop from a DSL to a wireless connection. I was told
this would function as the modem/router I needed, and so ordered it. Today it came and although it works perfectly as a modem it doesn't seem to have wireless router capabilities. Please tell me whether it does, and if so how to set up a wireless connection, and if it doesn't, tell me what I should buy or do instead after I return it.
posted by orange swan
on Sep 12, 2012 -
12 answers
I need someone to fix my pc! I am so sick of windows. My Display adapter causes my screen to go blank at random times and I loaded windows 8 and now my internet connection is at a crawl.
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posted by kmurray24
on Sep 9, 2012 -
7 answers
Why does my computer take such a ridiculously long time to boot up, and what can I do about it?
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posted by jbickers
on Sep 6, 2012 -
22 answers
My new laptop has the world's most annoying feature: for about 30 seconds after (resuming from hibernate/opening the lid/mysteriously just happens), a popup will appear in the center of the screen announciing:
" Power Save > Increased Performance"
This stupid popup cannot be moved or dismissed. I have no idea where it comes from, or how to alter it.
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posted by IAmBroom
on Sep 3, 2012 -
4 answers
How safe is a virtual machine for testing unknown software or browsing unknown websites?
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posted by apip
on Aug 29, 2012 -
9 answers
Is the new Google tablet worth it or practical? As a non-tech savvy person, who has only ever used a desktop, and would like to buy an affordable tablet it would be great to get experienced tech savvy thoughts about this new gizmo that popped up on the Google front page today. Is it safe to walk around with one's tablet connected to wifi, if one's tablet is meshed with one's Google account? Can hackers then access one's Google account easily?
posted by nickyskye
on Aug 28, 2012 -
37 answers
I want to have a large number of unique URLs, all pointing to the same content. Like a million of 'em, so we can track individual recipients' behaviors online; one URL (or set of related URLs) per recipient (say we're sending them an email or a postcard with a QR code).
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posted by Mister_A
on Aug 28, 2012 -
3 answers
I'd like suggestions/recommendations on a solution that will let me display the image from my telescope onto a computer screen.
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posted by robhuddles
on Aug 27, 2012 -
6 answers
I got a new PC, it turns songs into Karaoke songs, the beautiful vocal channel is missing. Help! it's so annoying to be stuck with this situation. Thanks
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posted by akomom
on Aug 23, 2012 -
8 answers
I spilled coffee on my old (2006 polycarbonate) MacBook. Now the trackpad works, but not the keys. How can I diagnose and fix my laptop keyboard?
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posted by ignignokt
on Aug 21, 2012 -
7 answers
I'm looking for computer mouse suggestions: at least 4 button (right, left, forward and backward for internet browsing) plus a scroll wheel, for Windows 7, your best buys for the money. More details inside.
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posted by filthy light thief
on Aug 20, 2012 -
10 answers
