It’s the end of the year and it’s time for the annual “I can’t live without it” awards.  This Tech Tip features my top ten list of Tech Tips that I cannot live without.  If I was stranded on an island with just my laptop, these are things I would want to have on my computer – plus a long extension cord, because my battery would run out in 4 hours! 

The Links Bar

This is my all time favorite.  It is built into Internet Explorer.  Take the time to learn how to set up the Links Bar and begin to use it – it is the best thing about using Explorer.

http://www.marshalladulteducation.org/techtips/techtip21.htm

Freeware Software

I reviewed some FREE software packages.  These are great and indispensable.  These will simplify the way you do a lot of things on the computer.

• PixResizer
• Winkey
• Primo PDF
• Grabber 2K
• Just a Calendar

http://www.marshalladulteducation.org/techtips/techtip140.htm

USB Memory Sticks

I’m always carrying my 2 USB memory sticks.  It’s the only way these days to carry around your files – music, photos, and important files you can’t live without.  (What?  You said you're still using floppy disks?  Kmart has a 512MB and a 1GB USB memory stick on sale right now for 10 bucks and 19 bucks respectively).

http://www.marshalladulteducation.org/techtips/techtip93.htm

Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts

Learn even a few of these shortcuts.  Computing becomes fun and much more effortless - unless you’re a mouse junkie and can’t live without it!

http://www.marshalladulteducation.org/techtips/techtip83.htm

Send HTML email with Publisher 2003

Spice up your emails – send them in HTML format using Microsoft Publisher.  That means you can send out attractive newsletters with graphics and special layouts.  You can use Publisher 2000 or 2002 for HTML email, but Publisher 2003 has a bunch of really cool templates already laid out – really cool stuff!

http://www.marshalladulteducation.org/techtips/techtip119.htm

http://www.marshalladulteducation.org/techtips/techtip120.htm

StumbleUpon

This is a website that makes surfing the internet fun and safe.  It is relatively new but has grown a lot in the last few months.  Be sure to add the StumbleUpon toolbar to your Internet Explorer.

http://www.marshalladulteducation.org/techtips/techtip155.htm

A Backup Strategy

This is a great way to insure that you will never lose any information when you crash – or get a virus that knocks out your computer.  It costs a few bucks to set up (you need to buy an external hard drive and a software program), but it will pay for itself the first time you have to restore your computer after a catastrophic crash.

http://www.marshalladulteducation.org/techtips/techtip43.htm

Drag and Drop Tips

Learn the basics of dragging and dropping – and dragging and dropping between applications.  You may never search for a file or attachment again.  Why should you when you can drag it where you want it?

http://www.marshalladulteducation.org/techtips/techtip24.htm

http://www.marshalladulteducation.org/techtips/techtip91.htm

The Google Toolbar

This is a great add-on to Internet Explorer.  It’s the only one I recommend.  It has great features and is fully customizable.  Get it now!

http://www.marshalladulteducation.org/techtips/techtip85.htm

Google Earth

Uh Oh – I didn’t write a Tech Tip on this one, but it is one of my favorite software packages that I use whenever I have a couple of hours to kill.  But do go out to the Google Earth website and download and install this software.  It’s fun and educational (you will learn a lot of geography).

http://earth.google.com/

Well, there they are – my “I can’t live without them” Tech Tips.  There are other great Tech Tips, but if I had to choose just 10 – these would be them.  Check these and other Tech Tips out at:

http://www.marshalladulteducation.org/techtips.htm

That's it for this year!  Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!