Education & Evernote

I have talked about Evernote in the past and a few others web options that I have tried….  These are all more than just Notebooks, it’s a filing systems and can become your 2nd memory.  Take a picture of anything with your phone, send it to Evernote – TAG it and you have a new record.  I am back using Evernote full-time it has become a very important productivity tool for my day-to-day work.  The reason it has moved up in importance is that I was able to install the Windows application on my system and it brought many additional tools that allowed me to be more productive.

Calling – To-Do’s – Scripts – Specials – policy’s – Order tracking – etc…

I believe anyone using a computer can use this great tool – this is really a great tool for Teachers – the following Blog post on Evernote blog details just a few ways one of your peers is using Evernote to make his job easier.

10 Tips for Teachers Using Evernote – Education Series

Security – Anti-Virus CLONES INFECTING your System – You don’t even know it!

The hackers are getting very good at making us look silly by making their hacks look like real software, a real Microsoft Window or software Window – you hit OK and that is when you get infected.  I have had  a few people get infected this way and it’s not easy to fix.  Anyone can fall for this and have!  What makes these so difficult for the typical user is that it stops you from running your REAL anti-virus software or getting on the internet at all except to a specific page asking for money to solve your issue.

HOW-TO GEEK had a great article today that showed a few screen shots of those Hacks as well as a few solutions to solve your issue.  Like I have they have had many articles around this issue and they have included links in the article if you wanted to read more.  On my BLOG if you look at Security FOLDER at the top, I have my posts listed.

TAKE A READ – interesting stuff!

Here’s a Super Simple Trick to Defeating Fake Anti-Virus Malware

Securtiy – Password STRENGTH – Can yours be CRACKED?

There are a number of places you can enter in your password and it will give you the level of strength of that password.  Meaning just how quickly can someone crack your password.  The stronger they are, the harder they are to remember, but you really do not have a choice.  There are just too many people out there that want to take advantage of you and anyone else who doesn’t follow certain rules.

I have posted before about idea’s and methods to make your password stronger – I have suggested two applications that manage and create strong passwords for you.  If your interested in reviewing these posts – do a search on Security or passwords.

Like me I have lots of passwords and have not changed them since using LastPass, it would be nice to see just how strong the passwords I am using are!

Microsoft has a WEB page that tells you how strong your password is and methods to increase its security.

Check your password — is it strong?

Security – Passwords – Improve your security & still remember them!

 

I have talked about passwords in the past – suggested some password managers as well. 

Security – Passwords TOO MANY or TOO Little!

Security – Passwords – Can yours be CRACKED

The last few days there has been a few articles around making your important passwords stronger and still remembering them.  These two items don’t normally go together, but I think they do if you use one of the two suggestions below.

You don’t have to use either method for all your passwords, but you might want to consider them for your Windows Login – Password Manager program and your Banking passwords.  These are key to keeping your information and money safe!  The methods add a another level of complexity making it harder to break and easy to remember.

WINDOWS 7 – Quick Access – KEYBOARD Short Cuts

As in the past this new version of Windows and it’s programs have many Keyboard Shortcuts.  Computer users often enjoy the fact that when they are using the keyboard that they do not have to move their hands, but just hit a combination of keys to get the same job done as moving one’s hands to the mouse and moving it around and clicking.

 Believe it or not this can be more productive, the problem is knowing what these keyboard shortcuts are and remembering them in order to use them and be more productive.  The best course would be to review the list of shortcuts and pick the one’s you believe will be the most used and remembering those, there are just too many to do anything else!

 MICROSOFT Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

 FULL LIST 

Notebooks – Netbook vs Sub-Notebook for Education Dell 2100 vs Dell D430

 

	DELL 2100 Netbook	DELL D430 Sub-Notebook
Computing Power	Limited Usage Computing	Full Functioning Computing
Screen Size	10.1”	12.1”
Processor	Atom 270N	Core 2 Duo 1.2
Keyboard	Small	Full Size
Memory	1G	2G
Warranty	1YR Dell	3YR CDI
Battery	3 or 6 Cell – Half day Usage	NEW 9 Cell – Full Day Usage
Type	Open Box Dell	Off-Lease
O/S	WIN/XP	WIN/XP
ONLINE TESTING	Limited Usage	FULL USAGE

 Conclusion:

When you’re reviewing products the key to the success of any technology is productivity – You need to have a product that can fulfill many functions, increase productivity and reduce the time it takes to accomplish tasks.   The key limiting factor for a Netbook is the screen real-estate; this doesn’t allow the flexibility of working in multiple environments.  The productivity is compromised because of the increase in scrolling both up and down as well as across.  Please don’t get me wrong, the Netbook just like every other product has a place and is great at what it can do, but in Education and Business it has limitations that have to be consider. 

For our K12 customers the pricing of these two products are the same