By: Andrea Eldridge.

I didn’t buy a 3rd generation iPad. There, I said it. Some people may suggest that it’s time to strip me of my “nerd” credentials, particularly when I admit that I’ve been underwhelmed by all the “new” Apple gadgets to hit the market in the last year.

I intended to write about the great features of the new iPad and why it’s worth shelling out upwards of $500 for one. Yet there’s nothing particularly revolutionary about it. There’s an improved display that, while certainly beautiful, is only noticeable to the average passerby if you’re holding an iPad 3 next to an iPad 2.

The camera is improved, but you’ll only notice it when holding an image taken with the new camera next to one taken with the older one. The processor is a bit faster. It’s a bit heavier. Some people have suggested it might overheat, but there’s no evidence yet to substantiate that claim. ...Keep On Reading!

By: Andrea Eldrige.

From Facebook, to Twitter, to Foursquare, social media sites are everywhere and full of virtual land mines for our teens.

Anything they say can and may be used against them by a bully at school, a college admissions counselor or a future boss. There are numerous ways they’re exposed to the world, from harsh life lessons to predators and scam artists. It’s important for parents to teach them how to navigate social media safely.

Our mom used to say, “Never put anything in writing that you don’t want published on the front page of The New York Times,” and this warning definitely applies to present-day social media. That photo of your teen doing something exceptionally dumb can be used against them: by a schoolmate playing a prank, or worse, school administrators — even the police. ...Keep On Reading!

It’s simple to Google, but it’s not always easy to get it right. We’ve all been frustrated by typing something into the search bar, only to be bombarded with a bunch of junk: pages of search results, filled with Web links from questionable sources. Results that aren’t what you were looking for.

Google is unquestionably the most popular search engine, with an estimated 900 million unique visitors every month, according to eBizMBA, which compiles website statistics. Its nearest competitor, Bing, gets an estimated 165 million unique visitors every month by comparison. It would be impossible to give tips for every search engine out there, so here’s how to refine your Google searches:

First, use the advanced search option. Type in your question to get the preliminary results, then click the options button at the upper right part of the page (it looks like a cog) to select advanced search. Narrow down your results by adding words, excluding words or specifying an exact word or phrase. If you’ve performed the search before, you can show updates only within a certain time frame, so you’re not looking at old information. ...Keep On Reading!

Blogging is no longer just for the online-savvy. It’s for anyone who wants to share a little bit of themselves with the world. When our son was born, my husband started a blog chronicling every little coo and giggle so our friends and family could share in the experience as he grew. The site still draws readers several years later. One of my friends, a fantastic cook, created a blog to share her inventive recipes. I’m far more inclined to try something off her site than out of a cookbook.

Before you bust out the laptop and start typing, pick a topic you love. Whether it’s gardening tips, improving your golf swing or sharing pet-training tips, the key is passion for your subject. Entrepreneurs can use an engaging and informative blog to promote a business, attract customers or even generate revenue from online advertising. Do your research: Check out blogs on your subject matter to see if you have a unique perspective. Finally, make sure to use a consistent tone in writing for your audience. Grandma and Grandpa may want to hear about your cat Lulu’s latest escapades; your clients probably don’t. ...Keep On Reading!

By: Andrea Eldridge

April will be here before you know it, and so will that mid-month deadline for filing your tax returns. If you haven’t already tried electronic filing, give it a go. But with so many programs that offer roughly the same service, how’s a tax e-filer to choose? I checked out some popular options so you wouldn’t have to.

I’m not sure if it’s intentional, but the pricing plans offered by some of the major tax preparation services. TurboTax, H&R Block and FreeTax USA are confusing. Their home pages are emblazoned with the word “free,” but that typically only refers to filing a basic federal 1040EZ form. Charges increase for filing additional federal and state forms. The programs offer different support structures based on the package. ...Keep On Reading!

By: Andrea Eldridge.

Once you have a wireless network set up in your home or office, it should work seamlessly… about 80% of the time. The remaining 20% will likely cause you to tear your hair out. Before you resign yourself to your Soduku book the next time you can’t get online, here are some basic tips to keep your wireless network fully operational.

If Your network was working fine yesterday and suddenly today you can’t get online.

Whether you set up your own network or hire a professional to do it for you, there will likely come a day when your internet connection drops and you are suddenly unable to get online. Knowing the steps to re-set your network can save you hours on hold with your internet provider’s tech support.

The First Thing You Should Do When Your Internet Stops Working:
1. Power off your computers, router and modem (you may have an all-in-one modem/router).
2. Check to make sure any and all cables are fully engaged.
3. ...Keep On Reading!

As ironic as it may seem coming from the girl who a few short months ago wrote an article about how to get by without a printer, the reality is that life is still easier if you have one around.

In this two-part series we’ll review all you need to know when picking a printer.

Printer specifications are their own special language. Ink jet, laser, DPI, ppm seriously, where’s the human-to-printer dictionary? The truth is that certain functions and abilities are going to matter more to different users, and everyone wants to balance price with quality and ease of use. The best printer will depend on what you are going to use it for, and how much you’d like to spend.

As always, our advice comes from the perspective of a company that has a lot of experience fixing broken printers, so we know how to help you pick out a printer that will be less likely to break.  Let’s break down a few printer fundamentals to help you make an informed decision. ...Keep On Reading!

Every time I find an easier way to do something it’s a small victory. When it’s something I do all the time, like finding a shortcut to the office or a quicker way to make dinner, it’s even sweeter.

There are some easy shortcuts to accomplish common tasks in Windows. Shaving a couple mouse or key strokes may not seem like a big deal, but you’d be surprised how big of an impact they can make on your day to day.

I use copy, cut and paste all the time. I used to highlight the text, right-click, choose “Copy,” then right-click again and choose “Paste” in a new location, but it’s a bit cumbersome. If I right-click in the wrong place, I lose what I’ve just highlighted and I have to start over — frustrating and way too much clicking for my taste. ...Keep On Reading!

These days, you need a wireless network to take full advantage of high-speed Internet, streaming TV, handheld electronics, gaming systems and even some appliances. But most users have no real understanding of how a wireless network works, or what to do when it drops a connection. This two-part series will address the basic components in a network, its setup, and troubleshooting tips to keep you surfing the net smoothly.

If you have more than one Internet-ready device, you’ll find many advantages to setting up a network. All the computers on your network can share files, access network-capable devices (such as shared printers and backup drives), and get online through a single high-speed Internet connection (such as cable, DSL, etc.). ...Keep On Reading!

You think the things that you do online are between you and your computer. Not so. Your cyber-privacy is constantly being chipped away: by your Internet provider, your cellphone carrier and lawmakers. Before you post to a social-media site or browse the Internet for that report you’re compiling on pedophiles, keep in mind how your actions online are anything but private.

At issue is the struggle to protect privacy rights while fighting the online theft of American intellectual property.

Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives shelved its proposed Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA (H.R. 3261). The legislation’s surface intent seemed sound: It would have given holders of music, films, books and other intellectual property copyrighted in the United States some teeth to stop its illegal distribution, even if that property was stored in an offshore server. But the bill required such sweeping enforcement that Google communications director Bob Boorstin said, “YouTube would just go dark immediately.” If you were caught unwittingly posting a video of your niece singing along with the latest Taylor Swift tune, you could be blocked from Facebook and by your Internet provider and you’d have the burden of proving your innocence. ...Keep On Reading!

By: Andrea Eldridge.

Now that I have a newborn in the house, the last thing I have time for is weeding through an email inbox filled with offers for 30 percent off at a store I bought one thing from three years ago, or daily newsletters from an online magazine touting ways to make my life more creative. I don’t have time to shower, let alone bake sweet potato muffins.

Thankfully, there are some easy ways to make my email more of a tool and less hassle, with very little work from me.

Most email providers have an integrated spam filter, and many have additional plug-ins you can install that will use a variety of means to filter out what it deems to be spam. Unfortunately, junk messages often slip through while legitimate messages are relegated to your spam folder. ...Keep On Reading!