Living a Digital Lifestyle Newsletter - April 17, 2009

LIVING A DIGITAL LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Volume 1, Issue 44 April 17, 2009

Today's issue will be tips and articles all courtesy of Kim Komando. You can go to her website here. There will be several links that you can click on for yourself, to take you to different articles. I may include those articles in this newsletter, but then again, I may not. If I don't then you can follow the links yourself. If you happen upon a link that is closed to you, then that means you have to be a Kim's Club member to get access to that information. You can become a member very easily and the information is on the site. (By Kim Komando)

Get outside and have some fun

At long last, the weekend approaches! You've probably got chores and errands to do.

But how will you unwind after the long work week?

One of my favorite ways to unwind is a hike. There are plenty of great hiking spots around Phoenix.

There are probably excellent outdoor activities in your area, too. But you may need help finding them.

In that case, head over to today's Cool Site. It has a number of guides to help you plan outdoor activities. You'll find biking trails, fishing spots, scenic drives and more.

There are plenty of activities that you can enjoy in a weekend. And you can use the site to plan a longer vacation!

TO VISIT TODAY'S COOL SITE, GO HERE:
gorp.away.com

Moving your data with Carbonite

Q. On your radio show, I heard the last part of a call about Carbonite backup. I thought I heard you say Carbonite backups could be used to move data to a new computer. I always thought you couldn't do that, due to the change in hardware. So, can you restore an operating system and all other files to a new computer with different hardware? If so, that's great. I've been looking for a program that would do that for a long time.
-Bob in Tampa, FL, listening on WGUL 860 AM

A. Well, Bob, you're right. You can use a Carbonite backup to move your data to a new computer. You might even be able to move some of your programs that way. But using it to move Windows, while possible, would be inefficient.

Remember, Carbonite is a backup service. It's intended to protect you if your data is lost. It's entirely possible, of course, that you'll be replacing the crashed machine. So, you can transfer your backups to the new computer.

However, I wouldn't recommend backing up the full hard drive. It would be much easier to image the hard drive. Then, you could simply install it on the new computer. I would use Carbonite to update files that changed after the imaging.

I have a tip that explains imaging of the hard drive.

I only back up my personal files at home. In the office, we back up our work. We do not back up Windows or applications.

As for moving Windows to a new computer, you can do that. The problem is reactivation.

What's the big deal about reactivating Windows? Just click here!

Shrink your bills to size

I'm a firm believer in comparison shopping. Before I buy anything online, I visit price comparison sites.

By comparison shopping, I always save at least a few bucks. Often it is more than that. The savings add up over time.

But comparison shopping isn't just limited to products you buy. You should also compare prices of services.

BillShrink is a handy site for that. For example, you can compare credit card rates and cell phone plans.

Just answer a few quick questions. The site will help you find a card or plan that suits your needs. You could save hundreds of dollars a year!

TO VISIT TODAY'S COOL SITE, GO HERE:
www.billshrink.com

Get the lowdown on nonprofits (3/29/09)

Tax season is still in full swing. That means many of us have taxes on the brain, so to speak.

Many others have already filed their tax returns. And, they're probably planning for their 2009 taxes.

So, this is the perfect time to talk about charitable giving. It should be a part of everybody's tax planning.

You'll want to decide how much to give in 2009. You'll also need to decide which charities you'll support. This is easier said than done.

Fortunately, GuideStar can help. It is an excellent source of information on U.S. nonprofit organizations.

This information will help you find legitimate charities that share your interests. You can also view the charities' financials and sources of income.

Now, I know the recession is taking its toll. So, you may be cutting back on charitable giving this year.

That's OK. Charities will appreciate your donation--no matter how small!

TO VISIT TODAY'S COOL SITE, GO HERE:
www.guidestar.org

Print a calendar

Many of us rely on Outlook or similar programs to manage our schedules. Or, we just use the calendar on our phone.

But that doesn't mean printed calendars are obsolete. It's handy to keep one by the phone for quick reference.

CalendarLabs features a tool to help you print calendars. You can print yearly or monthly calendars.

These calendars can be customized. For example, you can add holidays to your yearly calendar.

Or, you can add a photo to your calendar. There are a number from which to choose. Alternatively, you can upload your own or use one from the Internet!

TO VISIT TODAY'S COOL SITE, GO HERE:
www.calendarlabs.com

Copyright 2009 WestStar TalkRadio Network. Reprinted with permission. No
further republication or redistribution is permitted without the written
consent of WestStar TalkRadio Network. Visit Kim Komando and sign up for her
free e-mail newsletters at: www.komando.com

That's all for today's edition, folks.

Until next time -

Digitally yours,

Andrea