Computer Problems and\or Advice 2008 to 2011

[Pascal B]

David, I agree. For many that solution is too complex. We both probably are able to clean up the registry, most don't even know how to get into it..... Usually these messages originate in the registry (broken reference, corrupt file) and if they still do after an uninstall, something must have been left behind during the uninstall by Windows. And this tool by McAfee takes over for people that don't know how to edit the registry. But it is upto Shelagh.

[Neil]

Regarding disks I have 224Gb hard drive, the  computer is 3 years old and the computer got slowly and slowly and only 20Gb was left free.  I run defrag regularly and cleaned the disk up, by using disk clean.

My solution was to completely restore the computer to its original settings, install all the programs again and copy all the files etc from the back up I have of them back on.  The hard drive is now only 93Gb full and runs much quicker.  It takes time to do this but in my opinion it solves loads of problems. 

[shelagh]

I have been looking through files and although according to the Control Panel I have uninstalled all NERO products  there still seems to be some llingering files could this be the problem?

[Pascal B]

Shelagh, NERO is software to burn CD's and DVD's, it is unrelated to McAfee virus protection software. I very much doubt it would tirgger this problem.

[maggiepie]

I have decided I want an eReader and am leaning towards a Nook Touch.
Have spent the past 3 days reading reviews on readers and Nooks get very well rated.
The only thing I am concerned about is flashing, looking at online videos, flashing on all these readers seems to be very noticeable.
Now I am concerned it might drive me to distraction and stop me from using the device.
Would like to hear from anyone who uses a reader if this is something you learn to live with after awhile.

[Maggi Young]

Helen,
 my technical savvy is practically non-existent, but heigh -ho, I'll throw in my tuppence-worth anyway!

I know that film of TV pictures has got flashing and assorted distortion caused by the natural "flickering" of TV pictures ( maybe less now with digital???)  so I'm wondering if a vi deo of a reader has the same problems?  The images on both screens will be moving  to one degree or antoher, I reckon, and that may well be the cause of the apparant "flashing". In which case, when one is simply  using the reader/kindle type thingy to read then the movement will be a little  noticed as when viewing television.... seems a reasonable thought.....

[arisaema]

Isn't the flicker just an artifact of them being filmed?

[Pascal B]

Probably has to do with the refresh rate of the screen of the reader versus the capture rate of the camera filming it. Readers have to show a more or less static picture that isn't moving much so the refresh rate of the screen is rather low. Camera's have to be able to film fast moving objects so take a lot of image captures per second to let the movement that is filmed appear smooth. This means the camera likely captures the reader just at the moment it refreshes giving the suggestion it flickers. No reader I think will be sold much if it would have a flashing image in real life. It could even trigger an epileptic seizure and will never pass the safety tests if it would do that.

[Maggi Young]

Isn't the flicker just an artifact of them being filmed?

Darn it! That's what I was TRYING to say!     .... only you've said it rather more neatly!

[maggiepie]

The ereaders mostly refresh each page as you turn.
The Nook apparently only refreshes every 6 pages.
If I am understanding this right, what you see each time you turn a page is a negative view of the page.

Just not sure how long it lasts and how much it could irritate.
I am very sensitive to flashing lights.

[Pascal B]

I don't think you have to worry at all, even if a screen shows a static picture (like a page of an e-book) it still refreshes the image several times per second as far as I know. And capturing that refresh moment is what I am talking about, the camera shows things we normally don't see. Filming a old fashioned TV with a tube shows the same effect. Or the better word Bjornar used: artifact.

Like I said, they wouldn't be allowed on the market if they would flash in any way. You have to look at it as a bigger version of the screen of a smartphone.

[maggiepie]

Pascal, I think the flashing is due to the e-ink.
Lcd screens don't have the same problem?

[Susan]

I own a Kindle and it is supposed to look like the printed page, which it does and can be read in bright daylight.  I find that I no longer notice the page change and that I am able to read far more books than before (I usually have two or three on the go at any one time,  plus Bulletins or plant books) and can keep it in my handbag and read whenever I have a spare moment - coffee, waiting somewhere etc.  It will never replace paper  books which I love, but it is a useful  adjunct. I bought Martin's Snowdrop Garden for Kindle.  Just couldn't get it autographed!

For me, Amazon has cheaper books.

Susan

[Richard Green]

Susan, How are Kindles for pictures?  Most of what I would want to read are downloaded Acrobat books or scanned IRGs or old SRGC Bulletins etc, and I am concerned that the reproduction of any pictures may be poor.  The only ones I have seen on demo machines in shops are are black and white diagrams, but how do colour or B+W photos reproduce on the screen?  Do they come out too contrasty in pure B+W or more like old newspaper photos in shades of grey?

[Anthony Darby]

The new colour Kindle is out in the USA. It will be launched next year in the UK, but more like a tablet iPad type thing, and for around £100 - i.e. cost price. Makes a change! I notice the price of posting letters in the UK is going up and being deregulated, in spite of record and obscene profits. The GPO is being fattened up for sale! My granddad would be turning in his grave!