Dreamerkid.com

Launchy is your friend.

Jun 11

DMPC Help, Time Management No Comments

Are you constantly opening the same folders, navigating repeatedly digging for files while you work? What if you could press a button or two and the files would open, what if you could control your pc without having to click click click on your mouse?

Then you need launchy. I have been using it for awhile now and I highly recommend it. What is it? It’s a stylish well control program for your pc. Its sorta like a remote control with your favorite buttons pre programmed.

Once you have installed it, all you have to do is press ALT +Win and the interface opens. You can begin typing and it will use autocomplete to finish the program or directory. You want.

If you get bored of how it looks you can download different interfaces via the web. The only changes I made was to add a few of my favorite folders in the options menu (Right click on the launchy app and then select options, go to the plugins page and choose runner plugin and add your favorite folders there)

Here is a screenshot of the program in action. I started typing clients and once it recognizes and shows what I want, I don’t have to type anymore so you could type only a few letters until it finds the right thing. It’s easy and takes up only a small amount of system resources.

Visit Launchy and download this great free app

*This software has been tested on Vista 64 Bit Home Premium and it works great.

It helps me be more productive. I will be reviewing more software now that I have a better pc. I hope you are all blessed today! Happy computing.

Dual Monitor software – Display Fusion!

Nov 20

DMPC Help, Time Management No Comments

You have a lot to do. Sometimes you wish you had two heads to think through all of the information you want to take in. I don’t think feeding an extra noggin is the answer, I mean why would you want that when you could just use two monitors while working on your computer?

Here is what you need:
1. A modern video card that supports dual monitors. [here]
2. Multiple monitors. [Find an extra on eBay or Craigslist]
3. Display Fusion. – Awesome background spanning software for free. Lets you display pictures across dual monitors.  [ here ]

Why would I want all that you ask? Easy! You can get more done with two monitors. Tired of having 8 billion windows open and having to click back and forth between them? Add another monitor and you instantly have more screen real estate to work with.

If you are on a budget, you can do this project no problem. You can often get old CRT (Big cumbersome non flat screen) for a few dollars at garage sales and or thrift shops.
[ I bought a 20 inch monitor for $2 like new at a thrift shop in town!]

If your computer can’t support dual monitors, for anywhere from $30-$100 you can get a video card upgrade that will be more than adequate. [link to online price comparisons here]

Once you have a dual monitor capability install Display Fusion and get used to getting more done. Even now, I am working on two monitors to create, edit, and watch video’s at the same time.

If you like your desktop layout, and computer environment, you will be more productive or at least have fun trying to be!!!

Take control of the little things.

Nov 08

DMPC Help, Time Management No Comments

I recently got bored with the icons on my computer… okay so that kind of thing happens a lot. Do you ever bore easily of your desktop or folder icons?

I find that if I use colored, or different icons, I can find my information faster.Faster means more time to do the things I need. So, I recommend and have been using for months now:

FILEMENU TOOLS by Lopesoft.

With file menu tools, I get more control over my files and all tucked into a right click. This program can do more than change your icons, it can give you a wealth of information, and speed up sending and moving files.

When I right click on a folder, or a file, I have new options that give me so much more control. Take a look at this screenshot to see what I mean. You can select the options you want to appear in the right click.

This can all be configured in the program options.

This gives you the ability to find more information and control more when it comes to your folders and files. At first I didn’t use it much, but the more I started adjusting it to my likings and use needs, the more features I discovered that I can’t live without.

Great work Lopesoft! Thanks for the free application!

Clean up your start Menu. Free Utility to keep things tidy!

Nov 06

DMPC Help, Time Management Clean, Start, Start Menu, Start Up No Comments

Do you hate hunting for stuff in your start menu? Doesn’t it drive you batty when you can’t find your programs in the program listing?

Here is a great free program for organizing your start menu. I have over 100 applications installed, and so when I go hunting for programs, I often can’t find what I am looking for.

I installed Winstep Start Menu Organizer. Available here:http://www.winstep.net/index.asp?cat=organizer

And within a few minutes of using the program organized my start menu and quite frankly. It’s been helping me work more efficiently. I think that if you hate scanning and scouring for your applications you should give this great free application a try.

You can Write Effective E-mails!

Nov 04

DMPC Help, Time Management No Comments

One thing I have noticed over the last 5 years is that writing effective e-mails is a lost art.
Below is a sarcastic look at things you SHOULD NOT DO to write better emails.

These are the top 5 things you can ( BUT SHOULDN’T DO) to write e-mails.

1. Don’t fully read the original e-mail but reply quickly and with as much emotion as possible.

2. Write whatever you feel, without thinking about the consequences or that millions of people could read your e-mail once you click send…

3. Don’t worry about grammar, spelling or even making sense. Be mysterious.

4. Insert as many big pictures, and sparkly things as your computer can hold. Also send huge video files to all of your friends with at least 5000 e-mail addresses in the TO: portion of the e-mail bar so that their e-mail addresses can be farmed by spammers.

5. Forwards. Lots of them. Relentlessly. With links and viruses and spyware embedded in every ever loving e-mail.

Ok, okay so the the above part of this help guide is being sarcastic and not meant for you to really follow.

The truth is, I deal with this every day. So many people don’t pause to think before hitting “SEND” or “FORWARD”.

So to help you be an e-mail guru, you can keep reading for helpful tips about how to compose, send and write effective e-mails.

NON SARCASTIC AND EFFECTIVE E-MAIL TIPS.

1. Compose a direct subject line. Sum up the entire e-mail.
This will make it easy for the receiver to determine all of the basics from the subject line and save time when they want to look back for that e-mail specifically.

Good: [ I finished xyz project, can we meet Tuesday May 1st? ]
Bad: [ About project ]

2. Keep it simple. Don’t ramble or compress everything into one paragraph. Check grammar and spelling and by all means do not use ALL CAPS for the entire e-mail. If your e-mail program allows bold or bullets try to use them to make the information streamline.

People often scan through e-mails. If it is well written and spaced well, it will make more sense to the reader.

Good:

Dear John,

Thanks for sending me the recipe for the three bean dip and sauce!

The kids were crazy about it and so was the cat. It was great feeding it to my cat!

We recently found this great store that sells the best ingredients.
Do you think you could remind me what your address is?

I want to mail you the coupons I have for it.

Here are the things I found at the store:

• Carbonated Magnetic Tofu-Juice
• Frozen Marmaduke Jumbo Shrimp
• Pasta Rabbits and mini Star-Corks

I appreciate all of your culinary help. Your skill is like that of a ninja in the kitchen. Thanks again.

Sincerely,
Ima Robot

The above e-mails is logical, easy bite sized portions for your eyes. But the e-mail below is blocky, and confusing because the crowded layout makes your eye lose where you are at.

Bad:
JOHN,THANKS YOUR FOR SENDING ME THE RECIPE FOR THE THREE BEAN DIP AND SAUCE! IT WAS GREAT FEEDING IT TO MY CAT! THE KIDS WERE CRAZY ABOUT IT AND SO WAS THE CAT.WE RECANTLY FOUND THIS GREAT /STORE THAT SELLS THE BEST INGREDIENTS? DO YOU WE THINK YOU CD? REMIND ME WHAT YOUR ADDRES IS SO I CAN MAIL YOU THE COUPONS I HAVE FOR IT?  HERE ARE THE THINGS// I FOUND AT THE STORE: – RADIATE MAGNETIC TOFU-JUICE- FROZEN MARMADUKE JUMBO SHRIMP- PASTA RABBITS AND MINI STARCORKS I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR CULINARY HELP. YOUR SKILLSD IS LIKE THAT OF A NINJA IN THE KITCHEN. THANKS AGAIN. IMA ROBOT

This type of letter makes your head hurt. Especially if the person has a lot to say without any spaces. Notices how it just looks like a blob. E-mails and paragraphs are easier to read if you break them up. For short e-mails it might not be so bad.

If you don’t break up the info it becomes hard to follow. In the bad example it’s shown without spell check, without proper case. Imagine a two page letter of this. (I get them frequently that look like this.)

3. Use good e-mail habits.

The SEVEN great commandments of e-mail.

1. Thou shalt not forward everything. Be very selective. Many users HATE forwards.

2. Thou shalt use the blind CC: feature if you MUST send something to everyone.
(This hides the receivers e-mails from everyone else. Adds to privacy.)

3. Thou shalt use an anti-virus to scan all outgoing and incoming e-mails.  Avast, is free and offers this service.

4. Thou shalt not send GIGANTIC e-mail attachments to people without prior warning / agreement.
(Images are usually the culprit for most people, you can use the free Picasa to automatically re-size outgoing images.)

5. Thou shalt not send chain/spam letters. EVER.

6. Thou shalt THINK about what you have written before sending. Studies show people or more inclined to lie, and are apt to be more aggressive in an e-mail. Think about what you have written and ask yourself if this is something that you would be comfortable with all of your closest friends and enemies reading.

7. Thou shalt never give out your sensitive data via e-mail. In today’s world, where are 12 year old could hack your wireless network, you must use common sense with your sensitive data. I have been hacked, and so have many of my friends. So be cautious online!

When you click send, the e-mail could wind up on the internet, from search engines to Myspace pages so be wise with what you write.

Some people hate forwards. Because so many times people break courtesy rules that keep their friends safe. Forwards can fuel viruses and spyware/spam.

There are programs out there that strip the e-mail addresses out of forwards and compile huge lists and spammers actually buy these lists. Spammers love that kind of stuff.

For example, people often send me stuff that they think is cute etc. I hate sparkling kitten e-mails with pretty poetry that says if I don’t send this to 100 people I am a heartless cur. Those drive me batty. Almost as much as the Viagra type spam e-mails.

A few last pointers for writing effective e-mails.

• If at all possible, sum up the entire e-mail in the first paragraph. Sadly in our digital age people DON’T read their e-mails. They just scan. So if you put the meat of the message up front you will communicate better.
• Ask people if they like those sparkly cats with pretty ponies e-mails before sending them. If you and Aunt Gertrude love sending those back and forth by all means do. But ask first. You might be surprised at how many people are particular about their e-mail. You won’t know unless you ask.

So to sum it all up in one line: Be direct, be thoughtful, be careful and be safe!