Presentation Tues. Oct. 25: Conserving Energy One Home at a Time. Please RSVP

electric-meterDo you know how much electricity you use in your personal office or home? Do you know how much energy your desktop computer or laptop uses? Will you save more electricity by turning off your computer at night or shortening your daily shower by five minutes? Discover some counter-intuitive facts about saving energy, money and the environment.

Presented by Rich McCue of UVic, Tuesday Oct 25th, 2pm at Silver Threads, Les Passmore 286 Hampton Road, Saanich.  Here is a MAP

Optional lunch of soup and sandwhich for $7 is at 1pm.  Choose which sandwich (salmon, egg, or chicken salad)  in your RSVP to BigBlueSocial@gmail.com for lunch and/or presentation.  

Even if you are only coming to the presentation please RSVP by Sunday, October 23rd so that we will know which room to set up.

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Windows Remote Desktop Services

teamviewerIn this post I’d like to talk about Windows Remote Programs (commonly known as remote desktops).

First what are Windows Remote Control Programs/services and why would I want them on my computer?  This service is also known as  Windows Remote Terminal ( if using the native Windows Program) or also collectively known as Remote Desktop.  These services are targeted toward providing access from a distance for Windows users. This is ideal for businesses, especially if you have a centralized file storage but have employees /volunteers who have to work on a number of machines not in one location. Because the technology was developed specifically by Microsoft, it has a great deal of compatibility with Windows and takes advantage of some special Windows only features. You can expect this system to work with both 32 bit and 64 bit applications.

Also you will be able to access all of your programs and files from afar, or from a main unit on your local network and you can expect full functionality of commonly used programs. It is worth noting that Microsoft’s software suite is not as specialized as some other remote desktop software such as Remote Utilities. In general, unless you work remotely most of the time, you won’t even notice that these features are missing.  A number of Remote Control Desktop applications do not require licensing or a fee to install ( as long as it is used for private use, and not for commercial use), making them a great free utility.

As mentioned earlier there are many different RCD programs available for free and even more to purchase.

I prefer to use Team Viewer 11.  It is very easy to use and to install.  Once installed on all the computers you wish to have it on, you set up your account  (on the main computer) and get the free license to add up to 10 computers for free.

When used properly it will allow the network administrator (or the class teacher/instructor) to maintain control over all of the computers in the network.  For example if a member on lab 6 was having a problem, the instructor/admin could log in to the computer having a problem, from his own computer and, assist that person.  Also if being taught to make changes to windows, the instructor can at the end of the class/session check to make sure all computers have been reset to their original state, so the next person does not have problems with the local computer.

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Tagging photos and files

backpacktagsTagging files is an alternative to, and enhancement to, creating a folder structure for you photos and files.

Tags are non-hierarchical

  • Many tags can be assigned to one photo
  • Many photos can be assigned the same tag

Tags are meta data

Picasa

  • Photo organizer in its “Library” and editor for simple photo editing: crop, straighten, color correction and touchup.
  • Allows view by date or by folders
  • “Unsupported” by Google now but still the best free Windows desktop photo organizer / editor

Metadata is kept in Picasa database, not in the photo’s Exif fields.  All your tagging work is lost if you move to another organizer like Windows Photo Gallery.

 

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Presentation September 27th Desktop vs Online Apps

img_20160920_141431550Do you need desktop apps, or are online apps sufficient?  And why might you want to use online apps instead?  I am at the corner of Calle de La Portes de Jesus, in the city of Palma, Spain, writing this with only my laptop, and it is just a cheap 2.5 pound chromebook at that. Admittedly, I am sitting in the cafe across from the Movistar cell phone store, so the wifi is better than some places, but most every bar and hotel has free wifi of some sort.
So do you need to carry, or even own, a computer that runs desktop apps?

On Tuesday, September 27th, at 2pm at Silver Threads Pasmore Center I will present the choices of using online apps vs desktop apps for common tasks, e.g. email, photo editing, word processing, spreadsheets, travel maps, making phone calls, etc.  The slide show is here  Continue reading

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Annual Potluck Picnic at Government House, Thursday, August 18, 3pm

Thursday, August 18th, 2015 from 3pm to 6pm, Photoshoot of Gardens at 2pm.

At the Government House Bandshell on the east lawn, 1401 Rockland Avenue.  If you require seating, please bring your own chairs. Click here for  map.

Activities:

  • 2pm:  Photographing the Government House Gardens
  • 3pm:  Socializing, Games,
  • 4pm:  the Potluck begins. Entrees and Salads preferred over desserts.
  • NOTE: Alcoholic beverage consumption and smoking prohibited.

The club will supply Cake / Pop / Ice / Plates.

Click to see what people are bringing so far.

This event replaces August’s monthly meeting.

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APCUG 2016 Summer Virtual Technology Conference

Sat. Aug 20 10am.  Attend the FREE APCUG conference at the clubhouse or from the convenience of your own home! All you need is your computer, tablet, etc. and Internet access.

Register at: http://bit.ly/APCUG_8-20_VTC

The sessions are 50 minutes in length and offer attendees the opportunity to ask questions via Q&A; the questions are answered by the presenter at the end of the presentation or via e-mail if there isn’t enough time after the presentation.

CLICK FOR DETAILS

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You Can Still Get Windows 10 for Free from Microsoft’s Accessibility Site

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows10upgrade

The free Windows 10 upgrade offer may technically be over, but it isn’t 100% gone. Microsoft still provides a free Windows 10 upgrade to anyone who checks a box saying they use assistive technologies on their computer. This offer will end at some point, but Microsoft hasn’t announced when.

Continue reading

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FULL: Internet References for Financial Planning

An email has been sent to confirmed attendees.  There are no more seats available for the July 21st, Thursday 2:00 pm presentation to club members AT Island Savings Credit Union Mayfair Branch (map) on “Internet References for Financial Planning”, by Credential Securities’ Travis Koivula (B.Eng, CFP, CIM, FCSI, CSWP) Senior Advisor, Financial Planning.

RSVP to BigBlueSocial@gmail.com.  Seating is limited to ISCU’s large board room, Douglas and Tolmie.  No lunch, but cookies and coffee will be available.  Note: this is NOT taking place at our club nor at Silver Threads.

Disclaimer:  Island Savings Credit Union is the club‘s financial institution.  No club member is receiving any financial benefit for arranging this presentation, or for any future relationship attendees may have with Credential Securities. Only first names from RSVPs will be shared with Travis.

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Minutes from Victoria Computer Club Exec meeting June 6 2016, 7pm

Minutes from Victoria Computer Club Exec meeting June 6 2016, 7pm

Attended by George Bowden (President), Dorothy Cushway (VP)  Martin Web (treasurer secretary) Iain Fletcher, (Membership) and Barkley Cox (clubhouse). Member/instructor  Rick Weatherhead attended.
Prepare to move to a larger space:
The club’s current location has drawbacks.
  • The classrom area can only seat 18 people and we often have more members attend than that.  T
  • The club is open only 18 hours per week 9 to 5pm, (31%) and 1 hour per week evenings (5%) . Sharing space with another group would be much more cost effective.
  • The club is losing about $500 per year with a membership count of 162.  Martin pointed out that if it not for the large donations this year and last, we would be losing $2500 per year.
  • We must reduce rental costs by sharing space with either Community centers, Seniors centers, churches, schools, ethnic associations, or Rec centers.
  • When we move, we will need about $3000 for 5 new laptops.
  • We must inform the landlord before the end of January.
  • George would like to inform the landlord in the fall, in case we can get out early.
The parameters for a new space include
  • A social meeting space where coffee and light snacks can be eaten.
  • Internet access (not just Shaw open)
  • A closet for the laptops
  • A way to mount our projector and screen
  • Preference for free adjacent parking.
  • Hours of operation that include a day on the weekend?
George to write plan for moving forward.  Rick offered to participate.
We must investigate what membership equity requires
Sharing current space with meetups
In the mean time, we can offer space to quality meetups, and a $50 membership to a meetup coordinator.  Make base rental $20, up to $2.50 per attendee.  This might bring in $300 per year per meetup, which won’t make enough of a difference without other changes.
Increasing membership
Also, extend by one month any member who brings in a new member.
Presentation by Rick Weatherhead on partnering with London Drugs.  Rick pointed out that both lowering costs and increasing memberships need to be done.
Benefits to the club members  could include:
  • reduced membership for one year to new members from London Drugs
  • discounts on London Drugs computer equipment
  • One hour free instruction to London Drugs customers (non-members)
Benefits to London Drugs includes
  • Promotion of LD on our website and in the clubhouse
  • Help provided by the club to their customers would result in less loading on their sales staff
George moved, and Barkley seconded, that Rick continue discussions with LD, leading to a partnership.  Approved unanimously
Trreasurer’s report for May31, 2016: 
Total Liabilities & Equity  $9,422.50.
Year-to-date Income was $8,804.61  Expenses  were $9,473.34 : Net loss for Year-to-Date was $668.73
 
Hold a garage sale.  Offered by ??
Get two boxes of pamphlets printed, and circulate to legions, and libraries. Get some posters printed for Tillicum.
August 18th picnic might be held at Government House.  Rick and Iain to check pricing.  Otherwise check out Gorge Park, and Beaver Lake again as last resort.
No June monthly meeting. 
Martin thought we should start a blog with exciting posts. George said the club website is a blog, that members can post to, Authorship to date is as follows
Meeting adjourned at 8:40pm
Discussion continued on format of monthly meeting, to include possibly games and a shorter presentation.
Martin to take up with Dorothy in the fall.
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Summer photoshoots June 7, 11, 25th & July 29th

Summer is here so the club photoshoots are becoming more frequent.

Continue reading

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