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28 Tips & Tricks to
Save $$ Using Your Computer
Steven Kieley
July 7, 2009
Revive your Old PC
• It still might save you some money• Older PC’s, while too slow for speeds that
we’ve gotten used to, can still be useful and save us from buying other technology
• Fitted out with a new operating system and used as a single-purpose machine, you won’t notice its age
Revive your Old PC
• Wipe the hard drive and install Linux– Makes an old Pentium feel like a dual-core PC
• Convert it into a DVR by adding a TV tuner– Install MediaPortal for free– Save the cable box monthly rental
OR….
• Plug your old PC into a router• Add a TV tuner card• Install MediaPortal software• Record your favorite TV shows or download
Netflix movies
Buy Big Ticket Items Online
• HDTV’s can be hundreds of $ cheaper online vs. big box stores, like Best Buy
• 46” LCD as much as $500 cheaper• Check sites such as Nextag.com, Amazon.com• Sales tax savings alone may be as much as
$200
Buy Little Items Online
• Bought a cable in a store recently?– 6’ HDMI cable can be $60-70
• Monoprice.com sells same for $10• Meritline.com sells two for $11• PC World tests confirm same quality
Stop Buying Music CD’s
• Mall prices run around $15• Deepdiscount.com sells for $11• Amazon.com MP3 store sells for $9– Individual tracks as low as 99¢
Buy Refurbished Hardware
• Dell’s Outlet Store (dell.com/outlet) discounts some laptops by 25%
• May have some cosmetic blemishes, but 90 day warranties
• HP, Lenovo also have similar sites• Blu-Ray players, GPS devices, universal
remotes all available (Buy.com, Newegg.com, ecost.com)
Wait!
• Don’t do anything• Just go to wishradar.com or pricegrabber.com• Register and select an item• You’ll be notified when the price drops
Sign Up
• If you routinely shop at certain retailers, sign up for their email newsletters– Borders, eReader, others provide exclusive
discounts for registered subscribers
Save on Shipping
• Go to freeshippingon.com to see which retailers are currently offering no-charge shipping
• Or go to dealtaker.com – Click on “stores & coupons” for alphabetical listing – Or type in “free shipping”
Live Search for Savings
• Go to search.live.com/cashback for price comparisons on item you want– Sponsored by Microsoft– Cashback from participating stores– Actual site name has been recently changed to
bing.com
Don’t Print
• “Print” only to PDF instead• Cutepdfwriter.com• Free download• Save your paper and ink by “printing” to a file
in your computer• Then send as an email attachment• Recipient does not need to have same
software as you
Print in Economy Mode
Printing
• Print two sheets on every page• Fonts are large enough to read easily
Print Both Sides
• For most programs:– Go to “print”, “properties”, “finishing”, “both
sides”
Use Third Party Ink
• Often has been shown to yield more prints per cartridge than brand names
• OK for printing text; may not be good for photo printing– Quality and fade-resistance probably less than
name brands, but for printing short term documents, is adequate
Get Rid of Cable
• Download your shows via. the internet– Many are already on TV network websites– Other sites include:• Fancast.com• Hulu.com• ESPN360.com
Forget the TIVO
• Use your computer– Windows Media Center already installed on newer
PC’s– TV Tuner card costs $50-$100– TIVO costs $150-600 plus monthly or annual fee
Free Text Messages
• Usually about $.20 per message• Telco plans cost about $5-$20 per month• GizmoSMS.com one-way or two-way premium• Cherple.com two-way
Manage Your Money without Spending it
• Quicken and MS Money need periodic upgrading, if for nothing else, to get tech. support
• Gnucash.org imports Quicken files, does online-banking, imports stock quotes
• Other web-based apps include:– Mint.com– Rudder.com
Pay Bills Online
• Use automated bill pay through your bank– Most are completely free
• Use Quicken or MS Money– May cost $9.95/month– Breakeven with 22 bills paid each month
• Automated reminders may save late fees
Worried About Security?
Check for this
Internet Security
Also check for this (not just http)
And this
Check for the green background in IE 7 & 8
Internet Security• Use a virtual credit card account– Good only for single use or single vendor– Handy when you don’t want to have to remember to
cancel a subscription• Use a card with a lower limit• Avoid using your checking account card– Credit cards allow more time to discover fraud– Important payments (mortgage, etc.) could bounce if
overdrawn• Don’t shop over an unencrypted wireless
network (including your own)
Internet Security
How the https Protocol Works
Encryption
Internet Security
Better yet….Take our course on
computer safety
Laptop Batteries
• Don’t Overcharge– Constant charging reduces battery life• Will need replacement sooner
– Pull the battery and use without it when possible– Fully discharge before recharging
Cut Your Landline
• Use VOIP instead– Skype.com• Free computer to computer calls anywhere in world• Includes video• Low charges for calling a landline phone
– Viatalk.com• $199/year ($16.58/month)• Keep existing number• Caller ID, voicemail, call forwarding
Dirt-Cheap International Calls
• Truphone.com– Check it out via. the internet– Use your current cell phone without any changes– Currently for i-phone, Blackberry and Nokia users
only; others being added– Eliminates Skype phone charges to landline
phones– International calls costs a few cents per minute– 97% discount over AT&T charges
Add a Second Line
• Save on phone company charges• Magicjack.com– Free voicemail– Caller ID– Local & Long Distance– $20/year
Free Slingbox• What’s Slingbox?– Watch your TV or computer files everywhere
• Go to orb.com• Enjoy all your computer’s files on any other
device• Watch your TV on other devices• Save the cost of a Slingbox ($179 & up)
Create charts, diagrams, floor plans?
• Microsoft Professional Visio costs about $559• Standard version is about $259• Gliffy.com is free• $5/month for ad-free version
Use Open Source Software
• OpenOffice takes the place of MS Office• Paint.net can replace Photoshop• Linux can replace Windows
Try It Before You Buy It
• Such as cutepdfwriter.com can be obtained from cnetdownload.com
• One stop shopping for downloads• Judge the quality of the download by the
number of previous downloads• Steer your way past numerous misleading
attempts to pay for more costly alternatives
Burn CD’s If You Have to
• Don’t buy Nero or Easy Media Creator• Use InfraRecorder.org• Open Source software
Want to Learn More?
Check us out at www.ewingsnet.com
The Computer Learning Center at Ewing999 Lower Ferry Road
