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TNPC speed up your computer…
By DanB | October 20, 2006
A simple way to speed up your computer
TNPC Newsletter
by Dan Butler
Hello
This week drawing winners, more on productivity, and a way to
speed up your computer without upgrading the machine.
Interested? Let’s get started.
First - read last weeks issue here:
http://www.tnpcnewsletter.com/blog/category/newsletters/tnpc/
*Quick Notes*
Our drawing winners from last month are Ken Latta and Debi
Loven. Their prizes are already on the way. Details on our next
drawing in next weeks newsletter.
Several of you have asked about the frequent references to my
large family. I took my children out for ice cream the other
night. Here’s the picture:
http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?YM_qhrjLRgXv0I53LuOMBQ
That should give you some insight into why I prefer to work from
home and spend as much time as possible with them. It also led
directly to my ideas on having what I call a “Lifestyle
Business.” More on that later.
After last weeks article on do-it-yourself wrist rests TNPC
reader John sent me details and a photo of his Disposable Mouse
Mat. Good idea. I’ll have the photo up and send you the link
next issue.
The link to the little genealogy information my oldest daughter
is using proved quite popular. Look for a full review from her
next week. You can see the information here:
http://zcat.com/qpp/x.php?adminid=8&tid=29
Now on with the issue!
*Productivity Part II*
Last issue I spoke about improving your personal productivity.
Everything in TNPC is about improving your productivity on some
level. Sometimes it can be a simple thing like how you protect
your wrists. Other times I might share information to help you
protect and even improve your eyesight. Frequently we share ways
to use your computer better or how to speed up your web
searches. Why focus on productivity gains? Simple. The more time
you save the more time you spend on what you want to be doing.
Remember the 2% goal I shared last week? Look at what you do
now. Where can you gain 2%? There is always a way.
I mentioned last week that I had been everything I wanted to be
when I grew up by the time I was 25. That is true. After that a
“series of fortunate events” landed me in the position of using
a computer. Which eventually led to my doing what I do today.
I know some of you want to be doing whatever your current job
is. For you I say congratulations. For the rest of you think
about what you would like to to do and begin doing things that
take you closer. Keep making small progress and you will feel
more rewarded.
Do you have a tendency to put things off until they are perfect?
I do. That can be a serious time waster. Put things off too long
and you may never see them come to pass.
How do you avoid perfectionism? For me it comes down to two
things - managing expectations and recognizing progress. The
product we promoted recently - Productivity Engineering - helped
me a lot with both of these.
One of the 11 principles in Banabu is “Progress not Perfection”.
Learning and applying this has been a major shift for me. I have
always tried to have things perfect before moving forward. Now I
strive for progress and hold perfection up for those things that
need perfection - and some things do require perfection.
Focusing on “progress not perfection” helps me manage the
expectations.
Has this been easy? Far from it. I still slip into my old
ways. But I notice when I slip and move forward - progress not
perfection. What is the one thing you would really like to do,
be, or have? Write it down and go for some progress today. Then
keep it up.
Resources mentioned:
Banabu:
http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?D9zzoUjohbVtvcFt8odhbQ
Productivity Engineering:
http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?4gVpvJaHR2abNlVe21v9.w
~ Dan
–
© 2006 Dan Butler
Dan Butler is the Editor-in-Chief of TNPCNewsletter.com and the
author of the amazing new book that shows you how to save your
identity, get your email read, and put more time into the things
you really enjoy…
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Low Tech Solutions for High Tech Problems II by T.J. Lee*
(This article originally appeared in TNPC v.1 #11)
A TNPCer commented on the RSI discussion of a few issues back
that my rolled up towel as wrist rest was a nice”low tech”
answer to a high tech problem. This got me to thinking about how
we sometimes keep throwing technology at a problem when trying
to solve it when a low tech solution might be a better answer
all around.
For example, we’re often asked how overall PC productivity can
be improved. The software is confusing, manuals don’t exist
anymore, isn’t there a general prescription for getting more
work done with computers? And the answer is, “Yes.” Teach your
users to type. It may appear to be a given that computer users
have to be able to type but keep in mind that pecking at the
keyboard and pointing-and-clicking with the mouse is a far cry
from actually being a proficient typist.
A low tech solution? You bet. And one that we’ll bet a number of
users could take advantage of. Can you touch type? Really touch
type? Use the number keys across the top of the alphabet keys
without looking? You’d be surprised how a little typing practice
can increase your keyboard proficiency and by extension your
productivity. Consider: I’m a CPA and very speedy with an adding
machine so naturally I’d reach for the 10-key pad on my computer
keyboard when I had to type a zip code or some other number
while typing a letter. But taking my right hand off the alpha
keys, settling it on the 10-key pad, then tapping out the
digits, was very slow when compared to typing them with the
typing number keys.
Sure when I’m entering numbers into a spreadsheet I’ll race the
best of them on the 10-key pad but for anything short of a
column of numbers the 10-key pad is overkill. It’s faster if you
use the “typewriter” keys for as much as you can. This goes back
to “the right tool for the job”.
Speaking of taking your hands off the keyboard, this is
something you should avoid like the plague if you want to be
productive. (Okay, I’m assuming you’re doing documents and
spreadsheets and are not a graphics artist who would be better
advised to keep your hand glued to your mouse). It may not sound
like much of a productivity drag, but trust me, small things
like constantly going from the keyboard to the mouse and back
really impact your work efficiency.
Improve your basic typing skills and you won’t be sorry. There
are a plethora of typing tutor programs — shareware, freeware,
and commercialware — available on the Web. Try it and see.
This article is Copyright 1998 TNPC Newsletter.
+++————- Recommended Resources ———————–+++
>> >> “BANABU? What’s a BANABU?”
BANABU is 11 simple principles you can start using immediately
and easily share with others. I started applying these
principles earlier this year with myself and my family. We’ve
really enjoyed this and think you will to. Highly recommended.
Find out what BANABU stands for and discover more here:
http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?D9zzoUjohbVtvcFt8odhbQ
+++———————————————————–+++
Feeling the weight of debt on your shoulders? I did until I
found an easy program that can show you how to take control of
your finances. No pinching pennies, getting a second job or
cutting back your spending in any way. This is the system I use
and recommend to my friends.
http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?JsI75hMnJjaLeDcFrt8.8w
+++———————————————————–+++
I use this software all the time to look up personal information
about myself and others. A friend of mine used it to research
the former owners of a property for title purposes. I have used
it for years.
http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?QXXo78PgZNoku71eET6ZFw
+++———————————————————–+++
Copyright 2006 Dan Butler
All Rights Reserved.
ISSN: 1522-4422
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Topics: TNPC News |
3 Responses to “TNPC speed up your computer…”
Comments
« TNPC How 2% can change everything… | Home | TNPC Observations on the data in your life… »
October 20th, 2006 at 6:14 pm
Yes - Touch typing on QWERTY will improve your productivity. Having taught Typing for over 30 years, I would like to suggest that teaching oneself to use DVORAK keyboard layout will improve productivity even more. I hear folks say that it’s too hard to learn. It’s just like learning a new language - you just have to practice. I taught myself by repeating the alphabet in small chunks. I pried off keycaps and placed them in the correct position.
Also, using voice-operation software will improve productivity.
October 22nd, 2006 at 2:52 pm
Hi Al ~
Thanks for contributing.
I looked at DVORAK for a while but decided not to since I did a lot of computer support. At the time I was frequently on computers that weren\’t my own so I decided just not to change.
If I were learning today and were the only person using this computer I might go the DVORAK route.
~ Dan
November 13th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
I do not think that whatever keyboard style you use will speed up your computer. It may speed your productivity, but certainly not your machine. I am waiting to read anything about speeding up my computer.