Q: What Are Some Advantages of VoIP?
A: Some VoIP services offer features and services that are not available with a traditional phone, or are available but only for an additional fee. You may also be able to avoid paying for both a broadband connection and a traditional telephone line.
Q: What Are Some Disadvantages of VoIP?
A: If you’re considering replacing your traditional telephone service with VoIP, there are some possible differences:
• Some VoIP services don’t work during power outages and the service provider may not offer backup power.
• Not all VoIP services connect directly to emergency services through 9-1-1. For additional information, see VoIP & 911 Advisory.
• VoIP providers may or may not offer directory assistance/white page listings.
Aspects of these considerations may change with new developments in internet technology. You should always check with the VoIP service provider you choose to confirm any advantages and limitations to their service.
From www.fcc.gov/voip
Archive for the ‘Tips for your Computer’ Category
Advantages and Disadvantages of Voice Over IP
Thursday, September 17th, 2009If I have Voice Over IP service, who can I call?
Thursday, September 17th, 2009Depending upon your service, you might be limited only to other subscribers to the service, or you may be able to call anyone who has a telephone number – including local, long distance, mobile, and international numbers. If you are calling someone who has a regular analog phone, that person does not need any special equipment to talk to you. Some VoIP services may allow you to speak with more than one person at a time.
Aspects of these considerations may change with new developments in internet technology. You should always check with the VoIP service provider you choose to confirm any advantages and limitations to their service.
From www.fcc.gov/voip
What Kind of Equipment Do I Need for Voice Over IP?
Thursday, September 17th, 2009A broadband (high speed Internet) connection is required. This can be through a cable modem, or high speed services such as DSL or a local area network. A computer, adaptor, or specialized phone is required. Some VoIP services only work over your computer or a special VoIP phone, while other services allow you to use a traditional phone connected to a VoIP adapter. If you use your computer, you will need some software and an inexpensive microphone. Special VoIP phones plug directly into your broadband connection and operate largely like a traditional telephone. If you use a telephone with a VoIP adapter, you’ll be able to dial just as you always have, and the service provider may also provide a dial tone.
Aspects of these considerations may change with new developments in internet technology. You should always check with the VoIP service provider you choose to confirm any advantages and limitations to their service.
From www.fcc.gov/voip
How VoIP / Internet Voice Works
Thursday, September 17th, 2009VoIP services convert your voice into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. If you are calling a regular phone number, the signal is converted to a regular telephone signal before it reaches the destination. VoIP can allow you to make a call directly from a computer, a special VoIP phone, or a traditional phone connected to a special adapter. In addition, wireless “hot spots” in locations such as airports, parks, and cafes allow you to connect to the Internet and may enable you to use VoIP service wirelessly.
Aspects of these considerations may change with new developments in internet technology. You should always check with the VoIP service provider you choose to confirm any advantages and limitations to their service.
From www.fcc.gov/voip
Help With Windows Registry Errors!
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009Windows registry errors are some of the hardest issues to resolve. Some computer experts even have problems fixing issues with the registry. There are many different ways to fix registry problems, some are good ways for PC beginners or those who don’t know much about PCs and others are more efficient for PC experts. So, unless you are familiar with computers and programing, you would need to have a very good software or get help and have someone else to fix your computer issues. Let PleaseHelpMe help you fix your computer problems!
Getting started with Windows Sidebar and Gadgets
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009Windows Sidebar is a long, vertical
bar that is displayed on the side of your desktop. It contains mini-programs called gadgets, which offer information at a glance and provide easy access to frequently used tools. For example, you can use gadgets to display a picture slide show, view continuously updated headlines, or look up contacts.
Why use Sidebar?
Sidebar can keep information and tools readily available for you to use. For example, you can display news headlines right next to your open programs. This way, if you want to keep track of what’s happening in the news while you work, you don’t have to stop what you’re doing to switch to a news website.
With Sidebar, you can use the Feed Headlines gadget to show the latest news headlines from sources you choose. You don’t have to stop working on your document, because the headlines are always visible. If you peripherally see a headline that interests you, you can click that headline, and your web browser will open directly to the story.
To open Sidebar, click on Start -> Accessories -> Windows Sidebar.
Getting started with gadgets
Windows comes with a small collection of gadgets, but only some of them appear on Sidebar by default. To understand how to use gadgets, let’s explore three gadgets that you’ll see on Sidebar when you first start Windows: the Clock, Slide Show, and Feed Headlines.
How does the Clock work?
When you point to the Clock gadget, two buttons will appear near its upper-right corner: the Close button—which is the top button—and the Options button.
Clicking the Close button removes the Clock from Sidebar. The button below the close button displays options for naming the clock, changing its time zone, and showing its second hand.
How does Slide Show work?
Next try resting the pointer on the Slide Show gadget, which displays a continuous slide show of pictures on your computer.
When you point to Slide Show, the Close and Options buttons will appear near the upper-right corner of the gadget.
Clicking the Options button allows you to choose which pictures appear in your slide show, control the speed at which your slide show plays, and change the transition effect between pictures.
How does Feed Headlines work?
Feed Headlines can display frequently updated headlines
from a website that supplies feeds, also known as RSS feeds, XML feeds, syndicated content, or web feeds. Websites often use feeds to distribute news and blogs. By default, Feed Headlines won’t display any headlines. To start displaying a small set of preselected headlines, click View headlines.
When you point to Feed Headlines, the Close and Options buttons will appear near the upper-right corner of the gadget. Clicking the Options button allows you to choose from a list of available feeds. You can add to the list by choosing your own feeds from the web.
Getting Started with the Basics of Vista
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009One of the many possible reasons why you are reading this article is that you decided to upgrade your Windows Operating System from Windows XP to Vista. Another reason could be that you purchased a new computer desktop PC or a laptop and it comes with pre-installed Windows Vista. For whatever reason or purpose you may have to learn how Windows Vista works, this tutorial is intended to make your learning experience worthy of your time.
The Start Menu
Use the Start menu to do these common activities:
- Start Programs
- Open commonly used folders
- Search for files, folders and programs
- Adjust computer settings
- Get help
- Turn off the computer
- Log off from Windows or switch to a different user account
Getting started with the Start menu
To open the Start menu, click the Start button in the lower left-hand corner of your screen or press the Window logo key on your keyboard.
The Start menu is divided into three basic parts:
1. The large left pane shows a short list of programs on your computer. Your computer manufacturer can customize this list. Therefore, its exact appearance will vary. Clicking All Programs displays a complete list of programs (more on this later).
2. In the lower left-hand corner is the search box, which allows you to look for programs and files on your computer by typing in search terms.
3. The right pane provides access to commonly used folders, files, settings and features. It’s also where you go to log off from Windows or turn off your computer.
Opening programs from the Start menu 
One of the most common uses of the Start menu is opening programs installed on your computer. To open a program shown in the left pane of the Start menu, click it. The program opens and the Start menu closes.
If you don’t see the program you want to open, click All Programs at the bottom of the left pane. Instantly, the left pane displays a long list of programs in alphabetical order, followed by a list of folders:
Clicking one of the program icons launches the program, and the Start menu closes. So what’s inside the folders? More programs.
Click Accessories (see screenshot below), for example, and a list of programs that are stored in that folder appears. Click any program to open it. To get back to the programs you saw when you first opened the Start menu, click Back near the bottom of the menu.
If you’re ever unsure what a program does, move the pointer over its icon or name. A box appears that often contains a description of the program.
For example, pointing to Calculator displays this message: “Performs basic arithmetic tasks with an on-screen calculator.” This trick works for items in the right pane of the Start menu, too.
You might notice that over time, the lists of programs in your Start menu change. This happens 
for two reasons. First, when you install new programs, they get added to the All Programs list. Second, the Start menu detects which programs you use the most, and it places them in the left pane for quick access.
The Search box
The Search box is one of the most convenient ways to find things on your computer. The exact location of the items doesn’t matter—the Search box will scour your programs and all of the folders in your personal folder (which includes Documents, Pictures, Music, Desktop, and other common locations). It will also search your e mail messages, saved instant messages, appointments, and contacts.
To use the Search box, open the Start menu and start typing. You don’t need to click inside the box first. As you type, the search results appear above the Search box in the left pane of the Start menu.
Click any search result to open it. Or, click the Clear button to clear the search results and return to the main programs list. You can also click Search Everywhere to search your entire computer, or click Search the Internet to open your web browser and search the Internet for your term.
Besides programs, files and folders, and communications, the Search box also looks through your Internet favorites and the history of websites you’ve visited. If any of these web pages include the search term, they appear under a heading called “Favorites and History.”
What’s in the right pane?
The right pane of the Start menu contains links to parts of Windows that you’re likely to use frequently. Here they are, from top to bottom:
• Personal folder. Opens your personal folder, which is named for whoever is currently logged on to Windows. For example, if the current user is Molly Clark, the folder will be named Molly Clark. This folder, in turn, contains user-specific files, including the Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos folders.
• Documents. Opens the Documents folder, where you can store and open text files, spreadsheets, presentations, and other kinds of documents.
• Pictures. Opens the Pictures folder, where you can store and view digital pictures and graphics files.
• Music. Opens the Music folder, where you can store and play music and other audio files.
• Games. Opens the Games folder, where you can access all of the games on your computer.
• Recent Items. Opens a list of files you’ve opened recently. Click one of the files in the list to open it.
• Computer. Opens a window where you can access disk drives, cameras, printers, scanners, and other hardware connected to your computer.
• Network. Opens a window where you can access the computers and devices on your network.
• Connect To. Opens a window where you can connect to a new network.
• Control Panel. Opens Control Panel, where you can customize the appearance and functionality of your computer, add or remove programs, set up network connections, and manage user accounts.
• Default Programs. Opens a window where you can choose which program you want Windows to use for activities like web browsing, editing pictures, sending e mail, and playing music and videos.
• Help and Support. Opens Windows Help and Support, where you can browse and search Help topics about using Windows and your computer.
Power button (left); Lock button (right)
At the bottom of the right pane are two buttons: the Power button 
and the Lock button. Click the Power button to turn off your computer, or click the Lock button to lock your computer without turning it off. Once locked, your computer cannot be used until you unlock it with your password.
Clicking the arrow next to the lock button displays a menu with additional options for switching users, logging off, restarting, or shutting down.
Desktop Fundamentals
The desktop is the main screen area that you see after you turn on your computer and log on to Windows. Like the top of an actual desk, it serves as a surface for your work. When you open your programs or folders, they appear on the desktop. You can also put things on the desktop, such as files and folders, and arrange them however you want.
The taskbar is the long horizontal bar at the bottom of your screen. Unlike the desktop, which can get obscured by the windows on top of it, the taskbar is visible almost all the time. It has four main sections:
1. The Start button , which opens the Start menu.
2. The Quick Launch toolbar, which lets you start programs with one click.
3. The middle section, which shows you which programs and documents you have open and allows you to quickly switch between them.
4. The notification area, which includes a clock and icons (small pictures) that communicate the status of certain programs and computer settings.
Slow Connection While Streaming?
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009If you share your Internet with other computers, you may notice that the connection may seem slower at times when you or another person are watching a video online. Sites like YouTube and Hulu offer streaming video to view at anytime. Though this is quick and convenient, their server tries to push the data as fast as it can into your computer so you can view it non-stop and that takes a lot from your bandwidth, which leaving less for everyone else. As soon as you close the program that is streaming the bandwidth returns to normal. If you are streaming a short video, it probably doesn’t use a lot of bandwidth unless it is HD video, so you will not notice a slowdown on basic broadband until you stream multiple things.
Restore Your PC Speed
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009If your PC is running slow, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is time for an upgrade. A simple, clean wipe of the computer’s operating system will generally restore a PC back to the initial speed it had when the customer first bought it. Most computers sold in the last several years even come with a “System Restore Disc” that can be inserted into the CD/DVD drive and with just a couple clicks, restore the computer to it’s factory settings. This will wipe and reinstall Windows, removing any junk and most likely will restore your computer to the original speed it had when your first bought it. Of course, before any of this, important data should be backed up to a CD, but this is an economical way to get a couple more years out of your computer.
Looking for Computer Help?
Monday, August 3rd, 2009ACTS Computer Experts are certified and have the extensive experience in providing the online computer tech help support.The highly qualified computer support technicians at ACTS will not only diagnose your computer problems but also solve them over the Internet using latest software and hardware tools.
The diagnosis of your computer problems and remedy can be done over a chat session, over email, or even remote hosting (wherein, our experts will log on to your computer remotely – remote computer help). You need not worry anymore about tech trivia, as we will iron out all the creases.
Sit back, relax and contact us, knowing full well that all your computer related problems will be solved and solved in a jiffy.