To begin with, most of the software downloads recommended are already on my computer. The main problem with some software I have downloaded, is the fact that they take over your home page or become the *main* software for whatever purpose you wanted them for...despite the fact that I always make sure I adjust the page prior to downloading, to uncheck any boxes that state 'make this the preferred software (for whatever purpose) on your computer'.
A recent example of this is the ICQ programme software for the chat task. In June 2008 I downloaded what I thought was the Microsoft Vista compatible software for Apple Quicktime Player, so I could watch video's I had taken of my HSC (Year 12 - Senior High School) Students then email them copies.
It was a disaster.
My computer blinked uncontrollably at first and then froze.
I tried the usual "Ctrl Alt Del", but this turned my computer screen into ghostly shades of pastel with an added and eerie mirage-like quality. I could not switch my laptop off so unplugged it and closed the lid.
When I returned the next day, it had gone into 'hibernation', and when we took it back to the store it was purchased from, had miraculously came alive again.
No sign of the troubles endured less than 24 hours previously, making my story weak and unbelievable.
We went home again.
Exactly one week later, the same thing happened again (although I had since removed Apple Quicktime *completely*).
I left and returned the next day, to find a black screen randomly filled with white alphanumeric text. The text did not make sense in any English or grammatical sense.
The numbers and letters appeared to have been plucked at random. When we returned to the store once more, the technicians and salesmen were clambouring to get a look at my laptop screen - no-one had seen anything like it despite many of them owning the same brand and model.
Needless to say, I wasn't very optimistic about whether they could repair my machine let alone recover my files.
I asked if I could be issued with a replacement but was told they don't have that policy and couldn't do the 'Insurance' stated new for old replacement (it was 3 months old) until an ASUS (the brand I have) technician had looked at it.
The laptop had to be sent away.
Almost one month later, my computer returned to me with a brand new hard drive.
It has, however, never been the same.
I had other problems, although not quite as debilitating, in October, November and December 2008.
In January 2009 and continuing to the present day, I cannot have too many windows open at once, or all windows 'freeze' and do not allow any interaction from either the mouse or keys.
My computer has a loud 'hum' now and initially, after returning from being repaired at the beginning of December 2008, sounded like it had an internal 'water drip' - very similar to the sound of a tap dripping onto a metal kitchen sink. I think that sound has gone - either that or I'm deaf or oblivious to it now.
The upside is that I managed to download Apple Quicktime again in mid-January.
It could be the reason why my windows are freezing if I have too many open, but luckily there have been no crashes...yet.
Software Downloaded to date:
* Adobe PDF Reader
* Flash and Shockwave Players
* Apple Quicktime Player
* Windows Media Player
I have yet to down load these three:
* Search Manager
* Bookmark Buddy for windows
* Offline Browser
For the above three options I have always just used the saved favourites and have downloaded pdf files to my desktop for further perusal. Will check in again tomorrow with details of how I went downloading the last three.
I downloaded Copernic without any difficulties.
I decided against downloading the 'Book Mark Buddy' as I am quite happy with my new 'Mozilla Firefox' Web Browser - definitely beats 'Internet Explorer'! - which has neatly categorised everything under my 'bookmarks' Tab into the alphabetical order I prefer.One thing I may try to eventually change though, is to move my most frequently used bookmarks to the top of my list so I don't need to scroll down too far all the time (M=MyWebCt to access the Discussion Board and Curriculum).
MY MOZILLA FIREFOX Web Browser has probably been the best thing I have ever downloaded.
I can search just about anything from just the browsing bar at the top of the page!
However, I still prefer 'Google'-ing most things due to the speed.
Some things still don't come up with the Mozilla Firefox - it seems to be very specific or may be has a smaller database.
For example, I was searching for 'Internet2'.
When I searched through Mozilla Firefox I got one direct hit:
Whereas when I searched through Google I got 3,380,000 hits.
Copernic got me 68 hits
Google Scholar got me 19,500 hits.
Quick Comparison Chart:
Full Boolean vs. Implied Boolean vs. Templates
| Full Boolean | Implied Boolean | Template Terminology | |
|---|---|---|---|
| OR | college or university | [rarely available] *see note below | any of these words can contain the words should contain the words |
| AND | poverty and crime | +poverty +crime | all of these words must contain the words |
| NOT | cats not dogs | cats -dogs | must not contain the words should not contain the words |
| NEAR, etc. | cats near dogs | N/A | near |
* Most multi-term search statements will resolve to AND logic at search engines that use AND as the default. Nowadays most search engines default to AND. Always play it safe, however, and consult the Help files at each site to find out which logic is the default.
The above information was taken from a Link in NET11 course notes:
www.internettutorials.net/boolean.html
I found that when searching for information, often, the 'AND' and 'OR' were only useful if the search returned a large number of hits, or I was unsure what to search for at the outset.
Also, the first few sites listed are usually the most relevant, as often the sites listed just become any article that includes the words in your search criteria.
An annotation used in my Concepts Assignment
Title 2:Turnage, A. K. (2007). Email flaming behaviours and organizational conflict. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13 (1), article 3.
Site: http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol13/issue1/turnage.html
In this article Turnage (2007) explored whether the 'flaming' or 'bad' netiquette behaviour (excessive use of CAPITALS, exclamation marks!!! and question marks???) described in literature was still considered flaming, by asking participants to assess messages typically found in emails.
Turnage highlighted the potential damage that can occur in communication particularly with reference to workplace and organizational conflict, as a result of plain text messages that include excessive use of 'flaming' symbols and gave recommendations for good email communication practices.
Published in 2007, this article contains current content, addresses pertinent issues, is peer-reviewed, and contributes to good email communication practice and netiquette in general.
(103 words)
1. In terms of annotated sites, my own annotation will be most useful for future reference, because, apart from the fact that I wrote and should therefore understand it, the aspects within it directly relate to my experiences when I read the article.
Someone else's experience will not be as significant for me as it will be for the person who wrote it.
2.In terms of external users, the best indication of relevance would possibly be the Title and opening and closing sentences.
The middle part of the annotation directly relates to why it was used to support the particular concept it is written under.
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