New Year's Resolutions

Aloha!

Since the spirit of the New Year is about fresh starts, dropping undesirable habits, and adopting a new outlook, how about applying some of that spirit to your time spent on the computer? Here are some suggestions.

1. Don't reactively forward emails about viruses and other scares without checking them out first. Many of them are hoaxes. One place to check their veracity is here: http://www.symantec.com/business/security_response/threatexplorer/search.jsp

2. See if you can keep away from your computer for one weekend. Take a break. We get so hooked into our online habits, some of which can compromise our connecting with the non virtual world around us.

3. Get some education. Take an online class, read a book on a computer subject that interests you, or get some tutoring. It will open new doors for your computing experience.

4. If you've been putting off renewing your antivirus subscription, take care of that ASAP. Better yet, install the newest Internet security program, such as Norton. There are many nasties out there on the web that you want to avoid.

5. When you finish reading this article, run and back up your important data!

6. Sign up for a social networking account like Facebook and see what happens. Then remember to practice suggestion number 2.

7. Be kind to yourself and make some improvements to your computing environment: get a better mouse or keyboard, a better monitor, hey, if you can afford it, a new computer! Maybe even a Mac. I did - got a new MacBook Pro laptop and I love it!

8. Get a free account at pandora.com and enjoy creating your own radio stations based on artists and genres you love. You'll likely find some new music this way.

9. Offer to help someone with their computer needs. You must know someone who knows less than you and could use a helping hand.

10. Watch TV online. Check out Hulu.com. They actually have free streaming movies there. Yes free! Again, when you start getting hooked, practice suggestion 2.

Wishing you lots of akamai computing in the New Year!