13.12.24: Most people don't think about it until it happens.
Cell phones, like cameras, are not waterproof ... unless you buy one of the few that are.
Unfortunately, the big sellers are not there yet.
There are some inexpensive DIY approaches suggested (rice, isorpopyl alcohol) ... but not guaranteed.
First thing is to take out SIM card, SDcard and battery immediately.
There are now two reliable solutions. One before it happens and another after it happens.
If you dropped your phone in water, you can buy this Reviveaphone kit to fix it (90 percent success rate) for approx $33 (includes shipping).
It was reviewed on Dragon's Den and was supported (show to be aired in January).
A young guy has been repairing phone for a few years before coming up with this solution.
It seems to be selling well.
Another approach is to water seal your smartphone when you buy it (before you move all your data to it).
Currently, they can seal iPhone (4 and 5 models) and Samsung (Galaxy and Discovery models).
This is a guaranteed sealing on the inside of the phone (by a Canadian company) and nothing is apparent from the outside.
The downside is waiting to use your phone, as you must send it to Calgary for the sealing process.
The company is WaterSeal and their site indicates mail-in service to begin in November 2013. Call them at 403-450-8705 to inquire.
I have a call in and will update when known.
13.12.16: As you might expect, there are a lot of tools to help speed up your PC.
In my experience, this one is reliable and does increase performance (even more than the Adjust for Best Performance Windows 8 system option).
It is one of the many optimization items within the absolutely FREE Advanced SystemCare app (click on "External Mirror 1 [exe]" to download.
It is not often I advertise a free app but this one, to date, offers real FREE services to help you enable your PC.
To help speed up your PC, ASC has a turbo boost option worth trying.
1. After installing, click on Turbo Boost and then click the word Configure under the wording Game Mode: OFF .
2. select Game Mode and click on
3. only select those items you are sure of (call me for assistance)
4. select Yes, Use Advanced SystemCare Power Plan and click on Next
5. select Turn on Turbo Burst at Windows startup. and click on Apply
You can then close the app and you should see significantly better speed.
If you have any questions or concerns, pls call me.
13.12.16: There are various reasons for this.
First, if your computer starts to run slower, this may be the reason ... if you have been regularly running your anti-virus protection and periodically (2-3 times per year) running a registry optimizer app.
However, running out of space on the c-drive is usually indicated by a std msg indicating low space on the drive.
Regardless, there are a few ways to free up space:
1. delete (in recycle bin also) any folders and files you know aren't required
2. disk cleanup by start -> computer -> right-click c-drive -> tools -> disk cleanup
After the above, approx 4gb or more can be removed by:
1. moving your paging file to another drive (only works if you have another hard drive - not USB drive)
2. deleting the hiberfil.sys file (only if you do not use hibernation - which is of little value in Win7 or Win8 if you are running out of space).
Here are the methods for Windows 8:
1. delete hiberfil.sys file by start -> right click command prompt and select run as administrator.
A little window will open and you type cd\ and then you type powercfg -h off
2. move the pagefile.sys file start -> control panel -> system and security -> system -> advanced system settings -> advanced -> performance settings -> advanced -> make changes and save by indication paging file for another drive and then 'no paging file' for c-drive
13.12.09: Once again, it pays to shop around at the end of a contract with Bell or Rogers.
A year ago, our TV contract with Rogers was coming due.
I checked with Bell and got a better deal and then
called Rogers (customer retention) and ask them to stop service a month hence.
Rogers came back with a 30% discount (Internet and TV) that caused us to stay for a year.
The year is up Jan 20th.
I called Bell today and got their best rates for Internet and TV (can't get one without the other) for everything we have at Rogers. Bell also included an upgraded PVR (whole home).
I then called Rogers to cancel Internet and TV service as of Jan 20th (must call a month ahead or you are charged an extra month) and told them what Bell was offering. They asked what it would take to stay, as we were a long time customer.
Once again, Roger exceeded my expectations by including the Internet, TV and home phone (and an upgraded PVR) in a monthly cost that was $50 less than Bell and $8 less than Rogers currently.
If I hadn't negotiated, we would be paying Rogers $85 more per month as of February.
It always pays to negotiate with these two.
19.01.28: After 5 years, I am still advocating Brother MFC 4-in-1 inkjet printers.
The main reasons are reliability, price, and cartridge replacement cost.
I have seen a lot of printers where cartridge cost is more than the printer cost.
The high capacity cartridge replacement cost for these following two preferred models are less than $29 (delivered) at AtlanticInkjet.com or you can select compatible cartridges (I do) from Amazon for under $20 delivered.
I have had two brother MFC printers in the last 10 years.
My next printer will also be Brother MFC 4-in-1 printer.
They always seem to go on sale for under $50.
You might get the MFC-J485DW at Staples for $20 right now.
You can get the MFC-J497DW at Staples right now for $50.
14.01.23: Now on sales at Staples for $59.90.
The reason for selecting this printer is the price of the ink.
There are 4 cartridges required and you can purchase them (the high yield ones - 30ml) online for less than $30.
When looking at ink cartridges, pay attention to the term "high yield", as standard yield (10ml) will empty quite quickly.
I haven't found another 4in1 printer with cartridges anywhere close to this price.
13.12.07: I just replaced our printer with a newer model from Staples for $70 (plus tax).
It is a Brother MFC-J470DW wireless 4-in-1 (print, copy, fax, scan) colour printer.
Our previous printer was a brother MFC-255CW purchased about 4 years ago. Colour print quality degraded and the wireless became unpredeictable.
Brother printers have the cheapest cartridges (approx $6 each) and, at $70, is the cheapest wireless printer I have seen.
Additional features not on the older model: illuminated screen, automatic 2-sided printing.
