Choosing and using a Media Center PC
The latest Media Center PCs are crammed with features that let you record TV shows, listen to FM and Internet radio programs, and play, organize and share your music files, videos and digital photos. Join instructor Mike Chapple, a multimedia expert, to find out what you can do with a Media Center PC and how to pick the right one for your digital enjoyment.
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Flicker can quickly become annoying. It can even cause eyestrain and give you a headache. That's not OK. You shouldn't have to suffer to use your computer. Fortunately, a simple change of Windows' settings can solve the problem.

Flicker is a problem mostly specific to CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors. A CRT continuously redraws the screen, giving the illusion of a steady display. Each redraw is technically called a refresh. If the refresh rate is too low, the illusion fails and you see flicker.

The refresh speed is measured in hertz (Hz). The most common default refresh rate is 60 Hz. That means that the screen is redrawn 60 times each second. It's a conservative rate that even very old monitors can handle.

But 60 Hz is not fast enough to fool the human eye. And the bigger the monitor, the more noticeable flicker can be. But even if flicker isn't obvious, it can still cause eyestrain.

Your monitor certainly should outdo 60 Hz. And you can change the refresh rate with Windows. Click Start>>Control Panel. Double-click Display. Select the Settings tab. Click the Advanced button near the bottom of the window.

Select the Monitor tab. Under "Monitor settings," you'll see the screen refresh rate. You'll also see a checkbox labeled "Hide modes that this monitor cannot display." Make sure that checkbox is marked. It can protect you from choosing too high a setting for your monitor. An excessive refresh rate can damage the monitor.

Under "Screen refresh rate," select a higher setting. Then click the Apply button to try the new setting. If you still notice flicker, try the next available setting. When you're satisfied, click the OK button.

The most recommended setting is 85 Hz. That's usually adequate. However, we have a 22-inch monitor that is set to 100 Hz. 

To be or not to be
To put it another way, a reader recently asked me whether it was better to have a complex password that you repeated often or to have several different passwords. I want to say both, but I know in practice that I have occasionally reused passwords, especially for online newspaper registration to otherwise free content. I would never reuse a password for any paid accounts or anything of value, such as access to my work computer.

A reader recently asked me whether it was better to have a complex password that you repeated often or to have several different passwords. I want to say both. 

But let's say you visit Amazon only during the holiday season. A year has gone by, and you can't remember that unique password you gave your account. Fortunately, sites will e-mail you your lost password. Sometimes, though, the password is not really the string of alphanumeric characters you typed but instead a randomly assigned sequence. That's because many Web servers don't really remember your password as you typed it; rather, they covert it to what's called a hash value.
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I think your mother will find Windows' Magnifier helpful. It makes a portion of your screen act as a magnifying glass. The remaining portion continues to show a normal display. You can move your magnifying glass anywhere on the screen. And you can resize it to take up to half your screen. It is available in all versions of Windows.

To open Magnifier, click Start>>All Programs>> Accessories>>Accessibility>>Magnifier. Once you start Magnifier, you'll be able to customize it. First, you can choose the magnification level. You can use sizes from double to nine times normal. You can have your magnifier follow the mouse pointer. Or you can have it follow the keyboard focus (cursor). The keyboard focus setting works well for word processing.

Windows includes many more accessibility tools. Here are the other tools you can find under All Programs (or Programs):
   1. Narrator is a helpful tool for people with low vision or blindness. It uses a computerized voice to describe what's on the screen. It can tell you which program or window is open. And it can tell you which menus and options you're selecting.
      You can also have Narrator read as you type, letter by letter. That can help with letter writing or e-mail. It's especially handy if you have limited typing ability.
      A feature like Narrator requires incredible sophistication. Narrator is a great tool, but it's far from perfect. It works well with ubiquitous Microsoft products like Office and Internet Explorer. But its support weakens as you stray from Microsoft programs.
      It is available in Windows XP and 2000.
   2. On-Screen Keyboard can be useful for those with limited dexterity. It lets you do your typing with the mouse. The virtual keyboard is complete with function and navigation keys and the number pad. And you can move it anywhere on the screen. It is available in Windows XP, 2000 and ME.
   3. The Accessibility Wizard lets you open multiple accessibility tools with one pass. You can pick your settings for sight, hearing and dexterity aids. The wizard will change settings when you choose them. You can quickly discover which features you like and dislike. The wizard is available in Windows XP, 2000, ME and 98.

Other tools are available through Windows' Control Panel. To find them, click Start>>Control Panel in Windows XP, or Start>>Settings>>Control Panel in earlier versions of Windows. Then double-click Accessibility Options. Here are a few I like:
   1. StickyKeys helps those who use a wand or mouth stick. It simplifies key combinations such as Ctrl+Alt+Delete. Instead of pressing them simultaneously, you can press them in sequence. It's also useful for using the Shift key.
   2. FilterKeys eases the frustration of using the keyboard with limited dexterity. You can set your keyboard to ignore repeated keystrokes from shaky hands. You can also shut off or slow the keyboard repeat. That stops it from repeating a key that's held down too long.
   3. MouseKeys lets you use the number pad as a mouse. This is another great feature for people who use a wand or mouth stick. There are settings to control the speed of the mouse pointer. The pointer also accelerates as you hold down the keys. And MouseKeys doesn't interfere with use of the actual mouse. You don't have to change settings for other users.

Most accessibility tools display an alert with their first activation. And most of them openly tell you that they're not cutting-edge. So the Microsoft site lists more robust tools from different developers. You can also do a search for your particular needs.
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Aren't Those Characters Special?
Have you ever needed a symbol or some other special character like the degree symbol, the small square checkbox, the copyright symbol, etc.? Well, they're tucked away in a folder that, once you know where to look, is easy to get to and use.
Here's How:
Click the Start Button, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, then select Character Map.
You'll be presented with a screen that has lots of different symbols. When you click (and hold) a symbol, it gives you an enlarged preview of it.
To actually select the symbol:
1. Click the symbol you want.
2. Click the Select button, then the Copy button.