Question:

I have never been able to set up out-of-office email replies.  I’ve looked up instructions, but we don’t seem to be set up for that.  How can I set this up?

Signed,

Gone Fishing

Dear Fishing;

If your job includes receiving emails from clients/customers, it’s imperative to let them know that you are a) not in the office; b) when you will be back, and ; c) who to contact for immediate assistance.

Here’s how:

1.  Log into your Windows Live Mail (or other) account.

2.  Click “Go To Hotmail”

3.  In the top right corner, click “Options”, then “More Options”.

4.  Under “Managing Your Account”, choose “Sending Automated Vacation Replies”

5.  Click “Send Vacation Replies to People Who Email ME”.  Type in your reply.

6.  Uncheck “Only Reply to My Contacts”, so the reply will go to everyone that emails you, whether or not they are in your contact list.

7.  Click “Save”.

8.  Remember to turn off the automated replies when you return from vacation!

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Dear Geek,

I have a colleague who constantly uses shorthand in his emails and texts.  It’s so bad, I often need a translator.  What can I do?

Signed,

Translation Please

Dear Translation,

If your colleague is using shorthand abbreviations in official company emails and texts, that’s a no-no and someone should point that out to him.  However, if the emails and texts are casual communication between people, the only thing you can do is to learn the lingo. I’ve included a short list to get you started.  Don’t be embarrassed to ask your kids…they’re the ones that invented (and keep expanding) the language!

AFK:  Away from keyboard.  Used when you’re stepping away from your computer.

AFAIK:  As far as I know.

BBIAB:  Be back in a bit.

BRB:  Be right back.

SFSG:  So far so good.

WDYMBT:  What do you mean by that?

NVM:  Never mind.

LOL:  Laugh out loud.

LMAO:  Laughing my *ss off.

GJ:  Good job.

PROPS:  Respect and acknowledgment.

JK:  Just kidding.

WBU:  What about you.

IDK:  I don’t know.

IDC:  I don’t care.

W/E:  Whatever.

BTW:  By the way.

L8R:  Later.

GTG:  Either ‘good to go’ or ‘got to go.

TTYL:  Talk to you later.

IMHO:  In my humble opinion.

KK:  Acknowledging receipt of the message.

HMU:  Hit me up.  Meaning please contact me in some way.

WUT:  What.

PLZ:  Please.

TBH:  To be honest.

TYVM:  Thank you very much.

If you have a question for our Resident Geek, send it to:  geek@tbyd.ca.  We’ll translate it from Geek-lish to English, so it actually helps!

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Dear Geek,

I am having a problem with my wireless keyboard.  Yesterday it worked fine, but today it’s not working correctly.  When I try to type, it either misses typing letters, or it takes several taps (or pounds) on it to start working.  What can I do?

Sincerely,

A Few Letters Short of an Alphabet

Dear Short Alphabet,

The first thing I would suggest to check is the batteries.  Many people forget that wireless keyboards and mice run on batteries, and many an expensive (an embarrassing) calls to tech support have been caused by this.  Wireless keyboards and mice usually have a radio frequency adapter that plugs into a USB port on your tower (or laptop).  Make sure this is plugged in all the way, as this is the second most frequent culprit of non-working keyboards and mice.  Other than that, ensure your keyboard and/or mouse is within range of the adapter (approximately 10 feet or so), or it could be dropping keystrokes.  Objects obstructing the signal could also affect the keyboard/mouse function.  Ensure that books, speakers, etc. have not been placed between the adapter and the keyboard and/or mouse.  If none of these help, you likely need a new keyboard.

If you have a question for our Resident Geek, send it to:  geek@tbyd.ca.  We’ll translate it from Geek-lish to English, so it actually helps!

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Dear Geek;

I have my computer, printer, etc. plugged into a power bar.  A friend told me this isn’t good enough, and that I should have something called a “UPS”.  What is that, and do I need one?

Sincerely,

Power-less

Dear Power-less;

In the world of power fluctuations, power failures, and power surges are very common.  If you aren’t fully prepared for them, your equipment, and your data, are at risk.  There are 3 main options to protecting your equipment.

1.  Power Bar:  The poor cousin of the three.  Most power bars available, include a built-in circuit breaker.  This provides some protection against power surges.  It is a great, affordable option for devices that aren’t critical (ie. lights, fans, radios).

2.  Surge Protector:  The blue-collar worker.  Similar to power bars, but surge protectors can detect when power surges are larger than an “acceptable level” for your devices.  In a surge protector, excess power is re-routed to a grounding wire and fuse, which will burn out when power exceeds what it can handle.  Surge protectors provide adequate protection for vital devices such as monitors, printers, tvs, entertainment systems, and smartphones.  Something to note:  surge protectors can come with different “joule ratings”.  The higher the joule rating, the more excess power the surge protector can take .

3.  UPS a.k.a. Uninterruptible Power Supply:  The rich relative.  An UPS contains an internal battery which, in case of a temporary total power failure, can keep your equipment functioning for a short amount of time.  Usually, just long enough for you to shut everything down…safely.  A UPS is invaluable for computers, servers, etc.  Anything that could cause a loss of data, or damage to the equipment, if not shut down properly.  A bonus to the UPS, it will protect your equipment against damage from any power fluctuations.  Most UPSs will provide surge protection to equipment plugged into the battery backup outlet.  Most also have additional surge protection outlets (without battery backup), for other computer equipment (ie. printers, monitors, etc.).

In short, your friend is partly right.  In an ideal world, your computer tower should be plugged into a UPS, and your computer peripherals (monitor, printer, etc) into at least a power bar, preferably a surge protector.  Price may influence your decision, as power bars start at approximately $5, whereas UPSs start at around $60.

If you have a question for our Resident Geek, send it to:  geek@tbyd.ca.  We’ll translate it from Geek-lish to English, so it actually helps!

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I know that some of you noticed that I didn’t post on the blog last week (I got your emails!).  I could give you all sorts of excuses, however, I prefer to give you my…

TOP 10 REASONS I DIDN’T BLOG LAST WEEK

(In reverse order)

10.  My mom forgot to cut the crusts of my PB & J sandwich, so I couldn’t function.

9.  I heard the new iPhone 5 was going to  have a different port.  I spent my time tossing my current iPhone-supporting devices, and researching whether anything was available with the new port yet.

8. The Comic Book Insider, Season 2, Episode 13 & 14 came out.  Enough said.

7.  Watched ‘Ancient Aliens’.  The t.v. show presents the hypothesis that humanity’s early development was influenced by extraterrestrials.  I spent the remainder of the week fabricating foil hats for myself & my loved ones (aka: my cats).

6.  Heard someone else had the same costume idea as I did for Comic-Con.  Had to re-design the whole thing.

5.  Google celebrated Star Trek’s 46th Anniversary with a characteristic doodle.  A very spirited debate over ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Star Trek:  The Next Generation’ ensued…and it got ugly.  Let’s just say that pocket protectors weren’t the only things flying!

4.  ‘Zombie:  B.C.’ was unveiled at Saboten Con 2012 in Arizona.  It’s set one million years B.C where we witness the first zombie attack ever.  I spent my time scanning it for loopholes, instead of blogging.

3.  I spent my time reviewing the plot of “Hansel & Gretel:  Witch Hunters”.  The basis of the plot:  15 years after being traumatized by the Gingerbread House incident, sibling Hansel & Gretel have become a formidable team of bounty hunters who track and kill witches all over the world.  I became involved in an internet debate over whether this is plausible, and whether or not Little Red Riding Hood could kick Hansel & Gretel’s butts.

2.  I heard the U.S. Army was set to phase out their Futuristic Digital Camo Uniforms.  Spent the day discussing with a colleague whether or not these uniforms would hold up in Mine Craft.

1.  ‘The Walking Dead:  The Complete 2nd Season Limited Edition Blu-Ray Boxed Set was released.  I HAD to watch the 8 scenes that were deleted, the 6 Webisodes, and the 11 “never-before-seen Featurettes”.  It changed my life.

I know this wasn’t an “Ask The Geek” blog, but I felt that I had to explain myself.  I promise to be a better geek next week!

If you have a question for our Resident Geek, send it to:  geek@tbyd.ca.  We’ll translate it from Geek-lish to English, so it actually helps!

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