3D Design Software - Free

Sketch Up is a cool design software that was recently purchased by Google. Sketch Up allows even the novice to create rich designs right out of the box. It isn't a full parametric design tool, but it is a leap forward in conceptual design software.

What Sketch Up is basically the old bar napkin on super steriods. In other words, you can sketch out your concepts and ideas with easy to use, intuitive tools and if you like what you've sketched, you can clean it up and add various features.

What makes software like Sketch Up so great is that you can easily change your drawings and add variations to your concepts. Here are some of the great built in features:

• Scan in, photograph or draw the strokes you want to use directly in your pixel-editing software of choice




• Use Style Builder to turn your strokes into a unique, sketchy-edge Style, then apply that Style to your designs


• Turn hard-lined computer drawings into approachable sketches


• Help your audience see the big picture by removing just the right amount of detail from your drawings


• Make your SketchUp models stand out with styles, colors and other highlights.

Sketch Up is offered in two versions, Sketch Up and Sketch Up Pro. The first is FREE, but won't allow you to share out files. The second or Pro package is $495.00 and has the full sharing features needed if you want to share your illustrations.

I recommend Sketch Up as a GREAT tool to do conceptual drawings with. It is geared towards architecture, but can be used by anyone with creative ideas...and its easy to use.

http://www.sketchup.com/

Deleted Files

Recovering Deleted Files

We've all been there. You deleted some files only to realize that you needed them later or didn't mean to delete them at all. Recovering deleted files is usually an easy task, you simply open up the recycle bin and restore them, but what happens if you've emptied the recycle bin?

Once you enpty your recycle bin, Windows basically tags the files so that they can be overwritten. The more time that passes, the more likely your files will be permanently gone.

I have a found a number of easy to use tools that will help you recover your deleted files.

1. Free Recovery Software
http://www.aumha.org/a/recover.php

a) This software works well and will recover files easily, the only draw back is having to restore one file at a time.
b) It works better on FAT than NTFS, but I have not had real trouble on either.

http://www.pcinspector.de/Sites/file_recovery/info.htm?language=1

2. Cheap Recovery Software
http://www.data-recovery-software.net/
http://www.p-dd.us/

3. Costly Recovery Services http://www.ontrackdatarecovery.com/

I would only recommend a costly service, such as OnTrack if you've toasted your hard drive or have some legal/financial emergency that requires urgent recovery.

Questions by email always welcome.

Ultramobile Notebooks

If you're looking for an "ultramobile" notebook there are a few models that perform well, but the prices are still high.
Here are two of my favorites:
1. The Sony Vaio VGN-TZ150N
Problem: Price is too high
STREET PRICE: $2000 - $2300


















Specs
Series Features: 11.1" screen, wireless, built-in camera, long battery life,
1GB RAM.Upgrade Features:
Elegant Champagne Gold finish
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor U7500 (1.06GHz, 2MB L2 cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Business


2. The Fujitsu Lifebook B6220
Problem: Only a solo processor which for anything but normal office work is underpowered.
STREET PRICE: $1500 - $1700

Some Techno Talk Revealed and a Cool Site

This week I'd like to review and demystify some technology terminology and bring you to an awesome site for High End PC's.

Firstly, a few people have asked me what Web 2.0 is?

Simply put is the label for the next generation web communications and sharing between users on the internet. The internet seen as a platform.

From Wikipedia here is the folowing:

The transition of websites from isolated information silos to sources of content and functionality, thus becoming computing platforms serving web applications to end-users

A social phenomenon embracing an approach to generating and distributing Web content itself, characterized by open communication, decentralization of authority, freedom to share and re-use, and "the market as a conversation"

A pronounced distinction between functionality and web technology, enabling significantly easier creation of new business models and processes by using readily available intuitive modular elements.

Here are some other terms:

Deep linking, on the World Wide Web, is making a hyperlink that points to a specific page or image on another website, instead of that website's main or home page. Such links are called deep links.

Generation C (also known as Gen C) is the label given to a new generation by trend spotters, media commentators, technology industry observers/CEOs and semioticians.

The American Press Association's Media Center [1] describes Gen C as "creating, producing and participating in news in a connected, informed society."

Crowdsourcing is a neologism for the act of taking a job traditionally performed by an employee or contractor, and outsourcing it to an undefined, generally large group of people, in the form of an open call. For example, the public may be invited to develop a new technology, carry out a design task, refine an algorithm or help analyze large amounts of data.

Appropriate technology is technology that is appropriate to the environmental, cultural and economic situation it is intended for. An appropriate technology, in this sense, typically requires fewer resources, as well as lower cost and less impact on the environment.

As promised, here is an awesome site. At Falcon Northwest you can buy a top end PC or just enjoy the music while you browse the latest in PC technolology.





http://www.falcon-nw.com/

Enjoy....

Free Anti-Virus Software

For about a year I've been using a few different tools to secure my PC. First of all, I'm on a wired network, not a wireless network. While not 100% secure, it is better than wireless if your interested in keeping your data secure.

Secondly, I tossed out Norton and MacAfee because they became more of a nuisance than a help. Constant pop ups and machine slow downs finally got to me.

Here are some excellent options:

AVG Antivirus software, which works great is not intrusive and does not irritate you to buy more software or renew subscriptions:

The only drawback is that it downloads its definition files upon start up. I really don't even notice it much anymore.

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/download-free-anti-virus/us/frt/0

WinPatrol software, which helps to monitor start up items and items that try to connect from your PC to the internet. The free version I have works fantastic and has saved me more than once.

http://www.winpatrol.com/

Windows Defender Software, a FREE spyware protection app which has a small footprint and does a nice job of keeping spyware off my PC.

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx