I have just installed a new Home-Office computer for Emmott on Technology. It is awesome…quad core dual monitors…total geek out.
However even for a big geek like me setting up a new computer is a tedious and frustrating task. However this time I used a slick product that made it much faster and easier. PC Mover [...]

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I am a big proponent of multiple monitors everywhere in the dental office. See the PC Mag article linked below for instructions on how to do it. Here is my office manager Jackie with two monitors at the front desk.

I’m going to assume that you have Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Vista. Given that, you’ll need a graphics card or graphics subsystem that supports multiple displays. Any video card manufactured in the past three years—even the budget cards—can do that. But take a minute to refer to your PC’s manual if your system has only integrated graphics hardware—that is, a graphics adapter that’s built into your system’s motherboard chipset. Some integrated graphics systems can handle more than one display, but others can’t. The bottom line is that you need a graphics adapter with two physical connectors—either VGA or DVI—and two displays with appropriate connections. If you have a video card with two DVI ports, but one or both of your displays has only VGA connectors, you can obtain DVI-to-VGA adapter dongles.
Multiple Monitors, Multiple Questions - Expert Help by PC Magazine [1].

[1] http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,2193386,00.asp

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Palm announced today the launch of the Treo 755p for the Verizon network. The device is available immediately via Verizon’s site and will be available for purchase in the carrier’s brick-and-mortar locations on January 7th. The blue-green Treo 755p features a sleeker design than its predecessor, an internal antennae, a higher-resolution color touchscreen, and a full QWERTY keyboard. The device also has a 1.3-megapixel camera, Microsoft Word and Excel editing capabilities, and the ability to view PDF and PowerPoint files.
Gearlog - Gadget Guide by Geeks for Geeks [1].

[1] http://www.gearlog.com/

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D-Link Slashing Prices of 802.11n Routers to under $50? 
According to DigiTimes, D-Link is in the process of slicing the price of its entry-level 802.11n routers to under $50. Those sort of price cuts may be hard to believe, but a quick search of Google turned up an indication that prices are indeed heading south: the DIR-615 Wireless-N router can be purchased from PC Connection for $59.95, and at TigerDirect for $59.99. (Both are fairly well-regarded shopping sites, but be sure and check ResellerRatings to help determine if a cheap price is too good to be true.) I don’t believe PC Magazine has reviewed the DIR-615, but the DIR-625 is being sold for about $75 on TigerDirect, where it has received some nice reviews. Stepping up to the DIR-655 will cost you about $130 at NewEgg, but it will also buy you a router that won a PC Magazine Editors’ Choice award. Keep in mind that any router labeled with a “draft-N” moniker is probably going to be cleared from inventory for marketing purposes before the final standard is ratified next year.
Gearlog - Gadget Guide for Geeks by Geeks - View More [1].

[1] http://www.gearlog.com/default.php?p=15

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A good source for small foot print keyboards; ideal for treatment rooms.

Mini Silver Keyboard Price $79.95
Product Details
Features 11.81″W x 5.91″D x 0.71″H 88 standard size keys. Functionality of a 104 keyboard. Great for desk with limited work space. Available in PS/2, USB or USB with bilt-in Hub Scissors keycaps makes typing silent, stable and comfortable Fully compatible with Windows 95 98 Me, NT 2000 XP
Mini Silver Keyboard - See Options [1].

[1] http://www.ergonomicsmadeeasy.com/index.asp?pageaction=

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A simple and inexpensive, yet very powerful component to effective use of technology in the treatment room is multiple inputs. Input refers to any device, which allows the user to access the computer. The most common input devices are a keyboard and mouse. However there are other options as well such as light pens, touch pads, track balls, pen tablets, mini keyboards, voice and even bar code scanners.
When we first moved computers to the back we used the desktop model and had a single data entry point with a keyboard and mouse on the assistant’s side. As we developed the electronic chart and started using digital radiology, computerized notes, digital imaging and patient education we soon discovered we needed more input access.
For example, if the doctor wanted to view or manipulate a certain x-ray he would have to ask the assistant to bring it up on the screen and then manipulate it. As you can imagine this was a problem and ended up taking two people to do the job of one in a pretty ineffective manner. The same problem occurred with chart information. If the dentist wanted to read the previous appointment notes or review the treatment plan he had to ask the assistant, in front of the patient, to do it for him. Or worse yet he had to get up and move to the other side of the room, break asepsis, and do it, again in an ineffective manner.
The solution was a second input device on the doctor’s side of the room. This can be any type of input; we used a pen and tablet, a touch pad and even a wireless infrared keyboard. However we found what really worked well was a simple mouse.
In recent years the introduction of inexpensive and reliable wireless mice and keyboards has made this easier to accomplish.

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I received an e-mail from Tom Block regarding a new ultra small computer he has been putting in dental offices. You can read what he has to say below and contact him at www.blockdata.net [1]

“These are awesome and very versatile machines, I think they will transform dental computing in the near future. We have them installed in four different offices to date and our clients love the size and mounting options.  Plus they are just plain cool (literally) at 95 Watts.
We did a show special featuring the 945-D with slot loading DVD-RW, Intel 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo CPU 667MHz FSB, Intel 945 Chipset, 2GB DDR-2 SODIMM 667MHz RAM, 80GB HDD, and XP Pro for $999.00.”
 

[1] http://www.blockdata.net/

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Hard Drive: The hard drive is the main storage memory of the computer. Hard drive storage is measured in Gigabytes or GBs. In computer talk this is called a gig. The higher the GB of the hard drive the more total storage you have.
Random Access Memory: This is abbreviated as RAM. RAM was measured in Megabytes, or MB. New computers are now available with 1000MB which is a gigabyte. RAM is the active memory a computer has to process or manipulate data. The higher the RAM number the more memory is available. More RAM will allow you to do more things on the computer simultaneously and faster. Having too little RAM is a common cause of computer freezes or crashes. If this happens then you use the alternative RAM definition, Rarely Adequate Memory.
The two kinds of memory or storage confuse some people. A useful analogy is to think in terms of books. The hard drive storage is the total data you have available. It is like all the books you have on the shelves. The more shelves you have the more hard drive storage you have. The RAM memory is the book you have taken off the shelf and are currently reading. RAM is like your desk, the bigger the desk the more books you can keep open on it.

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Product Overview
Revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper. Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing. Wireless connectivity enables you to shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle—whether you’re in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed. Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute. More than 88,000 books available, including 100 of 112 current New York Times® Best Sellers. New York Times® Best Sellers and all New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise. Free book samples. Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy. Top U.S. newspapers including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post; top magazines including TIME, Atlantic Monthly, and Forbes—all auto-delivered wirelessly. Top international newspapers from France, Germany, and Ireland; Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine, and The Irish Times. More than 250 top blogs from the worlds of business, technology, sports, entertainment, and politics, including BoingBoing, Slashdot, TechCrunch, ESPN’s Bill Simmons, The Onion, Michelle Malkin, and The Huffington Post. Lighter and thinner than a typical paperback; weighs only 10.3 ounces. Holds over 200 titles. Long battery life. Leave wireless on and recharge approximately every other day. Turn wireless off and read for a week or more before recharging. Fully recharges in 2 hours. Unlike WiFi, Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phones—so you never have to locate a hotspot. No monthly wireless bills, service plans, or commitments—we take care of the wireless delivery so you can simply click, buy, and read. Includes free wireless access to the planet’s most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia—Wikipedia.org. Email your Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG) to Kindle for easy on-the-go viewing.
Amazon.com: Kindle: Amazon’s New Wireless Reading Device: Kindle Store [1].

[1] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FI73MA/ref=amb_link_5873612_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=gateway-center-column&pf_rd_r=1JESB8VZS5M4K04KP3NB&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=329252801&pf_rd_i=507846

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The average computer user only becomes aware of his or her hard drive in two circumstances: When it fills, or when it fails.
Hard Drives: Under the Hood [1].
Follow the link if you want to learn more.

[1] http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2214377,00.asp

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