PC Mechanic, New Article

Posted: 27 Jan 2011 03:30 AM PST

scanner Why own a scanner? Simple answer: To scan in important documents. Namely, receipts. Receipts for everything. For the electronics you buy, for the service on your car, for when the ‘cable guy’ fixes your on-again/off-again internet connectivity – all of it.

A flatbed scanner is bulky but there’s really no way around that since it has to be big to put paper on. You’ll be more than happy to deal with the bulk however when all your receipts and other important documents are digitized as searchable files.

Cheap, and worth it

A flatbed scanner these days starts at around $60 new when ordered online, such as through NewEgg. All of them have ridiculously high DPI (they start at 2,400dpi) and ultra-high quality so all your scans will be super-crisp and clean every time you use it.

Connecting the scanner is super-easy because of USB, and for you greenies out there, the power consumption is next to nothing. When in use, it’s under 3 watts. During standby, under 2 watts.

Even better is the fact many scanners now are one-cable. One USB cable handles both the power and the data at the same time.

Believe me, it is worth it to get one to escape the sea of unorganized loose paper; you’ll be glad you did.

Need OCR?

You’re covered: http://www.freeocr.net/

Post from: PCMech. Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On And Live The Digital Lifestyle.

You Still Don’t Own A Scanner?

OpenOffice Or LibreOffice?

Posted: 27 Jan 2011 03:00 AM PST

oo33 I have been an OpenOffice.org user for years because I flat out refuse to pay hundreds of dollars for Microsoft Office, nor do I bother with a hacked/cracked copy of MS Office because since OpenOffice.org exists, there’s really no point to running a ‘broken’ version of MSO to begin with.

On Tuesday, LibreOffice 3.3 was officially launched. The same day, Openoffice.org 3.3 was released.

If you used both suites at the same time, this is what you’d think:

"Okay… the branding and icons are different.. the menus are the same.. both use the same file formats.. um.. what’s the difference here?"

In a nutshell, none; there is absolutely no significant advantage either offers over the other.

Which should you go with?

The deciding factor on which you should go with completely depends on something that has absolutely nothing to do with the software’s functionality at all:

Do you hate Oracle (the company)?

If the answer is yes, you use LibreOffice. If no, OpenOffice.org.

Yes, it does get that stupid.

There are those who are already saying that LO will at some point extend beyond what OO can do because of more open community involvement with the development of its future releases. Depending on your point of view, that will either be the kiss of death for LO right out of the gate, or it will result in something wonderful.

As for which I go with, it’s OpenOffice.org because I don’t care what it’s called, who makes it or how it’s made. All I want the stupid thing to do is work so I can work. OpenOffice.org works; that’s what I use.

OO 3.3 works great, by the way.

Post from: PCMech. Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On And Live The Digital Lifestyle.

OpenOffice Or LibreOffice?