Dear Thor,
What is the difference between an image scanner and a text scanner?
An image scanner allows you to scan a document and read it later, but you can’t edit it. On the other hand, if your saved file is a text document, then you can change it. Even more important, you can do a word search. Let’s say you have all your files stored the traditional way. A prior client wants you to pull his note and see if there is a prepayment penalty. If you have your closed loans stored as text documents, then you can do a search for the client’s name and scan his note electronically, instead of going to the storage bin and looking through boxes.
Much the same as a copy machine, the more you are willing to spend, the more speed and flexibility you get. An example of the super high speed is the Kodak i840 that lists for over $50,000. For something mid range, you can get a text scanner for about $800. This would be a commercial rated flatbed scanner, versus the handheld pen style word scanners that sell for about $50. You can also buy software that can convert a saved image file to a text file for $100 to $200 dollars. This software is analogous to speech recognition software that converts voice to text.
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Dear Thor,
What is open-source software?
You might think of open-source software as the next generation of freeware. It is free in the sense that not only the software itself, but also the source code that makes the software tick is openly available. This means that not only can you get a free copy of the software, but you can take the existing source code and build on it before passing it on to other users. Because everybody in the world has access to the code and the ability to expand and refine it, even if you’re not a programmer yourself, the software is destined to constantly improve. The software can be downloadable to operate on a computer or it can be an online program.
The open source model is proven to work: it spawned the operating system now called Linux. Another great example of how open-source software works is Wikipedia, the Internet-based encyclopedia. There are rules and procedures to follow, but anyone can add new information to the program. Or, when using the knowledge source, if you see something that is inaccurate or obsolete, you can edit or update the data. Not only does it keep growing, but it keeps getting better. And like open-source software, you’re free to copy and distribute Wikipedia articles if you include a copy of the license.
Much open source software available today is a workable alternative to expensive software. A prime example is the OpenOffice.org office suite. It has programs very similar to those in Microsoft Office. For instance, OpenOffice.org Writer is a word processing program and would be a counterpart to Microsoft Word. While they are similar, Writer has one distinct advantage: it can save documents in the Microsoft Word “.doc” format and in a generic format called OpenDocument. Word documents, on the other hand, can be saved only in the “.doc” file format, which might not be readable without a copy of Word. Other open source software programs available are Mozilla Firefox, which is a Web browser like Internet Explorer, and the GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), which can replace Adobe Photoshop.
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Dear Thor,
Why does my computer sometimes reboot itself?
If your computer is working normally, there are only two reasons for a reboot. One is when you initiate the reboot. This can be for several reasons. Some software installations require a reboot and part of the install routine will offer an option to reboot. This can be automatic if you have opted for automatic updates from Microsoft.
You might reboot simply because want to refresh your RAM (random access memory) by closing out partially running programs. Sometimes a program design flaw will cause what’s called a “memory leak,” where a program claims some of your computer’s memory for itself and then doesn’t give it back after it’s closed. Rebooting resets your memory, fixing the “leak.” Or, there could be a time when your computer freezes and a reboot is required. If it is so jammed that a normal restart won’t work, try holding down the on/off button.
The second reason for a reboot could be a result of a setting in your Control Panel that will automatically reboot your system any time your computer encounters an error. This is not a default setting and if it is turned on, I would turn it back off. Go to System, then Advanced. In the Startup and Recovery Settings you will see an option for Automatically Restart in the Recovery Settings. If it is checked, try deselecting it.