Question: Sandra asks, "How do I know if I have 32 or 64-bit Windows 7?"
Answer: Great question Sandra. This is a question that comes up a lot when you are setting up a new computer using your old printers, cameras, and other devices. Remember that if you have 32-bit Windows, you need 32-bit drivers. If you have 64-bit Windows, you need 64-bit drivers. They've got to match. If you find yourself having to download a driver from a website like HP.com, you'll have to know what your Windows bit size is. To find out, click the Start button, then right-click Computer and left-click the Properties option. Another way to get there is to click Start, then click Control Panel, then System and Security, then System. From there, look for the words "System Type." Whatever follows those words answers the 32 or 64 bit question.
Cool Site: GalaxyZoo: This week's cool site is GalaxyZoo. Want to see some really awesome pictures from the Hubble telescope? Check out this site. Hubble has generated so many pictures, Astronomers need your help. The site has Hubble Space Telescope pictures that include pictures of many galaxies. These galaxies each have a characteristic shape, which tells a lot about star formation within the galaxy. People are better at discovering strange things and classifying galaxy shapes than computers are; and they've noticed that your classifications of the galaxy shapes are just as good as those completed by professional astronomers. You can help by classifying the galaxy pictures, and in the meantime you'll find out what things are important to astronomers. You'll find a blog at the site, a forum, a media section which links to press releases and articles related to the site, and a couple of sections on "the story so far" and "the science". Finally, there’s a "How To Take Part" section that tells you how you can be a part of the classification effort. Check it out, see if you can help.
Cool Gadget: DAK PC Interface Mixer: Do you remember the DAK catalog? I used to get that thing all the time. In fact, my first CD player and a tape deck I still have came from that catalog. Well, that catalog has gone online, at dak.com and while I was looking for a good USB turntable for the gadget, I ran across "13 reasons not to buy a USB turntable" and had to check it out. See, vinyl LPs are back, and in a big way! But whatever old albums you have are full of pops and scratches. The Interface Mixer lets you connect a record player to your computer to record your albums to MP3 files. While you're at it, you can remove pops and scratches in the music, separate the tracks, do a timed recording, burn CD's with no pauses between songs, tag the MP3 files as a batch, and remove talking and applause from the recordings you make. It seems pretty awesome. Besides that, you can use the interface mixer to make MP3s from cassette tapes too. Just connect a tape deck instead of a turntable. Anyway, it's pretty cool and you can get it in a package with a turntable, too for around $70.00.
It's All "Geek" To Me: Piracy: This week's word is Piracy. This happens whenever someone installs and uses commercial software that they haven't paid for. Copying music or games to disc and then giving it to friends to install is a form of stealing. Now, some types of software: freeware, shareware for instance, can be copied and shared freely, but commercial software shouldn't. But by far, the most common type of piracy is buying one copy of a program and installing it on all the computers you own.
