Something to think about is offline access on the tablet. Dropbox (unless you mark something a favorite) and other "cloud" based storage solutions are problematic without network access. Since you have a file browser on Android you can store PDF's in a folder somewhere and access them easily.  I have an iPad and found GoodReader to be super handy for storing PDF's on the device directly.

I have the install CD/DVD's for software that's that's not free on the net or downloadable. For my data I use something called Karen's Replicator. With that, you define rules to copy files to a USB drive. It get the modified files only after the first run, so it's pretty quick. I keep everything really well organized. Pic in the My Pictures folders, music in the iTunes folder which is in My Music. etc etc. I have about 8 rules. One for my VirtualBox files and another for Outlook PST files . . . etc etc . .  So by running this tool weekly, I get a fast backup and a complete backup. One other nice feature is it will also sync file deletions. Delete a file on your computer, it deletes it from the USB drive. I don't enable that for all things. It's needed for the VirtualBox files though.

So, boot/reload windows, lay back the data directories and install the software. I can re-image my work/company laptop in about 2 hours and be fully able to work.

All this is why I do a Windows reinstall yearly. . . . . It's about the only way to really clean things up.

Norton and McAfee are both bloated beyond reason. They use too many resources (CPU/Memory) doing their job. A good anti-virus (malware) program should be unnoticeable. It should do it job, not ask any questions and be invisible. I have used them both along with AVG over the years.

I started using Microsoft Internet Security Essentials a year or more ago. It works, it's lightweight and you don't know it's there. So far it's the best I have found. It's also free.

I think it depends on your use. Ham radio dedicated laptop? General purpose, as in your full time computer?

Ahh OK. Thank You. I have mostly heard the term CW lately in reference to Morse Code. Thanks for the explanation.

Care to elaborate on that just a little? I am new to all this . . . I have had a license for a while but zero experience and I don't yet have an HF radio thought I am working on that.  If someone wants to buy a nice electric bass guitar I could get one faster But that's another problem.

Would lcwo.net be a good way to learn CW?

I am 49 years old, and trying to raise my involvement in Ham Radio. I recently upgraded to general and am planning on getting a HF rig sometime this year. I initially thought that I would not be interested in CW but after watching a CW only guy work during Field Day, I decided it would be good to learn.

I thought about getting Gordon Wests CD's http://amzn.to/N8yxGb

It seems lcwo.net and the CD's use different methods of learning?  I know there are several ways to learn so I guess I am looking for the "best" way to learn. I am willing to put in time and effort.

How have some of you learned? I know some learned in the military and before getting licensed before the no code era. What about some that learned it recently?

Wayne

I got my general right before field day also . . . . I used the Gordon West book and software.

I took the test to upgrade to General Saturday (2 days ago on 6/9). It's in the FCC database now! That only took 2 days.
 

Is this just a wire hanging out the window? Isn't there another "leg" somewhere? Counterpoise or something? Sorry I am not very knowledgable yet, just now studying for General test.

wayne

Boot times are a useless statistic in my opinion. It depends on so many factors. CPU speed, disk I/O speed and how many programs get started at boot time.

I leave my home desktop machine running 24x7. I like being able to walk in there a do something without having to boot it . . . The only real downside is it collects more dust and I have to clean it out several times a year. I don't buy the HD life thing any longer. It might have held water 15 years ago but I don't think it does any longer. I know it's a mechanical device and has a finite life, but I have seen drive go bad in months and drive last years.

The most important thing that people don't do is backup their data. I does not have to be a whole machine image but should be at least their data.

Windows does need a reboot every so often to "clean" things up. Win 7 less than previous versions in my experience. If you are careful about what you install and keep a pretty basic machine running, it will last longer without rebooting. But Windows Troubleshooting generally means a reboot as a first step.

Also you mentioned running for a few weeks then turning it off . . . You should really reboot Windows every couple days or so. I know some people don't like that but I have never seen a Windows box that would run decently for weeks and weeks without a reboot.

Did you run it a couple weeks without rebooting???

While I don't disagree with you, some have standards that are too high is all I was trying to say.