This week Foster Braun, Ed Rudel, Cal Carson and Vince Chmielewski will be in the studios to tackle  your computer and Internet questions.

We also feature two very special non-profit websites: The Wellness Community of Southeast Michigan aimed at helping cancer patients and their families and The Sarcoma Alliance for Research through Collaboration , that provides the infrastructure for collaboration between the health professionals around the globe who are developing new standards for dealing with sarcoma.  Vince was instrumental in developing both these websites as he has been in creating ours.

And of course we count on Erik Anderson to take a few Mac Minutes to talk about launch of the iPad, Apple’s long anticipated touch screen tablet earlier this week.

Links From The Show
Gizmodo article on the Apple iPad

Podcast: January 30, 2010 – Hour 1
Podcast: January 30, 2010 – Hour 2

It was the most expected surprise in recent memory, but Wednesday morning in San Francisco, Apple launched what some feel will be the next “game changing” device, the iPad starting at $500 for the 16 Gig base model (there are a total of 6 models some of which will run 3G and all will connect through WiFi) and it will be available in 90 days.  Watch the complete launch on CNET.

The big question of the day is: In a bad economy, is there really a place for a luxury device like the iPad that combines functions of already existing devices?  Remember that all that is Apple does not necessarily turn to gold…anyone remember the Apple Newton, Apple TV or Apple MacBook Air?

We are very proud to announce that Erik Anderson (aka Big Red, Mac Boy etc.) our very own producer, helped Oakland University take home an unprecedented FOUR Michigan Association of Broadcaster Awards for 2009.  Erik’s crew at WXOU helped garner: 1st place in News, 2nd place in Sports Play-by-play, 2nd place in Station Activities for the year and honorable mention in the Air Check category.  Congratulations Erik and all the members of Oakland University’s WXOU.

Starting, Jan 20^th 2010, Comcast high-speed Internet customers can download Norton Security for free at www.comcast.net/security on a PC or Mac. Commercial customers can also download Norton Security Suite Business Edition at businessclass.comcast.net. The residential package is valued at $160 while the business offering usually sells for $490. Comcast has removed McAfee as parts of its Comcast Constant Guard initiative. Ed Rudel

CNN reports that text messages from deep inside the rubble of a bank brought searchers back to the building to look for the lost amid the rubble.  Elsewhere “lower tech” ham radios are serving as  vital link to the outside world when more cutting edge Internet connections are down.  Ed Rudel

We’re baaaaack!!! The Internet Advisor team is back in action to answer your questions. Lots of time to answer all those questions you didn’t get into the forum during the week.

Podcast: January 23, 2010 – Hour 1
Podcast: January 23, 2010 – Hour 2

Take control of Windows Startup programs with the Startup Delayer utility.

This free utility works with most versions of Windows, Including Windows 7, Vista, and XP.  What makes Startup Delayer special is that it allows you to delay or postpone some or all of these startup programs from running and allowing your Windows Desktop display much quicker.

As you install software onto your computer some of the software will start slowing down the startup time and even the performance of your Personal Computer.  The more programs you install, the slower your system may become.  Many software programs force Windows to load (run) parts (or even then entire program) at startup.  I read a great analogy of this some time ago – Imagine cars trying to merge into a single traffic lane, all at once – each car (or program) trying to be the first in line.

Startup Delayer provides a simple interface and list all of the programs that are configured to run when Windows starts.  On the bottom of the screen is a time line bar.  By default, all of the listed items will attempt to startup at timeline position 0:00:00.  Simply drag and drop startup items from the list onto timeline (to the right of 0:00:00).

For example –

1. I configure my Microsoft communicator (instant messenger), Backup software, I-Tune software, and Java and Adobe update utilities  to delay between 4-5 minutes after Windows starts.
2. Security programs I did not attempt to schedule.  We want Antirus, AntiSpyware, and Firewall software to protect our computer as soon as possible.
3. I configured Wireless software, Hotkeys, and VPN software to startup in the first 30 seconds.  Some programs, like the Apple QuickTime Task bar icon, will not allow you to delay startup and will re-add themselves to the Windows startup at timeline 0:00:00.  Not to worry, this utility will notify you of this obnoxious behavior and inform you of configuration options.
4.  Some utilities like the Adobe download manager or HP Updates I just disabled from starting up at all.

These simple changes decreased my startup time by 30 seconds.  Now, I don’t have to stare at a blank screen with no desktop icons for 30 seconds - In my book that is a definite plus.
Download the Free Startup Delayer from PC World.

It’s Detroit’s annual moment in the spotlight and this year there is a hopeful buzz surrounding the show.  Visit this site for daily updates. This week the world’s auto pundits will weigh the recovery and the future of Detroit’s once proud auto industry.

Ed Rudel, Cal Carson, Vince Chmielewski and Erik Anderson put on their problem solving hats to handle your computer and Internet questions. 

Links From The Show
About.com review of Mac Anti-Virus programs.

Podcast: January 9, 2010 – Hour 1
Podcast: January 9, 2010 – Hour 2
Podcast: January 9, 2010 – Hour 3

Pity poor Google.  They are just the 500 lb. gorilla of the Internet and when they try and launch a cool new smartphone, the Nexus One, they look like the local high school sophomore chemistry class trying to explain a really cool experiment they did!  Oh well, we can’t all be as cool as Apple when it launches game-changing technology, but just for the record they are calling it a “superphone” so there is not confusion with the “smartphones” like the iPhone and/or Blackberry products, etc.  Full press conference