Why not back up more as you plan ahead for the new year?

It’s that time of year again — time for the New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, get organized or take better care of ourselves. So why not add one to enhance your computing experience?

Just think, you can learn to recognize suspicious Web addresses, spring for a good chair or check your source before forwarding e-mails. Of course, there are the old standbys such as I’ll backup regularly, be religious about maintenance and occasionally clean up my files.

My personal favorite though, is: I’ll master what I just kind of know.

It’s easy to do the latter by asking questions, and the truth is that no matter what the question is (or how many times you need to ask) every question deserves a proper answer. Yet, here is where it gets iffy.

Quite often, the answers we are given are just downright stupid. I have actually seen computers that came with a CD showing how to set it up. It starts by explaining how to turn the computer on to run the CD.

I’m sure many of you have experienced Internet failures. Have you ever called your Internet service provider for help and been directed to their Web site for answers?

Answers sometimes can be found quickly, but wrong answers are of no use.

Always research suggestions to make sure they are solid. It is a good idea to ask help and advice. That’s how we learn.

It is even better to ask more than one person to see if you get the same answer. Good intentions can quickly turn into a costly mistake.

Keep in mind too that there are some things you need to understand about a computer, and some things you just need to accept. Sometimes we can over analyze a problem and cause even more harm. Here’s where we must always keep a humorous attitude.

If you need to find some levity during moments of frustration, go to the Internet. It’s loaded with Web sites on computer humor and silly questions. The all-time classic asks why does my computer come with a coffee holder (referring to the CD tray).

Or do I need a printer to print something? No, you can also use an alternative program such as PAPER.exe and PENCIL.exe.

It is my hope that you find useful and interesting information in my column. I try to incorporate your questions and concerns.

Why not make it a resolution to let me hear from you.

I’d like to start the New Year off with some reminders from the Internet of days gone by. Do you remember when …

An application was for employment. A keyboard was on a piano.

Memory was something that you lost with age. A CD was a bank account.

The web was a spider’s home. A hard drive was a long trip on the road

Cut you did with a pocketknife. Paste you did with glue. And a copy was done with carbon paper?

Do the best you can this year and have some fun.

Remember the computer is here to make your life easier.