Newsletters

Here's a great site I found called LetterPop. It allows you to easily (very easily!) create a newsletter that you can send to your patients. The service is free for at least a year, and so far, I like what I see.

Arm Rests

Most of us (myself included) have terrible posture and positioning when it comes to using our computer mice. I found a nice site online, Ergo-Items.com, that has a bunch of really practical arm rests. The Endurance Armrest is on my short list of potential armrests to purchase.

Speeding Up XP

I found this on an excellent site that I recommend you sign up for (it's free) called TechRepublic. Here are some hacks they suggest for speeding up XP. It's a bit technical but you should see some nice speed increases:

Creating and marketing tuning and customization utilities for the Windows
XP operating system is quickly becoming big business. A Google search will
turn up hundreds of sites and programs dedicated to tweaking Windows XP.
But no matter what type of interface is developed to make system tweaking
easier and safer for the average user, the end result is that the changes are
reflected in XP by modifying the Registry. For some people, commercial
tweaking utilities might be the method of choice, but with a few precautions
and safeguards it’s possible to enhance system performance using only
those tools supplied with Windows XP.

Make sure you back up your Registry no matter how comfortable you are editing the thing.

No single tweak is going to take an ancient PC and turn it into a gamer’s
dream machine. It’s even unlikely that a number of tweaks will achieve substantial
performance gains, but every little bit does help. As long as you keep
your expectations realistic, you’ll learn something about the Registry and
hopefully see a performance increase in the process.

Menu Speed

When XP first appeared, there was a lot of conversation about the new interface,
both good and bad. In spite of the initial complaints, most users stick
with the default settings rather than reverting to the Classic interface found
in previous Windows versions. But you might want to change the delay you
notice when you click the Start menu. I see no reason for there to be any
delay when I click the Start menu. Effects are pretty, but I wouldn’t click it if
I didn’t have business inside, so let’s get it open and get moving. The default
speed can be adjusted with a quick Registry hack.
Go to the Registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\
MenuShowDelay. The default value is 400. Set it to 0 to remove the delay
completely, but if you do that it will be nearly impossible to move the
mouse fast enough not to activate All Programs if you mouse over it en
route to your final selection. Pick a number that suits your style, make the
change, and then test it until you find a good compromise between speed
and usability.

Place Windows Kernel into RAM

It’s a given that anything that runs in RAM will be faster than an item that
has to access the hard drive and virtual memory. Rather than have the kernel
that is the foundation of XP using the slower Paging Executive functions,
use this hack to create and set the DisablePagingExecutive DWORD to a
value of 1.
Perform this hack only if the system has 256MB or more of
installed RAM!
Edit the Registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\DisablePagingExecutive to 1 to
disable paging and have the kernel run in RAM (set the value to 0 to undo
this hack). Exit the Registry and reboot.

Alter Prefetch Parameters

Prefetching (the reading of system boot files into a cache for faster loading) is
a commonly overlooked component that can have a significant impact on
system boot time. This tweak allows you to select which components will
make use of the prefetch parameters. To see which files are gathered using
each setting, clear the prefetch cache located at C:\Windows\Prefetch and
then enable one of the settings listed in this hack. Clear the cache and repeat
for each setting.
Set the Registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\
Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters\EnablePrefetcher
to 0 to disable prefetching, 1 to prefetch application launch files, 2 to
prefetch boot files, or 3 to prefetch as many files as possible.

Disable 8.3 Name Creation in NTFS

Files that use the 8.3 naming convention can degrade NTFS drive performance.
Unless you have a good reason for keeping the 8.3 naming convention
intact (such as if you’re using 16-bit programs), a performance gain can
be achieved by disabling it.
Set the Registry DWORD key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\FileSystem\NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation to 1. Exit the Registry
and reboot.

Wireless Power?

The CES show, which starts January 8th in Las Vegas, is where the major announcements are made for technology for the upcoming year. The hottest technology that I'm interested in is the new eCoupled wireless power technology. Basically, it plans to eliminate the need for all power cables and cords for mobile devices by using a shared magnetic field. Very high tech but extremely promising.

WebOs

In a recent post, I talked about a nice web operating system called Desktoptwo. There are currently at least 10 web OS's out there, and here's a good review of them. I really like the Goowy one. It's important to realize that with their minimal overhead and easy configuration, these operating systems could very well be the future of computing, so keep an eye on them in the coming years.

Online Photo Editing

Sure, there are plenty of high-end photo editors like PhotoShop. But, what if you just need to do some simple editing and don't want to pay for it? Browse on over to Pixer and check out their online editor. Upload your photo, edit, and save the new image...nice and quick.

Choosing an HDTV

I know that many of you are shopping for High Def TV's this Christmas season. Here's a great primer on HDTV and the things you may not know that you'll need to consider as you choose a system.

Most Useful SItes

PC World has released their list of the Web's Most Useful Sites. This is an excellent review and includes many sites and applications that are new to me.

New Thinkpad

I've been using a Lenovo X60s for about a year and absolutely love it...less than 3 lbs, large 12" screen, built-in EV-DO wireless networking, etc. I've been waiting patiently for the Tablet version of this laptop and they have finally released the X60t this week. You can read about this laptop here. This may be my next computer as it's something I can easily take when I travel to other offices.

Turn It Off

Many of you may know that in Windows, there are many programs running in the background that start automatically when you reboot. These are called Services. What you may not know is that a large number of these are totally unnecessary for most users. Not only do these services slow down your system, they can be targeted by exploits that attack your system.

Here's a great site that not only walks you through how to find these Services, but has a review of every one and a recommendation on whether you should disable it or not.

A Different Sound

With all the fuss about the competition between Internet Explorer and Firefox, there are some other really good browsers that get lost in the shuffle. One of the best that has been a real innovator is Opera. Their latest version has antiphishing security and works on almost any mobile phone. You can see the list of features right here. Of course, it's perfectly free.

Lightyear Update

I had a nice chat today with my contacts at Dent-X, the new owner of Lightyear, and my overall impression is that this may end being good for Lightyear users. While Lightyear remains a legal entity, they have stopped doing business. Dent-X is not obligated to support Lightyear customers, but they will be offering a free year of support...very generous of them. They won't be providing sensor support of Lightyear's old sensors, but that should be provided directly by Suni. I've heard from a couple of our clients that Suni was not offering support to Lightyear customers, but hopefully they will change their mind as they really should support their own hardware. If you're a Lightyear customer and need to replace your sensors, going with Dent-X's Eva sensor would make far more sense that sticking with the older, unsupported Suni sensors.

I know the folks at Dent-X and believe they will do whatever they can to make the transition a smooth one for existing customers. Stay tuned for more...

You Can Take It With You

One of the difficult things with computers is that you can customize the desktop to look exactly the way you want...but that's only good for that specific computer. Well, DesktopTwo aims to change that. DesktopTwo is a free web-based desktop that mimics the look, feel and functionality of a local computer, all contained within one browser window and fully accessible from any Internet-connected device. Of course, it's completely free and you get 1 GB of storage. Check it out.

Norton Removal

As many of you know by now, I'm not a huge fan of Norton's software, as they tend to slow down systems and cause problems with PMS programs like Dentrix. I've tried to uninstall it before but it seems to create more problems. Well, Norton's has developed their own software to remove their programs from your system. You can read about the software and download it here.

Waste of Time

PC World has posted a list of their 15 Best Places to Waste Time on the Web. I've spent time on many of these sites and completely agree!

Medical Grade Keyboards

Just heard about these very nice keyboards called Medigenic. They were developed for hospital environments, but would seem to work well for dental ops also. At $299, they aren't cheap but the price is about what I expected.

Speed Test

A few days ago, I posted a tip on how you can increase your bandwidth and it seems to work for many people. However, lots of folks don't know how to test their speed, which I always recommend as many ISPs do not provide the speed they advertise. My favorite site by a long shot is SpeedTest, which has a nice graphical display of your speed, can save your results, and allows you to send the results to others. Very slick and of course, completely free.

Lightyear is Gone

Many of you may recall a post I made back in August where I predicted that Lightyear would cease to exist by Thanksgiving. Well, I was off by a few weeks, but it looks like that prediction came true. If you go to Lightyear's website (http://www.lightyeardirect.com/), it takes you to a new website for AFP Digital. AFP is the parent company of Dent-X and their Eva sensors. Although there's been no official announcement, it appears that AFP bought out Lightyear and changed the name to AFP Digital. On the new website, I only see images of the Eva sensor (and the Claris camera, which is my favorite intraoral camera). I'll post more news as it becomes available, as there's been no announcement on how this will affect current Lightyear customers.

Vista Security

One of the features being touted about the new version of Windows, Vista, is the increased security. The question remains, though, whether it's a lot better than what we already have with XP SP2. The LA Times has a good article on their website about how Vista will handle security and how it will affect you decision to get Vista.

Free At Last

I'm always on the lookout for great free software, and I'm especially happy when I find sites that put together a nice list for me. Here's a great site that lists tons of free programs, divided into categories. I've tried many of these programs myself.

Increase your Bandwidth by 20%

I found this on another website. I've cleaned up the language as it was a bit, uh, raw, so here is the edited version. This is a great step to increase your download speed by up to 20% with one simple setting:

Did you know Microsoft reserves 20% of your maximum bandwidth for their own use? Such as Windows Update and of course interrogating your PC. Well as you can imagine this takes a huge chunk of bandwidth that you could be using to download other things. Note: The Microsoft Operating Systems that I know this works on are as follows; Windows XP Professional SP2, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows Media Center Edition, and Windows Server 2003.

Well now you know Microsoft limits your bandwidth, what are you going to do about it? Well I hope that you’ll read the following text:

Click Start>RunType “gpedit.msc” (no quotes)
Click Local Computer Policy>Computer Configuration>Administrative Templates>Network>QoS Packet Scheduler>Limit Reservable Bandwidth

It will say that it is not configured, this however is a lie! The truth you seek is under the ‘Explain’ tab:“If you disable this setting or do not configure it, the system uses the default value of 20 percent of the connection.”Now click back over to the ‘Setting’ tab and enable it, then set the value to 0.
And there you have it, your connection should go a lot faster.

You also may have to restart your PC for the changes to take affect, not sure though

On the Go

Here's a fun item for the weekend: probably the coolest travel toothbrush I've ever seen. Definitely plan to order this!

Smile Channel 2007

Here's the press release from Patterson:

Patterson Dental Releases CAESY Smile Channel DVD 2007
Enhanced reception area program educates, entertains patients with new and updated
multimedia presentations

ST. PAUL, Minn. – (December 7, 2006) – Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. announces the release of CAESY Smile Channel DVD 2007, the newest version of the engaging reception area program designed to educate and motivate patients on a variety of topics related to their oral health.

With six new and 14 updated presentations, Smile Channel DVD 2007 increases patients’ comprehension of general dental care and esthetic dentistry. New programs include DentLine, showcasing in-depth news reports that explore hot topics in dentistry, and Did You Know, a presentation series that provides quick clips of valuable health information. Two additional programs accompany the latest edition of Smile Channel; Hayley, featuring educational interviews in a talk show format, and Science in Dentistry, which answers patient questions and explains the science behind proper oral hygiene. Smile Channel’s Direct Access menu enables users to quickly find and play presentations, easily providing customized content for each patient.

CAESY Education Systems has been dentistry’s premier developer of leading-edge patient education technology and content since 1993. CAESY was acquired by Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. in May 2004. The award-winning multimedia information on preventive, restorative and esthetic treatment options helps dental practices worldwide educate their patients and grow their practices. The CAESY content is distributed via video and computer networks or DVD players throughout the clinical and reception areas of the dental practice. The family of products includes CAESY DVD, Smile Channel DVD, CAESY Printables, CAESY Pediatrics, CAESY Online, and CAESY Enterprise, which includes CAESY, Smile Channel and ShowCase. For more information, visit www.caesy.com or call 1-800-444-6035.

Best Gadgets of 2006

CruchGear has released their Best Gadgets of 2006. I'm embarrassed to say that I own over 1/2 of these! Some great ideas if you're looking for Holiday gifts.

Taking The Plunge

I know that many of you are planning to upgrade to Windows Vista when it comes out in January (and, if you're buying a new computer, you won't have a choice). CNET has posted an excellent review of 10 Things to Consider Before Taking the Vista Plunge. A good but important read.

Use It Longer

If you travel with a laptop, you know how precious that battery life can be, especially if you have a long trip ahead of you. I found a great article on this site that gives you ten tips to extend the battery life of your laptop. Good advice all around.

One Size Fits All

Dentsply has announced a new disposable x-ray holder called the Uni-Grip. Unlike almost every other holder on the market, this holder works with sensors, film, and phosphor plates. From their website:

Taking x-rays, whether with film, phosphor plates or digital sensors, just got simpler with the Uni-Grip Universal Disposable Radiography Holder. Unlike other disposable holders on the market, which require multiple units to perform a full mouth x-ray series, with Uni-Grip, you only need ONE. One Uni-Grip does it all - anterior, posterior and bitewings.

UNIVERSAL - Accommodates ANY #1 or #2 sized digital sensor, film or phosphor plate
EASY - Attaches in seconds
FAST - Reposition by simply adjusting the moveable bitepiece
ACCURATE - Bitepiece channels are color coded to ensure correct positioning
COMFORTABLE - Compact size and rounded corners are easy on the patient

Template Heaven

If you use Microsoft Office as often as I do, you know how tough it can be to create forms and documents to use in your practice. Did you know that there are literally thousands of pre-designed templates already created? You can find them on Microsoft's site, but here's a nice list of 250 Free Office Templates broken down by category to help you find the right ones.

New Endo Tool From Air Techniques

Got this from Air Techniques today. This is their description of it:

RinsEndo is an endodontic handpiece that automatically delivers medicament to a reamed canal allowing for more efficient and effective debridement all the way to the apex and around curvature. Simply hook up to your existing air line with the corresponding coupler (Kavo, W&H, Sirona, Star, Midwest, and a generic 4-hole are all available) and you are ready to go. It is a very cool tool for an endodontist or even a GP who is considering root canal therapy or would like to increase the amount they are doing. I am attaching a sheet that explains this in better detail than me.

Being There When You're Not

Almost every office that we set up gets an enterprise version of VNC, a remote access program that allows our techs to log into a network and troubleshoot. However, if you want to do-it-yourself, setting it up can be a bit tricky as you'll need to forward the correct ports and perhaps set up a DNS service. Is there an easier way? Absolutely. Go on over to LogMeIn and download their free program. You'll need to set it up on one "host" computer and install a small file on the remote computer, but once you've done this, you'll be able to access one of your office computers from anywhere in the world that has Internet access. You'll also be able to access your home computer from the office if you want...the computer you want to access is the "host" and the computer you are accessing it from is the "remote". Did I mention it's free??