Large-Font Printing

Q.  I’m using the Firefox browser, thanks to your recommendation, Mr. M., but can you tell me how I can print Web pages using a larger font than normal?

A. The process is virtually identical for most browsers, including Firefox, Internet Explorer and Netscape. Click File > Print Preview, then locate and adjust the percentage scale accordingly. Try 125 percent for starters. The larger the font, the more skewed the printed page may appear, but try a few different percentage increases and see what best suits your peepers.

Q.  I was shopping for a new monitor and the clerk in the store kept mentioning the contrast ratio. I didn’t want to sound more ignorant than I am, so I didn’t ask him to explain. What is the contrast ratio and is it important when purchasing a new monitor?

A.  Contrast ratio is a numerical value used to measure the luminance difference between your brightest whites and darkest blacks, with just a hint of lemony freshness.

The contrast ratio will be listed as y:z where ‘y’ is the brightest white and ‘z’ is the darkest black. If you’re monitor shopping, keep in mind that a higher number, such as 600:1 or even 1000:1, will result in a significantly brighter display, which is desirable.

Q.  When I click an email link on a Web site, I get a message that says, “Can’t perform operation because default mail client is not properly installed.” How can I set up my Gmail so that it opens automatically? 

A. You’re receiving that message because Gmail (www.gmail.com) is Web-based email, not “client” software. If you were using Outlook Express, Thunderbird, or Eudora, for example, those are programs that can be designated as your default mail client. The word “client” within this context refers to software that resides on your computer as opposed to residing on a server or other remote location.

There is, however, a program called the Gmail Notifier (http://tinyurl.com/2egw2q) that will resolve this issue. Once you download the application, right-click its icon in your System Tray (near the time display) and select Options. Check the box next to “Use Gmail for Internet mailto: links,” followed by OK.  As with everything associated with Gmail, which is itself a beta product, the Gmail Notifier is available as a beta-test version, which means it’s a work-in-progress, though it does work quite well.

Mr. Modem’s Sites of the Week:
Big Eye in the Sky
Ed Fink may be the first photographer to have developed the art of full spherical panoramic photographs, taken from a helicopter. He leans out of the aircraft (it makes me queasy just thinking about it), shoots his photos, stitches them together in a 360-degree panorama, and displays his work on his Web site. A fast computer and broadband (high-speed) Internet access are required for best viewing, but even dial-up users can enjoy this site, with a little patience.
www.bigeyeinthesky.com

Within These Walls
This online exhibit is available courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. It focuses on one house in Ipswich, Massachusetts, and the five families that called it home between 1757 and 1945. Travel back in time and learn about the Choate, Dodge, Caldwell, Lynch and Scott families, and the unique circumstances and times in which each household existed. Each family has its own section complete with artifacts, biographies, and a virtual tour of their home. 
www.americanhistory.si.edu/house

For plain-English answers to your questions by email, plus useful PC tips, subscribe to Mr. Modem’s Weekly Newsletter. For information, visit www.MrModem.com.

Technorati Tags: Computers, Mr. Modem, Technology