SPRING CARCAREFOCUSVehicle maintenance a smart economic investment

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 17 March 2009 14:05

CarCare.jpg As any vehicle ages, routine maintenance and upkeep become increasingly important, not only for a vehicle’s longevity, but also for its efficiency and safety.

With challenging economic factors, many consumers are making tough financial decisions, including postponing or canceling plans to buy a new vehicle.

The typical vehicle on American roads is now a record 9 years old, according to a recent report by R.L. Polk & Co.

As any vehicle ages, routine maintenance and upkeep become increasingly important, not only for a vehicle’s longevity, but also for its efficiency and safety.

After their homes, most Americans’ second-largest financial investment is their vehicle, so helping it stay in good...

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You can navigate the changes in TV technology

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 12 August 2008 15:28

digital-transition.jpg Flat-screen high-deinition televisions are the cutting edge for home entertainment.

By now nearly everyone has heard something about the digital TV transition set to take place on Feb. 17. That’s the day when all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will cease broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting solely in digital.

That’s less than a year away—so now is the time to start thinking about how the switch will affect you. Will you choose to get a converter box or will you take advantage of this opportunity and step up to the amazing picture of a high definition TV with a built-in digital tuner?

While the change to all-digital TV might sound a little scary to some people, the...

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Be aware of tech theft threat at school and in dormitories

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 12 August 2008 15:25

Today’s students gear up for back-to-school season by stocking up on expensive technology, from MP3 players to laptops. However, most students are unaware that dorm rooms and schools are some of the most dangerous places to store precious electronic equipment.

Dormitories and schools are among the top five places from which laptops are most likely to be stolen, reports Absolute Software, a firm specializing in computer theft recovery, data protection and asset tracking.

“Students have a false sense of security on campus,” said John Livingston, chief executive officer of Absolute Software. “Many students are bringing thousands of dollars of electronic equipment into their dorm rooms with little to no security precautions. It’s...

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Databases provide useful resources for family research

Written by Malinda Just Wednesday, 08 August 2007 05:18

P1010741.JPG Art Crocker uses his laptop to research his family’s genealogy. “It’s interesting, the different little pieces you come up with,” Crocker said. “It’s like playing detective in a sense.” Malinda Just / Free Press. 

The story is straight out of Art Crocker’s family history. Crocker, Hillsboro, a hobbiest of genealogy research has discovered interesting pieces of information about his family since beginning his research in 1999.

“It’s interesting, the different little pieces you come up with,” he said. “It’s like playing detective in a sense.”

As a “detective,” Crocker uses a wide variety of available technology to discover new tid-bits of information. For example, he uses Web site geared...

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