Apps, Operating Systems (Windows, MacOS, Linux), or pro level software.
Software
Does Office come with Windows?
Episode 1558
John fromJohn wants to know if Microsoft Office comes with WIndows. Leo says it doesn't, but there's an open source option called Libre Office, which is free, and will do most of what MS Office does, including reading all office document files. Bying Office is very expensive, but you can do a monthly subscription rate, which is about $100 a year for Office Home. It's the most affordable solution.
Is there an alternative to Dragon Naturally Speaking?
Episode 1551
Chuck fromChuck is using Dragon Naturally Speaking on the Mac, but he just found out that Dragon is discontinuing support for Mac. What are his alternatives? Leo says that Windows and Mac both have voice recognition and dictation now, so it may be that they discontinued it because the market is drying up. Google is also doing this. Sadly, it won't have nearly as many voice features as Dragon did. One thing he could do is use the Windows version and dual boot his Mac as a Windows machine using BootCamp.
Why is the formatting different in Word for Mac?
Episode 1551
Katie fromKatie edits her student's papers using Microsoft Word on a Mac, and now after a new update, the formatting is all screwed up in a Windows version of Word. Leo says that in theory, Office should be the same cross-platform. That's the point. But it's possible that typefaces may not be compatible in Windows that are in Mac, and vice versa. Her printer setup may also throw off the formatting. Office formats the document to look as it does on the printed page, and if she got a new printer, that could alter the format. So she should change it to a generic printer format.
How do I log into a Windows computer when the desktop isn't available?
Episode 1550
Josh fromJohn's mom recently passed away and had an old laptop. But when he turns it on, he gets an error "desktop not available." Leo says it's likely that the profile may have gotten corrupted, or is non-existent. Since she's been automatically logging in, that's where the error pops up. But there could be a hidden administrator account with permissions to take over all features. He can Google how to access that. Once he does, he should get the data out of it immediately. Then he should wipe the drive and start over.
Why aren't my files syncing properly?
Episode 1548
Roy fromRoy uses Google Drive and DropBox, but he's having issues with syncing folders to his other services. Leo says to check which folders are synced in the settings. He can also look at a third party service like ODrive. It will do all the syncing and will even merge all of his backup options except for Apple iCloud. He can also use a network attached storage device, which will also have a sync utility.
Why does Windows want me to reactivate?
Episode 1548
Steven fromSteven keeps getting a message that he needs to reactivate Windows. He keeps putting the product number in, and he keeps getting told to reactivate. Leo says he shouldn't need to at all, since it's Windows 10. Once the computer is authorized, it never needs to be authorized again. But it sounds like Microsoft keeps track of location information, and since Steven moved, maybe it's confused and is deactivating it. He'll need to contact Microsoft to solve this one.
What's a good email client for IMAP?
Episode 1548
Terry fromTerry got a new Mac for an early Christmas present and is waiting awhile to reinstall stuff. Leo says that's a good idea. It's much better to only install new programs as needed. Every program he installs is a potential security risk, so he should install as little as possible.
What's a good alternative for Quicken?
Episode 1544
Greg fromGreg would like an alternative to Quicken. He doesn't like the subscription service, and is tired of buying upgrades. He would prefer a Mac option that Turbo Tax will support. Leo says that he thinks Intuit wants everyone to move towards Mint, which is free. Mint automatically imports bank and credit card information. It does a great job categorizing as well. There's an open source app called Money Manager EX, which Leo says is designed for those looking to leave Quicken.
How can I transfer my hard drive data to an new drive?
Episode 1542
Jim fromJim is getting a new hard drive to replace his old one. How can he transfer everything over? Leo says that his hard drive will come with an app that will enable him to make a bit-for-bit, sector-by-sector copy from the old drive to the new drive. But Leo also recommends getting an SSD for his OS and programs, and then use a standard spinning hard drive for his data.
Can I put Windows 10 on two hard drives in the same computer?
Episode 1542
Paul fromPaul wants to install Windows 10 on two separate hard drives he has in his laptop. Can he? Leo says sure. Windows 10 is entitled to the computer, not the user, so whether it's on the C, D or both drives is irrelevant. He's only booting to one drive at a time.
