Dr. Gizmo: Image resolution explained; 'wandering mouse' equals virus

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Al Fasoldt's reviews and commentaries, continuously available online since 1983

Dr. Gizmo: Image resolution explained; a 'wandering mouse' means your Windows PC has a virus; can Linux PCs get the Klez?

Sept. 11, 2002

By Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2002, Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2002, The Post-Standard

   I recently took a digital photo to a local newspaper for publication. They said it could not be reproduced. Is it my camera (Olympus C2100) or all digital cameras? -- B.R, via AOL
   Newspapers need images of a certain minimum resolution in order to publish them. "Resolution" determines the amount of detail in a picture. Just as slow-speed videotape recordings seem to have less detail than high-speed recordings, images taken at low resolution lack the quality of images taken at higher resolution.
   The doc wishes all digital cameras would come with an honesty pledge. It would read like this: "The manufacturer of this camera hereby warns the user that the settings in this camera that refer to 'quality' are bogus. The only setting that counts is the highest one. All the others will produce lousy photos."
   So make sure your digital camera is not cheating on you. Unless you are just practicing, set your camera's 'quality' adjustment to maximum. The Olympus C2100 is a 2.1-megapixel camera, and the images it produces at maximum quality should be fine when published two columns wide in most newspapers.

   Thank you and your buddy for the article on the Klez worm. Is there a way to remove it if you have it under Linux? -- F.C., via AccuRain.
   The doctor congratulates F.C. for using a non-monopoly operating system, but needs to remind his correspondent that the Klez worm is a Windows virus. It does not affect Linux computers or Macintoshes.

   I have a bad case of a wandering mouse. A few days ago the cursor started dancing all over the page. Is it homesick and trying to find its way back? -- S.H. via AOL
   The doc has a quick cure: Get rid of the virus that has infected your Windows PC. For help fixing this, go to www.f-secure.com/v-descs/magistr.shtml. The doc also recommends the free AVG antivirus software. Go to aroundcny.com/technofile/texts/bit112101.html for more on AVG.

   Dr. Gizmo reads mail on Al Fasoldt's Mac OS X computer, which laughs at Windows viruses. You can send a laugh or just a letter to the doctor or his pal at Technology, Box 4915, Syracuse, NY 13221. Or send e-mail to afasoldt@twcny.rr.com.