Basic tech questions:

Right now I don't subscribe to cable, although I am getting broadcast via the cable line and I have no other antenna otherwise.

I'm considering getting Internet via Comcast since my AT&T DSL just finally reset its price after the 12-month special.

I know I would have to finally upgrade my modem and would probably purchase one vs paying $7/month for the Comcast one.

1) I assume I can get a cable modem that would be wireless and that I could install myself, correct?

2) Would I still be able run the cable to my TV and receive free broadcast?

3) Would I need any other equipment/attachments to do so?

Any info would be appreciated. The DSL speed has been fine, but it occasional cuts out for a second, which is annoying but I could live with at the lower subscription rate. I think the cheaper bill and speed I could get at the Comcast intro special would make it worth investing in a new modem. But I don't really want to lose broadcast to do so.

megan,

Comcast might be able to give you a 12 month deal on cable and Internet. Have you looked at their prices? You might find it pretty affordable.

I'm actually quite happy not having cable, although depending on deals I'm fine with adding it back on again. I don't like using Comcast but I want to understand my options before going to AT&T to negotiate down my new rate.

megan

1) I don't know, I have the old Comcast modem that I guess I rent from them. I have my phone service through them, too, so the equipment is probably a little different, but probably not much.

2 It has a coax output for the TV. I don't have TV service through them and I get the QAM channels fine. I understand Comcast has been upgrading everything so I don't even know how relevant my equipment is, but you certainly ought to be able to get the same signal you have now if you add a cable modem.

3) You should just need another bit of coax to go from the modem to the TV. Or maybe they have different connectors now, but you get the idea.

My folks have been having just internet service from Comcast and when they recently upgraded to the newer faster modem it was cheaper to go ahead and get the bundle with the TV service and just not use that part. They were shipped a DVR which they promptly returned.

Something is up with my Nook. I, uh, bought the glowlight one recently, and I read the shit out of it, and I haven't recharged it since I bought the book. There was also a fair amount of reading with the light on (hospital), and it hasn't expired in my bag either.

But my Nook without the light seems to be doing something fancy, because I don't think it makes it two weeks, no reading, in my purse. I hadn't thought about how no good that is. But how do I convince support?

If you leave the wifi connection on, it can drain the battery even if you are not doing anything. At least, this is the case with my Kindle. So check that.

This morning Rose pressed some combination of keys on my mom's laptop keyboard that has caused the keys to function weirdly. As best I can tell, they are all working as though I've pressed Ctrl first. So if I just press P, for example, it thinks I've pressed Ctrl+P, and it starts trying to print.

What has happened, and how can I fix it? It must be a fairly easy fix, but I'm not real familiar with this computer & keyboard and I can't figure it out.

That is the feature Sticky Keys in action. Try pressing shift five times. If that doesn't work, you can turn it off in the Control Panel, in the accessibility options.

That doesn't seem to be it, Gris, though I'm sure it's something like it. I went to the Control Panel and there's a box that says Turn on Sticky Keys, but it's unchecked. I tried checking it and unchecking it again, but it didn't make a difference.

OK, I restarted the computer* and it fixed the problem, whatever it was!

*I know, I know. I was hoping I wouldn't have to restart because I had a bunch of open tabs I didn't want to lose, but then I accidentally closed several of them anyway.

Edit: For the record, I also tried to open a Word document and it brought up a message saying "It looks like you are holding down the CTRL key. Would you like to open Word in safe mode?" I don't know that happened or why I couldn't turn it off, but at least it's fixed now.