Installing the Trucker's Workstation

Your laptop stand is designed to be universal to all air ride seats. Yet, in rare circumstances, you may need a bit of good old fashioned American ingenuity!

When installing the mounting brackets, hand-tighten all fasteners. Then, you can make adjustments to the position of your workstation.

Make sure the stand does not interfere with the safe operation of your truck. Place your laptop in the workstation and raise the screen. Be sure it does not block your view of side mirrors or fender mount blind spot mirrors. You can raise and lower your air seat as needed for this, as well as adjust the frame itself. Make certain the workstation clears the dash and shifter throughout the entire range of motion of the air seat. Adjusting is easy, but it must be done with care. Do not to allow anything to interfere with the safe operation of your truck. Once you are satisfied with the positioning, begin tightening down all of the fasteners and double check your work as you go.

Eldorado Seats

These seats require special attention. Because the seat pad and backrest move more in a scissor like motion rather than just up and down, you will need to leave the sliding adjustment bar on each side loose to allow for this movement.

Using Your GPS System While Driving

A GPS and mapping software will become your single greatest asset if you are an irregular route driver. Night time driving in unfamiliar areas becomes a breeze when the GPS is fully utilized. But the brightness of your computer screen is not always correct for best visibility. Did you know that you can download a free screen saver which will dim the computer screen as much as you would like for night driving? This free download is an absolute necessity. Get it at www.whitsoftdev.com/powerdimmer/

New computer users; stick with me and I’ll have you downloading like an old pro.

Cleaning Up and Maintaining Your Computer

Cyber Trucker is also here to help you select cost efficient methods of maintaining your laptop.

“What you say!! Maintain my laptop?”

Don’t worry. This stuff is easy. Most of it costs nothing at all and can be done in a few minutes on a weekly basis.

There are many different levels of computer know-how among people. This section is mostly for the drivers that need to know about cleaning up internet build up, defragging and fixing minor problems that come from just simply using the computer. Downloading will be explained and the importance of updates and anti viral software will be stressed. Advanced users may find this section useful in reviewing the basics. Again contributions to this section are encouraged. Send them to tricks@cybertrucker.net

The internet is a doorway to vast amounts of information and entertainment. The cyber world is like anything else in life in that it has its dark side and its problems. Viruses are modern day graffiti and vandalism. Spy-ware and ad-ware clogs the arteries of your computer like high fat and cholesterol in the best tasting fried foods. The good stuff is almost always illegal, immoral or fattening!

You can trim the fat and cut the cholesterol in your computer with tools which you already have on your computer or download for free. YES, for FREE! There is a lot of good stuff on the internet which is free. Good people provide these tools to fight the bad. The internet is a mirror of society. Good and bad.

Windows Users

First, let’s use what is provided and already available on any computer you are likely to be using.

As you surf the net, which is really just looking at different pages on web sites, your computer stores stuff to make using the computer faster the next time you revisit a website. By leaving information on your computer, such as pictures and some content, the speed with which the page displays is made faster than having to resend the stuff every time you open that web page. This is fine if you only look at the same thing every time you get on the net. But exploring new websites is how you get new information and each one leaves a piece of itself on your computer. Over time this causes internet buildup which can really drag down the speed of your computer.

Some websites are run by companies who want to pigeonhole you as a type of consumer, and get to know your surfing habits. They use small programs loaded into your computer without your knowledge to track your web site history. This happens very fast and even the most legitimate companies make regular use of this. These programs fill up your computer with resource draining garbage you must get rid of. Yes, it is totally legal, done every day and a real pain in the computer. This is not paranoia. This is a legitimate marketing tool to access how you spend your time and money!

To clean up some types of internet build up: click on start / click on programs / click on accessories / click on system tools / click on disk clean up. Make sure anything that comes up on the list as taking up space has a check by it and click OK. It will run and return you quickly to your screen

Next, click onto Internet Explorer. The screen opens to what is called your browser. If you have internet access you will see your home page. If you are not connected to the internet you may get a little screen asking if you want to work off line and a big screen saying NO Internet connection. Click OK on work offline. At the top of the page go to tools / internet options / delete cookies / delete all cookies in temporary internet file / OK / delete files / delete all temporary internet files. Check the delete all offline content / OK / clear history / are you sure you want windows to delete your history of visited websites? / Yes / Ok. And close the browser. Next right click on you recycle bin and empty it.

These steps alone won’t fix everything you get from normal use of your computer, but will help speed it up. There will be much more we can do to fix an ailing system quickly and easily. These tips will be added in the future.

Mac Users

Under Construction

For the Computer Savvy

Under Construction

Trucker Tricks & Tips

Contributions to this section are strongly encouraged. If you have a Trucker’s Workstation and had to do something you considered special for your truck or your type of seat, please send an e-mail to tips@cybertrucker.net

Check back often for more tips and tricks. Watch for new products and our reviews of various programs for getting the most out of your laptop. I love to see suggestions from users of our products, and remember, all valuable recommendations will be posted.

See you in Cyberspace!

Roy Stinson

President, Cyber Trucker L.L.C.