Q&A
2 music files aren't the same

By Kim Komando

Q. I'm a musician just getting started with computers. What's the difference between music saved as WAV and MP3 files?

A. For starters, one minute of music in WAV format runs about 10 megabytes. Typically, that's reduced to 1MB in MP3 format. MP3 files are compressed. Audio that most listeners wouldn't hear is removed to reduce the file size. In your music editing software, you will have bit rate settings when exporting files to MP3. Higher bit rates have less compression and better audio quality. A bit rate of 128 kilobits per second is generally regarded as CD quality, though audiophiles prefer 160 Kbps or higher.

Q. I want a Web log. Can you recommend some sites to get started?

A. Blogger (www.blogger.com), the original blogging service now owned by Google, is free, and its recent upgrade makes it easy for newbies to get started quickly. LiveJournal (www.livejournal.com) and TypePad (www.typepad.com) are other popular options. LiveJournal offers a free basic blog or you can upgrade to a paid account with more features. TypePad, which provides the most features of the three services, has a three-tiered pricing structure depending on which features you need. A free 90-day trial gives you time to try them out.

Q. I access my work e-mail using Internet Explorer. How can I put a link to the e-mail site on my Windows desktop?

A: Right-click an empty area of the desktop. From the pop-up menu, select New and then, Shortcut. In the text box, enter the Web site's address, or as an example, www.komando.com. Click Next. Type a name for the shortcut and click Finish. That puts the shortcut on the desktop. Double-click it when you want to open Internet Explorer and go directly to a site.