divaSpeak is a blog – short for web log.

For those of you who know what this is, that’s great, but there are people out there who will benefit from that first sentence.

Think of a blog as an online diary of sorts, but instead of telling you all of my deep dark secrets—I don’t have any—I’m going to give you tips and tricks and definitions. On the fun side, I’ll let you in on any new gadgets, software, websites and interesting facts that make me say “Wow. Cool. I don’t think I can live without that, I didn’t know that!”

The beauty of a blog, unlike the Holly Hobbie diary I had in the third grade for which I lost the key, is that those who read it have the opportunity to comment on what I have to say. (What I write is commonly called a “post.” Used in a sentence: I am going to write a post about intalling Mac OS 10.4 Tiger.) To comment, click on the word “Comment” write what you have to say and click submit. Voila!

I hope you find it helpful, and by all means, tell me what you think.

Well, I have a confession to make. I am often technically frustrated and confused. Yes, that’s right, even the Diva wants to hurl her computer right out the window.

You’re looking at the lastest example, this blog. Everyone says, “Oh, it’s SOOOO easy.” Have you ever noticed that the only people who say that are those who have done it? Well, I may say that one day, but today is not that day. I have spent two days trying to get that pic at the top of the page to look the way I want it and customizing templates only to have to call upon a friend of mine to get me out of the mess I created.

My lesson learned is this: know your learning style. I am extremely visual and tactile when it comes to learning or trying something new. The setup for this blog is web based, which means you just fill in a bunch of fields and check boxes. (Yes, I can do that.) However, customizing the templates involves all kinds of things that if I knew how to use I would just make it myself. I’m sure once I get it all figured out I will like it—that’s usually the case—for now I’m wanting to throw in the towel.

So I said all that to say this, I know how you feel.

I’ll admit it, I was shopping the competition today. I like to keep up on what’s out there, who’s offering what and for how much, your basic nosey-need-to-know stuff.

What an exhausting experience. I started with the Geek Squad—owned by Best Buy and run by poorly paid “Agents.” I called to inquire about on-site instruction only to find they only offer it in certain areas. Manhattan isn’t one of those areas. What? Oh well, chalk one up for the DigitalDiva.

I had to speak with three people before I found out that their back to school “special” was only for those who purchase a computer at Best Buy and are willing to leave it to have things installed that should’ve come with the computer in the first place—i.e. wireless card, spyware and virus protection. I also found out that all of their services are flat rate. So if you want them to install a printer, one piece of software and set up wireless access (not your connection to the internet, just the part that makes it possible for one to hop from room to room with your laptop and still be online) you would pay $290. If you wanted them to set up your scanner that would be another service and thus another $129 or $419 in total. You see where I’m going with this one?

Perhaps the most important discovery: They don’t service macs.

That’s yourDigitalDiva 646.259.5500.

It is about to be at the top of every Christmas list of every boy, girl and in-between this coming holiday season. (I won’t be waiting until then, but thanks for thinking of me.)

The Nano is Apple’s new addition to the iPod line and, to me, the most desirable thus far. I can’t wait to get my hands on one. Besides being pencil thin, it weighs just 1.5 ounces and for the first time it was released in TWO colors: white or black. It also has a color display, which means album art and pictures of little Jacob’s birthday can be seen by all!

For those of you still trying to get a grasp on this whole iPod thing, here’s the skinny. The iPod is a digital music player. If that just made you more confused think of it this way. If you buy an 8-track, in order to listen to it you need an 8-track player (and a trip to a garage sale or your favorite time machine), a casette requires a cassette player and CD requires a CD player. The difference is that with the last three you need the player and some other tangible item to put into the player. Digital music is transferred to the player via the computer—you don’t physically touch the files. Instead you use something like iTunes to bring your CD collection into your computer to “digitize” your favorite songs. You then plug your iPod into the computer and transfer the files from the computer to the iPod to take with you. The beauty of it all is that with the iPod you can take 1000 or more songs with you. You’d have to bring roughly 100 CD’s on your daily commute to get that kind of selection.

So if you want to be everyone’s favorite person this year, tell Lillian Vernon you’re doing the holidays without her this year.