Providing technology for your business, your way.
|
Mac | PC Newsletter
Technology Tips You Can Use
October, 2008 | Volume 2
|
| Greetings!
|
Wow! So many computers, so many tips.
And so little time. Do you have a tip you'd like to share with a bunch of strangers? Send it to me by clicking on the link, Computer Tips. And thanks!
Feel free to share this newsletter with your friends and co-workers.
Thinking about buying a new Mac, or PC? Give me a call... I'm happy to advise you on what to look for in a new computer and help guide you into a purchase you'll be happy with. If you mention this newsletter, I'll give you my advice for free!
And, in case you didn't know...you can still buy a new computer with Windows XP on it instead of Windows Vista. But you have to know who to talk to. And time is running out before Microsoft slams the door and forces you to buy an operating system that most IT Professionals don't want you to buy....yet. We are all hoping that sooner or later Microsoft will come out with a Service Pack that will significantly improve performance of Vista. I'm quite surprised that it hasn't happened yet. Maybe Microsoft is busy designing a new iPhone-killer, or iPod-killer. Ya' think?
If you've had a bad Windows Vista Experience, and want to share it, please email me with your story and I'll put it in an upcoming issue of this outstanding publication. With your permission of course.
Click here to email you Vista experience
|
Apple announcement October 14th
|
"It's official: Apple is updating its MacBook laptop
line next week - the Mac maker has mailed out invites to an event at
which 'the spotlight turns to notebooks,'" Tony Smith reports for The
Register.
|
Email Tip
|
Email Etiquette
Of course we all get interesting emails with jokes, cartoons, videos, political
jabs and insights, and more that we consider worth forwarding to our
friends and co-workers. I usually forward a small fraction of the stuff I receive. But, before I do, I always try to follow some 'Email Etiquette Rules' so I don't annoy my friends and co-workers or violate their privacy.
When you do forward those interesting emails, be sure to strip out all of the contact names, signatures, and email addresses that show up in the body of the message once you've clicked "Forward".
It is best to address the forwarded (or a new message with the interesting message), put your own email address in the "To:" address box, and, in the "BCC:" address box, address every-one else you wish to send the message to. That way, when they forward your message, at worst, your email address gets shared with hundreds of strangers. An address within "BCC:" never gets forwarded by default.
Alternatively, you can leave the "To:" address box completely empty, using only the "BCC:" address box. However, this may cause your message to be filtered out by some recipients, as anti-spam or junk mail filters sometimes consider emails without a "To:" address as Spam or Junk.
For more Email Etiquette Tips, click here...
|
$250 Value! |
COULD YOUR NETWORK, YOUR COMPUTERS, AND YOUR SOFTWARE GIVE YOU MORE VALUE FOR YOUR INVESTMENT?
I think so... For a limited time, I'm offering a FREE* evaluation of your business network, of up to 10 computers. You will receive a written report of the current state of your network infrastructure; the hardware; and key software your systems use. The report will list information that is critical to your decision making as you consider what you can do to make your technology more productive for your business and the staff that uses it daily. I have over 19 years experience in the Information Technology industry to provide you with valuable advice that could benefit your business.
|
Offer Expires: 10/31/2008
*some restrictions apply
|
|
|
|
|
|
Windows PC Mainenance Tips
|
No matter what version of Windows you are running, from Windows 98 (over 10 years old) to Windows Vista, there are daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly tasks that you can perform to keep your system performing to the best of it's abilities and to protect the data you would be hard pressed to replace if it was lost. Here's an organized list of those tasks for you to review... Daily- Update the anti-virus, anti-spyware/malware, and anti-spam definitions.
- Perform an incremental backup.
- When software performs abnormally or you experience a software 'glitch', reboot your computer.
Weekly- Perform complete scans for viruses and spyware/malware. (Spam is continually scanned as email is received).
- Perform a Full Backup of all of your data.
Monthly- Update your Windows Operating System (i.e. 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, or Vista).
- Update your essential software applications such as Microsoft Office, Quicken, Quickbooks, and such.
Yearly- Blow out the dust bunnies.
- Remove programs you don't use.
- Defragment your hard drive. (do this quarterly or twice-yearly if you move files on and off your drive frequently, such as music, video, and picture files.)
- Conduct a hardware diagnostic check.
Anytime- Call your friendly IT Professional when you have questions or concerns. (907-644-0525)
|
|
|
|
Software Showcase
|
Comic Life
for Mac & Windows, by plasq
|
All of the photos in this issue of my newsletter are rendered with Comic Life. Comic Life gives you all kinds of visual effects that you can apply  to your photos, artwork, and illustrations.
You can create your own comic strips, photo collages, postcards, and just about any application of cool and interesting visual embellishments. Or take photos, like I'm using here, and apply interesting effects to achieve unique visual elements. In my example, 'What Others Say...', I'm using family photos and some humor too.
Here's what their website has to say:
Tried and Tested
Get your hands on the award-winning Comic Life, as used loved by millions of kids, grownups, schools and police forces around the world.
Why Comic Life?
- So easy, you and your dog can do it
- Image Filtering for your photos (10.4+)
- Built-in iPhoto and Finder image browser
- Library of pre-made templates, styles and fonts
- iSight image capture
- Bendable comic lettering text
- Easy uploads to .Mac
- Available in Spanish, German, Dutch, French, Italian and Japanese
|
|
Reader Asks....
|
Dave!
What is better for my computer? Leave it on all the time, or turn it off whenever I can?
Signed,
Confused
Dear Confused,
Many, many people leave their computers turned on most of the time, if not all the time. And that's not necessarily good. But you have to consider why you would leave it on.
- Remote Access.
- Sharing files on it others need access to it 24/7.
- Shared printers connected to it that are accessed 24/7.
- Software and operating system updates, virus and spyware scans, or backups that are scheduled to run at times when the computer is not generally used.
Aside from those situations, I always try to turn off my computer when I won't be using it in the next couple of hours. Even if I miss a scheduled backup, scan, or update.
When you leave your computer on all the time unnecessarily, you risk the following possibilities:
- Someone will access your computer when you are not around. (Use secure passwords and screensavers that require passwords upon wake up to prevent this)
- Mechanical components (fans, hard drives, floppy drives) will achieve their ultimate failure rate sooner.
- The internal fans suck in alot of dust and dirt which can blanket the components and thereby preventing them from efficiently dissapating heat.
- Your data is at risk of network intruders and hackers invading your system to access confidential information or causing malicious damage to your data. (Though up to date anti-virus, spyware, and effective firewalls should already be in place to protect you...you have all that, right?)
Ultimately, turning your systems off as often as you can is better for the computer and it will save you energy. This applies to printers too.
Thanks for playing,
Dave
Got a question for me that you'd like answered? Click here to email your question.
|
|
Use the link below, labeled "Forward email", to send this message to a friend or co-worker. Certainly you MUST KNOW OTHERS interested in all of the fascinating tips and information that is in my Newsletter. Or perhaps you know someone who could use my services.
Sincerely,
|
|
David Stark
Technologist | Owner | Operator
Techpro Networks, LLC
Anchorage, Alaska
907 | 644 | 0525
|
|
|
|
|
