My Favorite Techie

Microsoft has announced that it will be bringing out a new operating system to surpass Windows Vista, Windows 7. Once version 7 comes out, support for Windows XP and the ability to downgrade will cease. Therefore, the question that comes up is whether or not to upgrade to Vista or stay at XP until the new version comes out.

My feeling is in the middle. If you’re on XP stay there until the new version comes out as it is supposed to be more stabile that Vista currently is and much faster. Blogs relating to Windows 7 have been saying that 7 is as stabile in testing and development as XP is now. Hopefully that’s true.

Now if you’re in the market for a new computer, I would say consider going the Vista route which will get you prepared for Windows 7 as the graphical interface will be the same as Vista. Therefore, if you get vista now, all programs for Vista will run under Windows 7 and when the product is finally released, the learning curve will have been conquered.

One of the things that I know will be new for Windows 7 is the ability to build it almost Al a Carte. Each different shelf version will essentially be the same except that certain features will be disabled. Now, if there is a feature that one wishes, it can be added at a small nominal fee rather than having to upgrade to a higher version with features that are unneeded.

I wish that I could say more, but I am also just learning Vista and getting used to it. Therefore, I will be in the same boat when Windows 7 finally comes out. Hopefully it will be a smooth upgrade.

Making money on the Internet is not easy, but once the system has been established it continues to work for you. It is getting the initial traffic that takes time, just like waiting for plants to grow in a field in order to get the fruit. The trick is finding what methods work. Once the methods are in place, getting the traffic is relatively easy. However, in the early stages it can be very easy to throw in the towel.

Anyone can build a website, either crude or complex. The key is that people need to see it and keep going back. Therefore, the content has to be interesting, compelling and trustworthy. But, in order to get the traffic, one needs to begin to jump through some hoops.  It takes creativity and persistence to find ways to get traffic to your site and there are many ways of doing that.

There are a number of ways to get traffic and each one requires time and effort to learn the process. Some of those ways of getting traffic are:

• Posting in blogs such as this one
• Placing banner and text ads on other blogs and web sites
• Use viral marketing techniques, such as Refer A Friend
• Instituting an email newsletter that people can subscribe to
• Old fashioned printed promotion
• Creating podcasts
• Writing articles in free online article directories
• Writing press releases and posting them online
• And more…

Each one of these methods requires research and experimentation which takes time. There is no get-rich-quick scheme to making money on the Internet. However, once an income stream is achieved, it will continue. Not only will income be generated, but your own personal reputation as an expert in a field will become great.

Content Management Systems are web sites that utilize dynamic page construction rather than traditional web pages. Content Management systems are scripts written in a language such as ASP or PHP and pull requested  content from a database. Aside from the technical differences, content management systems allow anyone to construct a professional looking website without the need for complicated web design software.

There are many types of content management systems available and most of us have seen at least three. The four major systems are web site, blogging, Wiki, and forums/discussion boards. Each have their own unique uses and structures. However, they all share one thing in common, they are all simple and easy to use and are modular.

How It Works

The site is comprised of several parts, the script, a template and a database. The template is designed in the same way a traditional web site is designed, except for the lanuguage used. The template, once completed and tested, is copied to the web server to a certain place where templates are held. Finally, the content for the site, such as pictures, stories, and links are stored as entries in a database.

When a visitor goes to the web site and clicks on a button, the script pulls the necessary content from the database and then displays it in the template. It all happens within seconds and is transparent to the visitor.

It’s Easy!

What makes this type of web site great is that the webmaster can use any computer with Internet access to create or modify content for the site. They don’t have to lug around a laptop or desktop computer with special software to edit the web site. The webmaster also has the ability to schedule when content goes live on the site.

Unlike traditional web sites, content management systems have many features built into them which have to be hand coded into traditional sites. For example, features such as print view, email to a friend, and view as PDF are standard options in the Joomla! content management system. These sites are also natively search engine friendly.

Setting up a web site based on a content mangement system is also simple. Many web hosts can automatically setup the script and database for you. And if you need a template for your site, there are thousands available for free on the Internet or you can have a designer create one for you for a fee. Once you have your template, all that needs to be done is log into the backend (place where administration of the site is done) and setup your site.

They’re Modular!

Lastly, content management systems are modular. There are modules available for download on the Internet which allow you to customize the site to just about anything you would like. For example, there are extensions to create a shopping cart, email newsletters, photo galleries, and so on. Most of these add-ons are free of charge and if there is a charge, it will be mentioned.

If you are looking to create a web site fast and easy, this is the way to go. If you feel you need help setting all this up, SAK Information Systems has experience setting up these web solutions and also offers hosting solutions that are content management system friendly.

There are two ways in which to retreive email on your computer or phone, POP3 and IMAP. The questions are always “What is the difference?” and “Why use one over the other?” Here is a brief explanation of the two and when to use them.

POP3

POP stands for Post Office Protocol. This protocol is the older of the two. It is also the most popular choice as it is the most understood.

When mail is sent to you, it is stored on your provider’s mail server. Under the POP method, when you open your email client and download mail, it copies ALL your mail from the server to your computer and then typically deletes it from the mail server unless the option to retain a copy is enabled on your software. This method is fine if you access mail in only one place or don’t need access to previous emails remotely.

IMAP

IMAP stands for Internet Message Access Protocol. In this method, mail that is stored on a mail server is accessed by the email client as if it is stored locally on the computer. Your software then manipulates the mail, regardless of where you are or what computer you may be using, without having to transfer files back and forth.

This method of email access is great for those who access mail from multiple computers and locations or need access to past and current email messages at all times.  The major difference with IMAP over POP3 is that messages don’t get sprinkled on multiple computers causing confusion. All messages and files REMAIN on the mail server.

As our society moves from single point of email access to multiple points of access, this method is getting more popular. One can setup email on as many computers or mobile devices as they wish and get access to their email from anywhere without loosing anything.

So, which one is better? They both do their job well, but the ultimate reason for choice should be based on how much you rely on your mail and from how many different places and devices.

After having to search for two days locating an answer to why messages stay in the outbox in Microsoft Outlook, even though the “Send Immediately” option is enable, I finally found a possible cause of this problem. It is possible, by accident, that the Work Offline option under the File Menu gets enabled.

I would recommend to anyone with this problem to first check to make sure that the Work Offline option is not enabled before going through drastic measures.

If the same problem persists and the Work Offline option is NOT selected, then select it to enable it. Exit out of Outlook, restart Outlook and then go back to the File menu and unselect the Work Offline option.

If either one of these two don’t work with the opening scenario, then there’s not that much else one can do.

Author: Mark Tabesh

Remote computer repair is still a new idea to many; however it’s been available to you for years now. Rather than an expensive on-site visit, technicians connect securely to your computer using an advanced screen sharing program. This in turn, allows you to have your computer fixed right away, and at a lower cost due to the lower amount of overhead costs to the companies. But is it really safe?

The short answer is yes. Let me explain why… First, you remain with your computer at all times. When you drop your computer off at the store, you will be asked to return in a week or whenever they finish it. During this time, who knows if anyone is reading or copying your files? Can you be sure they haven’t taken or switched some piece of hardware? Will they even do anything to it before recommending you purchase their new model on isle 9? When having your computer repaired remotely, you’ll be able to watch the repair taking place as it is happening. Your tech should be available for questions through a chat window or the phone if you need him, however no one will know if you are watching or not thus ensuring the techs integrity. Ask your local super store geek if you can sit and watch them fix the computer and see what they say.

With on-site repair, not only do you have to pay very high fees, but you have to wait for the tech to fit you into the schedule when you need your computer working now! Then you must allow a stranger into your home. I’m reminded of a recent news story regarding a national on-site support chain and a camera phone left in a bathroom. If you want to watch what the on-site tech is doing you’ll have to literally watch from over his shoulder because he or she will be sitting in your seat.

With remote computer repair, you must pay with a credit card. Some people still have reservations on using credit cards online. The fact is that credit card companies want you to use their card online for everything. Ask your card company if you’ll be responsible for any fraud or stolen activity. You’ll likely be happy with their response. Plus if you think you are getting ripped off by the online computer repair service, you can use your credit card company to dispute the charge. Note: that a bank debit cards with a Visa or MasterCard usually don’t offer dispute services.

Because this new option for residential computer repair is so popular, a lot of new companies are sprouting up constantly. There are a few important things to look for in a remote computer repair service. Are they in the same country as you? This important because if laws are different, you’ll have a tough time disputing a problem with them should you come to have one. Do they have a No Fix, No Fee guarantee? Many per minute or hour services charge you for their time and do not guarantee to fix anything. What does that say about their trust and training of their own techs? Finally, be cautious of an insanely low price. In my experience, low pricing always means inexperience or a scam. You can expect to get a better deal than any in-shop or on-site service however.

So the next time you have a computer problem, give the remote approach a try. If you find a no fix, no fee guarantee companies then you truly have nothing to lose and such a convenience to gain.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/operating-systems-articles/remote-computer-repair-is-it-safe-584745.html

About the Author:

This article was written by the folks at RemoteComputerRepair.org. Visit them at http://www.remotecomputerrepair.org or by calling 1-888-392-2785.

Creating a web site can be a daunting task to many. We all think of the early days when you had to know how to program in the strange language of HTML.  That is not the case any more; there are many visual web site editors available on the market both FREE and paid. They all generally do the same job, except that the paid ones have more features in them to build more complicated sites. For the common person, the FREE and inexpensive editors work just fine.

Planning

Once you know that you want to create a web site, some planning needs to be done. Just as you don’t just build a house, you don’t just build a web site. The best approach to web site building is to pencil everything out on paper first so that you can establish the flow visually. It is also best at this time to figure out your categories and sections. Once you start, it is best not to rearrange your structure; so, a good planned structure well worth the invested time.

The other piece of the planning that needs to be done is searching for an Internet name or domain name for your site. The most common and most popular is the .com. However, as the Internet has become larger and larger, it has become more challenging to get a .com name. In order to search for a name, you can visit a whole host of different sites such as register.com, GoDaddy.com, networksolutions.com, and others. There you can enter different names and see what is available. Once you find a name that is available, you may register it or proceed to your web hosting company to do it for you when you sign up later on.

Designing

Designing is the hardest part of web site building. Web site design involves a great deal of graphical layout. To aide this process, there are literally thousands of templates available on market to tackle this part. Again, some templates are available for free and others at a price. Once you’ve gotten a template design ironed out (either from a template you’ve downloaded from somewhere or designed yourself), it is time to start creating content (the actual stuff that people will be coming to your site for).

Creating Content

The most important piece of web site building is creating the content that makes up the site. Each new page should correspond to a category that you established in your layout. Content can be text, pictures, forms, etc. You can either create the content yourself or get content from somewhere else (as long as you’re not violating copyright and trademark laws). The more useful content you have, the better the site will be.

Saving the site

Once you have gotten a decent amount of pages created, it is time to put them somewhere and that somewhere is a web host. There are lots of hosts out there, so do some looking and ask around. It is at this time you should have also decided on an Internet name for your site as it will be needed to open an account with the host. Once you’ve found a host and signed up, you then upload your pages over the Internet to the host.

Now, you can go to “www.yoursite.com” and see your hard work at work.

Maintenance

Once your site has gone “live”, it is critical to make sure that it is maintained. By maintained I mean updated with new content. It is critical that new content be added and existing content be modified to keep the attention of your visitors. Some examples of keeping visitors returning are:

• Offer tips and advice
• Free downloads (ie. Wallpapers, icons, ebooks, etc.)
• New links to other web sites
• New articles on the topic

I know I’ve made this very simplified, but this is the basic flow of how a site is created. There are other pieces of the puzzle that are important as well such as search engine optimization. That will be covered in another post. So, start thinking and building your next web site.

Many people who are not familiar with how a web site works will ask the question, “What is Web Hosting.” Web hosting is service by which a company rents disk space on a computer that is on the Internet to store the files of a web site. There is nothing really fancy about it. Just as one saves a file to their local computer, a web host provides space to save the files that make up a web site on a remote computer that is accessible by the whole world.

Web hosting services generally have three or four options available based on the amount of space one would need to store all the files necessary for a web site. Also included are email addresses which allow one to create a unique email address that has the same domain as their web site. For example, if you have the name “mysite.com”, your email address would be “myaddress@mysite.com”. The entry level options are usually sufficient for a small web site and have more than enough web addresses available for a small operation. The bigger packages are for sites that have lots and lots of pages. Each package has a different price. Hosting packages start at $1.95/month and go up from there depending on company and options offered. Some go as high as $299.99/month. It pays to go shopping for web hosting before committing.

One thing is common now between home life and business is that both make use of computing in one way or another. In some cases, personal and business are combined on the same computer. Unfortunately, many fail to realize that there are differences between the two fields. The two even though can mix, should be regarded separately.

Home Computing

Home computing is exactly what it is, personal. Personal computing usually consists of anything that is done for personal pleasure, therefore there is no real money behind it. There may be intrinsic value behind what is on your personal computer, but it is not related to the existence of something else namely another business. Although the same philosophies should be followed with regards to safeguarding files, there is less at stake.

A home computer usually is forced into having many hats. It’s used for keeping track of personal finances, research, some creative work, sorting photos, games, and other things. It gets challenged in many ways. Many people most likely use it as well making it hard to manage what’s going on it.

If many people are going to be using a particular machine, a different computer should be used for the important matters. In other words, make sure that your finance information and anything else that is vital to the stability of your household is on a computer that cannot accessed by children. An older computer can be delegated to children’s games and such. The computer with all the information on it should also be backed up routinely and copies put somewhere outside the home, such as a safe deposit box at the bank, in case the home ever gets destroyed.

Business Computing

Business computing like everything else that is considered business should be separated from personal computing. Businesses use different programs that personal computing, such as more detailed finance programs, contact managers, and other field specific software.

In the business sense, the piece that is the most critical is the data that is created. Those files which relate to a business transaction need to be kept separate and securely minded. The most basic measure which should be done with all business data is backup. You never know when something from way back when will be needed. Not backing up your business is asking for problems. Anytime something is created or changed should be backed up that day and removed to an off-site location.

If both worlds have to be combined, I recommend having two data folders setup somewhere somehow. This way personal data can be stored in one folder and business related data in the other. One easy solution for this is an external hard drive. These are relatively inexpensive nowadays and are easily setup. They can even be used for backup and then removed to another location.

People now have the ability to go mobile at home with wireless networking. Setting up wireless networking has been made very simple by the manufacturers with the CD that asks a few questions and 1-2-3 wireless is working. However, there is one thing that the wizard does not do and that is setting up security.

One might say, “I don’t have anything important.” But, you do not know who is driving down the street with more knowledge than you. Would you leave your door open all day while you’re at work or on vacation to let others walk in. No, of course not. We all make use of locks on our doors to impede unwanted guests.  Why then wouldn’t you want to have security on your wireless network as well?

Although each manufacturer of wireless routers is slightly different, all of them have several things in common and that is an advanced setup that allows for the configuration of security. In order to access the advanced setup, consult the instructions which came with your router.

There are two types of security that can be used. There is the encryption key and the hadware access list. The encryption key is very simple to use. One simple creates a pass key which the computer will turn into a string of numbers and letters that is then added to each desktop or laptop needing wireless connectivity. This encryption level impedes others on the outside from “borrowing” Internet access.

The second type of access, called MAC authentication, is based on the physical address of the wireless network card in your computer, similar to social security number. Each card has a unique identification number which is issued by the manufacturer. In the router, there is a window that allows for these addresses to be entered. When a laptop or desktop that is requesting connection to the router, the router checks its unique identification number against its list to see if its allowed and then grants it permission to connect. It is also possible with this form of authentication to deny access to certain computers.

The most secure method is to employ both methods of security. Create a pass phrase or a network key along with MAC authentication.

The other piece of configuration that the wizard does not do is renaming the wireless network name and the access point name. By default, most wireless routers create a wireless network (SSID) with the name of the manufacturer. Now if you were to do a search, it would be very possible that your neighbor has the same name. This name can be changed in the general setup page of the router. It is also advisable to change the name of the wireless router name from the default name given at the factory.

As we all want to be secure in our homes, we should also want our data and files to be secure and safe from strangers. I would suggest that everyone do a security evalution of their wireless network and take the time to employ one or both of the methods decribed above.