Flash me....Please!

I have a few who still ask me what a flash drive is, and I don't see that as some admission of computer ignorance. Not at all.

A flash drive is a device that plugs into your computer quite easily and acts like a very small hard drive. Well, NOT so small, actually. You can get them now as large as several gigabytes. Oh, yeah...Gigabyte...that's a measure of size on a storage device.

What's a flash drive useful for? Well, you COULD use it as sort of a backup device to keep a copy of important data....documents, pictures, music...and the like.

They're quite handy, really, and they fit in your pocket or on a key chain...we're talking small and portable. You can buy a 2 gigabyte Flash Drive for about the cost of what a box or two of floppy disks used to cost...you remember those? And you can put about 2,000 floppy disks worth of information on a two gigabyte drive. Are you keeping up?

So what are they, again? : A really small, really inexpensive, really portable storage device that is worth looking into.

Call or write me and ask questions about flash drives, if you like. I'll get back to you in a flash!

Yeah, its new today, but will it be 'history' tomorrow?

A lot of folks have gone out and spent good money on a laptop or desktop computer for their kid(s) to use at school; I hope they let their kids pick them out.

Well meaning parents, wanting desperately to keep the college costs under control skimp and buy under powered PC's/laptops only to later discover they've been penny wise and pound foolish. Take notes here, save a dime or two and avoid the 'instant obsolescence' trap:

1st: There is NO SUCH THING as TOO much RAM memory. RAM is a bad place to skimp; if you don't know what I'm talking about, just trust me and buy a machine with 2 GB of RAM.

2nd: Does the machine include the software the user needs for school? Probably better have them add Microsoft Office Basic, which includes most of what any student will need.

3rd: Ask for an Intel 'dual core 2' processor or better. Again, trust me...the Celeron processors suck; they just do. The ADM chips MAY be fine, but Intel is ALWAYS a safe bet.

4th: Yes, every college kid needs a WI-FI wireless card. No ifs, ands, or buts. Hi-School kids need 'em, too.

There's lots more to tell, but if you follow these 4 rules the rest will fall into place. If you disregard these rules you've just bought a machine that is yesterday's technology today.

Living Wirelessly....It's in the Air...

Well, if you live long enough, you'll experience everything....almost...so they say. Like the time I was ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY sure that a cordless (wireless) phone next to a desktop computer couldn't be causing it to drop the connection to the wireless internet signal in the house. No way! I mean there was another wireless computer just 4' away, and IT had NO problems.

Silly me. 'Expect the obvious and eliminate that first', is the unwritten rule of computer repair. May it be tattooed on my forehead for violating this one. My recommendation? Make sure when you are computing wirelessly that cell phones/cordless phones/radio(s) are not sitting right next to your computer or wireless router; allow six feet or more. Duh!

Spring is in the air ... time to go Wireless

If you've only one hi-speed modem in the house and you have more than one computer it's time to go wireless; in fact, it's past time. And the good news is it's fast and inexpensive to hook up. What's that you say? You aren't that techno-savy? Well that just makes me smile!

A wireless router can be as little as $3-$5 per month more than you pay now, if you are renting your modem from Qwest or Comcast; or if you prefer you can buy a wireless router for like $59-$79. Adding it to your system can take an hour or less. And if you like you can even arrange to slit your monthly internet access cost with a neighbor! Now that's using your head!

Call or e-mail me ... and end your wait to get to use the internet at home.

Older than God! or ... When to buy a NEW PC.

Just as a dog's years are 7 to one, computers have a ratio that exceeds our aging span. Folks often ask me if they should keep and upgrade their computer or dump and replace. There IS a rule of thumb and the ratio is more like 15-1. That is:

• Year 1 & 2 - Computer is like 1-30 : In its prime. Ask yourself, "How are things working? Do I need more RAM memory (more about that in another post elsewhere)? Do I need a 'check up' with a service technician"?
• Year 3 & 4 - By the end of year 4, I hate to say it but you have a computer Senior Citizen on your hands. Not that that's any crime, but upgrades are almost too late to do much good to extend the life of your machine. Life is cruel but, though it still may have a lot to contribute, your computer is just NOT a kid any more.
• Year 5 and above - Hey, it's a bear being over 75, but its not the end of life as we know it. With some tender loving care your computer will still give you good service. Have a 'computer Doctor' do an exam and consultation, but keep the money you spend on this cherished family member reasonable, given that it won't be doing 'Internet Disco' much anymore, likely.

Bottom line? Over 5 years of age replacement is probably a better choice than expensive upgrades. The world around the computer is moving so fast that software tools, graphics's from the internet and e-mails become more complex and begin to over tax older machines. Hey, if you are over 50 you KNOW what I'm talking about. We still have plenty we can contribute, but we aren't able to leap tall buildings in a single bound anymore. It's just a fact of life.

Backing up I stumbled on....Eternity. (Revisited)

In my earlier article on the importance of backing up ANYTHING that you'd miss if it were gone (like that Outlook address book you've spent the last 5 years building!), I neglected to really thoroughly check out PC World users' recommendation of the FREE on line back up service MOZY. As this issue came up with a client, I owe it to my constant/periodic/infrequent and first time readers to say ... 'It ain't bad'! Now if you know me, that's high praise.

The site requires a member to sign up and some free software is loaded to your computer which allows you to set the time you'd like automatic back ups scheduled, and which files. You are allowed up to 2 GB (for many thats plenty) for free and charged if you need more. The first back up of 2 GB of data may take like 5 hours or more depending on your connection, so go get a cup of coffee .... a Venti size ... and maybe read War and Peace again, from the start. But subsequent back ups are quick, if you run them regularly.

I still am partial to having my own External Hard Drive for back ups ... but this on-line system is really very acceptable. For some it might be back up paradise. Call or write me if you'd like to know more.

Did you forget something? It's probably just your memory.

Many problems for computers (and humans, too) relate to not having enough memory. RAM, also know as Random Access Memory, is every bit as important to computers as adequate brain power is to us; not enough and we just can't manage important, complicated tasks ... sort of like chewing gum and walking at the same time, if you know what I mean.

The symptom, when computing any way, is often general sluggishness, repeated hanging or locking up of the computer; occasionally but rarely you may even see an error message mentioning insufficient memory.

Fortunately in the computer RAM memory is easily added. In fact it's SO easy I almost feel guilty charging my clients for doing it for them ... BUT I get over it! If you want to do your own memory upgrade I can tell you in a quick, 'no-charge' phone call how to proceed. If you're less adventurous I'd gladly be of service.

Sit down...I think I love you!

Some of us spend what seems like forever in a chair beating words and numbers into a computer and having the wrong chair is a just a big pain. I did some shopping (where else? on line!) and found what I hoped would be an affordable alternative to the Herman Miller Aron Chair, which is the recognized favorite amongst business users and upwardly mobile Fuppies (failed Yuppies). The Herman Miller chair costs 750-1,200 clams or more ... just unreachable for the practical user.

I've got great news to report ... I ordered my 'alternative chair' and I absolutely love it. It's ruggedly constructed, very similar in appearance and design to the H. MILLER chair, incredibly adjustable and, I sit on it all day without a single complaint from my nether end.

Call or write me and I'll share the details. Oh yeah, it's still not cheap ... Did I mislead you? It cost $550 I think. But that is still 36-118% savings, depending how you calculate, over the Miller chair .