You've had a long day. You are on the couch, relaxed, in front of the television when a commercial for hair color or acne medication appears. You are fixated as you witness the woman with the silky, flowing hair tell you how easy it is "to be me" or you see the pristine, clear skin of a young adult flushing her face with gallons of water as she rinses away the dirt of the day. It's just so easy.
So, Why Isn't My Hair Long and Lustrous?
As fate would have it, my hair is not the coiffure of envy, in fact it's barely evident (see photo on page--mine is a face for radio). I believe that it may be genetic in nature, but what of those that don't have a similar disposition, is their hair soft and attractive?
For those on the ads in the magazines, on TV and plastered on signs around the neighborhood, I can envision a level of dilligence, on a daily basis, needed to maintain their appearance at that level. Sure, there are those that are natural beauties, but they're the lucky ones. Why is this topic even being broached on an IT blog? Simple, it proves a point.
Many businesses like to consider themselves the natural beauties, the exceptions, that typically stand out of the crowd for the right reasons. My concern is that there are too many companies that are under this misconception and fail to take matters into their hands. Should you hire a tech to perform regular maintenance on your systems, network, and servers or should you let them continue, on their own, to function holistically without any special attention or care? If I were to pose the question to you, "What have you done for your hair lately?" you might respond that you washed it, cut it, gave it a blow-dry or styled it with mousse. But what would your response be if I asked you about your network? Would you have the same enthusiasm or poise to reply that you recently updated this, upgraded that, or simply ran a scan?
I think it is clear that people have personal priorities; shouldn't businesses have their sets of priorities, too?! Let's start a revolution, let's monitor our computers for issues, maintain system and application updates, perform scans and clean the clutter! If you find that your computers run slowly or make strange noises, it's time to come to your senses and call your support professional. We enable our clients to perform better, produce consistently, and sleep better knowing that their systems are maintained and monitored. Do you suffer from excessive SPAM? Have you been hit with a virus or malware lately? Did it inconvenience you or your company in terms of meeting a deadline or, simply, completing your daily tasks? If you would like to know more about maintaining your systems, please give us a call at (201) 797-5050 or contact us at fred@tech4now.com. We can help you to run your system in a Hassle-Free manner giving you peace-of-mind and time to focus on what YOU do best--run YOUR business. The choice is yours, do you want beautiful hair or knots?
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
What to do with your college-bound students
For many years, I have been asked by the parents of college-bound students how to help them prepare for their child's next step, "My child is going to X University next fall. What computer should I buy for her/him?"
The First Question In Reply
Colleges and universities typically specify which hardware platforms and software suites are required by students in their various schools. If a student is attending a school for Engineering, that student may have a different set of requirements than one who will be studying Art or Marketing. In fact, the students may be expected to purchase their systems through the university on account of the fact that they may have special pricing arrangements for their attendees or may have a preconfigured system available at a specific vendor due to particular needs borne by the students.
Do not immediately presume that your child will need a "PC." Some schools may have Macintosh computers on their list of requirements. Many schools that focus on the graphic arts prefer to use the "Mac" inasmuch as it is designed to work well with design programs and usually have high-end graphics support to display the work better. If, on the other hand, your child will be in a general course of studies, there is the possibility that your child may have no particular specifications from the school. When this happens, it is incumbent upon your student to solicit the information from his/her counselor during the orientation session. Many students attend these sessions weeks or months before they actually attend the universities or colleges. If your child "forgot" to get this information in person, pressure him/her to contact the school and/or faculty to help identify any special needs that will need to be addressed.
What If...?
Your child has attended the orientation session and no information was given. He/she has already contacted the school and the faculty in the chosen discipline, yet nothing has been advised and no one would give any specifics to help you determine what needs to be purchased. Well, here are some additional thoughts to entertain...
The First Question In Reply
Colleges and universities typically specify which hardware platforms and software suites are required by students in their various schools. If a student is attending a school for Engineering, that student may have a different set of requirements than one who will be studying Art or Marketing. In fact, the students may be expected to purchase their systems through the university on account of the fact that they may have special pricing arrangements for their attendees or may have a preconfigured system available at a specific vendor due to particular needs borne by the students.
Do not immediately presume that your child will need a "PC." Some schools may have Macintosh computers on their list of requirements. Many schools that focus on the graphic arts prefer to use the "Mac" inasmuch as it is designed to work well with design programs and usually have high-end graphics support to display the work better. If, on the other hand, your child will be in a general course of studies, there is the possibility that your child may have no particular specifications from the school. When this happens, it is incumbent upon your student to solicit the information from his/her counselor during the orientation session. Many students attend these sessions weeks or months before they actually attend the universities or colleges. If your child "forgot" to get this information in person, pressure him/her to contact the school and/or faculty to help identify any special needs that will need to be addressed.
What If...?
Your child has attended the orientation session and no information was given. He/she has already contacted the school and the faculty in the chosen discipline, yet nothing has been advised and no one would give any specifics to help you determine what needs to be purchased. Well, here are some additional thoughts to entertain...
- Does the school have a local computer support company with which they are aligned for sales and service? Are they available on campus? Are they reasonably priced?
- Does the school have its own on campus support facilities for all students on the hardware/operating system that your child wishes to use? Are they reasonably priced?
- Is there anyone in the college, student or graduate, that is willing to share his/her insights on what will be the most appropriate technology for your child?
- Is your child adept and technologically savvy enough to be, to some extent, self-sufficient? (Maybe your child will organically grow a business like Michael Dell.)
I Guess "No" Was The Answer
If your child's school provides little feedback and you cannot locate a "friendly" alumnus, then the ball is in your court. Do you know if your student will be requiring a high-end computer or will a simple one do? If your child has a specific course of study, contact a local business and ask if they have any suggestions. Most will be willing to give answers to a few directed questions for the sake of good will and community service. If you have no idea, you may wish to go down the middle ground and buy a computer now with a generic set of tools -- Word Processor, Spreadsheet program, and presentation suite. One of the most popular offerings is the Microsoft Office Student and Home Edition. This software is significantly discounted to NON-COMMERCIAL users to grow their needs in the business world. If you wish to save even more money, you may be able to use the OpenOffice.org suites. These applications are available online FREE OF CHARGE.
If your child will be in a dormitory, you may have a choice between a desktop computer and a laptop. Keep in mind, a desktop will provide greater value in terms of the features and price, BUT it will not necessarily work best for your child if he/she needs to use the computer in a classroom environment, a library, or "on the road." Laptops are more popular in the academic environment, but because so many people have them, you must make sure to protect what you do have due to its ability to become lost and never recovered.
Some Things That You May Do To Protect Them...
Your child's laptop is a generic tool. It will be difficult to distinguish it from another students if there is a dispute, so how can you protect your/your student's system?- Albeit a visual deterrent, laptop locks (cables that attach to the device) may reduce the likelihood for theft. A laptop should not be left unattended for a number of reasons, but if you must turn your head, this may help.
- Put a log on password on the computer. By limiting the access to the contents of the computer, your child may limit unauthorized access to his/her work or security controls on the machine.
- Laptops have a miraculous way of growing legs and jumping off of desks or leaping from knapsacks and attache cases. When you purchase the machine, consider spending extra on an accidental protection policy in addition to the warranty. This way, if the machine should be dropped and the screen breaks, it can be replaced without extensive issues and be promptly restored to functionality by the manufacturer or their support representation.
- Acquire a laptop that uses a fingerprint (biometric) control for log in. Although a bit overboard, this, too, may help reduce the likelihood of unauthorized access. Be advised, however, that if the system is dropped and experiences system corruption, access to the computer may be compromised.
- Laptops are now protected like cars using Lo-Jack. You can pay for a subscription or buy a system with the ability built-in. In the event of a theft, your child contacts the Lo-Jack phone number (or equivalent) and has them enable the "beaconing" feature. Very often, if the machine is online, it can be located within a distance of 33 feet. Often, this may be enough to recover the device.
All of the above may be considered, but none are required. Nothing is a replacement for vigilance when it comes to maintaining and retaining your prized possession. In addition to concerns about theft, your student should also consider two critical items:
- Backup - Make a copy of the important documents on a media or site that will not be compromised in the event of loss or "infection."
- Data Security - Software installed on the computer to reduce the likelihood of infection while the user accesses the Internet, opens files, or reads e-mail. Security software may be provided as an accommodation from the school or should be purchased from either the vendor online or though a local merchant (e.g., bookstore or superstore). These programs will often include Antivirus, Anti-SPAM and a Firewall application to protect your work.
A Final Word...
The laptop that your child acquires for school may have his/her personal touch or preferences involved. We have repaired computers for students, as well as businesses. Some are pink with pink carrying cases, others are studded or labeled with band names. This is your child's opportunity to be expressive in addition to functional. Try to be flexible when he/she wants a color that doesn't meet your fancy, it may prove helpful if they ever need to distinguish it from another should the theft rate rise at the school.
When shopping for a computer, have your child play an active role in the selection process. He/she may like having a wide screen or might prefer to use a number pad on the laptop keyboard. Others may want an eraserhead to navigate while others prefer a mouse. Not only should you visit stores for the "hands-on" experience, but visit websites of the major vendors to get a feature/price comparison. Don't be too shy to call the vendor to negotiate for a more competitive price on their product. Best of all, your child will be learning to become an independent and contributing member of society. Give him/her as much encouragement as possible, afterall, this is your legacy.
If you have found this to be helpful, we'd love to get your feedback. If you have a subject that you wish to learn more about, please feel free to contact us at fred@tech4now.com. We also have a super website offering a plethora of resources from which to benefit both personally and professionally--visit it at http://www.tech4now.com/. Thank you.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Viewing Techniques To Streamline Your Production Day
The other day, I was working at the office of a older man. He had been working with spreadsheets and Word documents. He was a very experienced and thorough worker, yet his colleagues were finding more and more errors in his work. In spite of his efforts to scrutinize the screen, many of his errors were attributable to his diminishing eyesight. I was called in to see what I could recommend to the company to improve the situation.
What Did You Suggest To Him?
The first suggestion was to change the resolution on his computer screen. The computer was running Windows XP. He had just acquired a new 21" wide screen monitor and was still using the resolution that was set by the system to use as much video real estate as possible (read high resolution). By right-clicking on the wallpaper and clicking on Properties. Once the dialog box appeared, we clicked on the Settings tab (top right). On the middle left of the settings box was a slider for the Screen Resolution. We changed it from 1440 x 900 pixels (picture elements) to a lower resolution -- 1280 x 720 or 800 x 600. Either selection allowed him to see icons and text in an effectively larger font. This made him happy.
The next suggestion that saved him time was to Maximize the application on the screen not by double-clicking on the middle icon in the upper right corner, but double-clicking on the title bar of the application window itself. His opportunity to hit the mark was improved by about 50-fold. Now, he was working on an improved setup that allowed him to see things better, but there was more that he could do to improve his viewing opportunity--most applications allow the user to ZOOM in or ZOOM out to quickly assess the contents of the screen.
Quicker Methods To Zoom In And Out
Most applications have keyboard shortcuts to facilitate function and improve productivity. The Microsoft Office Suites and Internet Explorer (for example) are no exception. If you are working in Internet Explorer, all you need to do to Zoom In is press the CTRL key and + (plus sign) at the same time. To reverse the process and Zoom Out, just press the CTRL key and - (minus sign) at the same time. You may be pleasantly surprised by the ease at which you may now function. I, for one, need glasses for myopia (nearsightedness) and often need larger type to see all that I need to know. Using these keyboard shortcuts save precious time in my limited 24-hour day. Another method to perform the Zoom quickly is to hold down the CTRL key when you move the wheel on your mouse. One direction will increase size, the other direction will reduce. Try it now while you read this blog.
Besides being able to adjust the Zoom level of your screen view, you can also adjust font size or text size. In Word and other applications, usually this option is found in the View Menu to use the Zoom or Full Screen Mode (more real estate to view with). If you wish to view Internet Explorer in Full Screen Mode, just press the F11 function key. If you wish to change the size of the fonts, remember that the fonts sizes are retained by the document, so if it is printed, you may use A LOT OF PAPER! If you are in Internet Explorer, another option is to select the View Menu, Text Size option. There you may choose to see your web pages' text in smallest to largest fonts. This, too, is useful, but the larger fonts may significantly modify the appearance and feel of the webpage.
Any Other Brilliant Ideas?
The last suggestion that we'll make today is to purchase a second monitor. Prices on monitors have dropped substantially and their thinner profiles make it easier to fit more than one on a desktop. By purchasing a multi-output video card to support added monitors, you will find that you can get more done because you can take more in at once. If you purchase a video card (and monitors) that support the newer Digital Video Input (DVI), you will get a sharper picture. A similar comparison might be to compare a standard TV signal to a High Definition (HD) signal. If you are interested in upgrading your system to provide you with dual screens or more, feel free to contact us at fred@tech4now.com or call us at (201) 797-5050. You may also visit our website for added ideas to enhance your productivity. We are here to help and can show you how this nominal investment in your systems may result in a direct increase in your bottom line.
What Did You Suggest To Him?
The first suggestion was to change the resolution on his computer screen. The computer was running Windows XP. He had just acquired a new 21" wide screen monitor and was still using the resolution that was set by the system to use as much video real estate as possible (read high resolution). By right-clicking on the wallpaper and clicking on Properties. Once the dialog box appeared, we clicked on the Settings tab (top right). On the middle left of the settings box was a slider for the Screen Resolution. We changed it from 1440 x 900 pixels (picture elements) to a lower resolution -- 1280 x 720 or 800 x 600. Either selection allowed him to see icons and text in an effectively larger font. This made him happy.
The next suggestion that saved him time was to Maximize the application on the screen not by double-clicking on the middle icon in the upper right corner, but double-clicking on the title bar of the application window itself. His opportunity to hit the mark was improved by about 50-fold. Now, he was working on an improved setup that allowed him to see things better, but there was more that he could do to improve his viewing opportunity--most applications allow the user to ZOOM in or ZOOM out to quickly assess the contents of the screen.
Quicker Methods To Zoom In And Out
Most applications have keyboard shortcuts to facilitate function and improve productivity. The Microsoft Office Suites and Internet Explorer (for example) are no exception. If you are working in Internet Explorer, all you need to do to Zoom In is press the CTRL key and + (plus sign) at the same time. To reverse the process and Zoom Out, just press the CTRL key and - (minus sign) at the same time. You may be pleasantly surprised by the ease at which you may now function. I, for one, need glasses for myopia (nearsightedness) and often need larger type to see all that I need to know. Using these keyboard shortcuts save precious time in my limited 24-hour day. Another method to perform the Zoom quickly is to hold down the CTRL key when you move the wheel on your mouse. One direction will increase size, the other direction will reduce. Try it now while you read this blog.
Besides being able to adjust the Zoom level of your screen view, you can also adjust font size or text size. In Word and other applications, usually this option is found in the View Menu to use the Zoom or Full Screen Mode (more real estate to view with). If you wish to view Internet Explorer in Full Screen Mode, just press the F11 function key. If you wish to change the size of the fonts, remember that the fonts sizes are retained by the document, so if it is printed, you may use A LOT OF PAPER! If you are in Internet Explorer, another option is to select the View Menu, Text Size option. There you may choose to see your web pages' text in smallest to largest fonts. This, too, is useful, but the larger fonts may significantly modify the appearance and feel of the webpage.
Any Other Brilliant Ideas?
The last suggestion that we'll make today is to purchase a second monitor. Prices on monitors have dropped substantially and their thinner profiles make it easier to fit more than one on a desktop. By purchasing a multi-output video card to support added monitors, you will find that you can get more done because you can take more in at once. If you purchase a video card (and monitors) that support the newer Digital Video Input (DVI), you will get a sharper picture. A similar comparison might be to compare a standard TV signal to a High Definition (HD) signal. If you are interested in upgrading your system to provide you with dual screens or more, feel free to contact us at fred@tech4now.com or call us at (201) 797-5050. You may also visit our website for added ideas to enhance your productivity. We are here to help and can show you how this nominal investment in your systems may result in a direct increase in your bottom line.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Always Double Check To Dot Your I's and Cross Your T's
Growing up years ago, the teachers that taught English constantly reminded us that the best friend to a person writing a composition is a wastebasket. The whole thought of reviewing your work and tossing it to the trash had a different level of meaning in those days. Back then, we used pen and paper or a typewriter. If you made many mistakes typing or had poor handwriting, it was in your best interest to start again. After all, you only have one opportunity to make a "first impression."
It Still Holds True To This Day
The popularity of the computer has changed the attitude of those that write or "do journalism," but should it encourage writers NOT to proofread their work? Stop and consider the following situation and YOU determine whether it is called for... You are a Sales Representative for MegaCorp. You and your team has been shuttling back and forth overseas to close a mega deal. The team has tasked you to send the thank you note to your counterparts in the client's office. You come home late from celebrating the pending success, you may have enjoyed too much wine, you're a bit jaded from all of the travel. Now, you sit yourself down to draft the message. No one else is around, you reviewed your text and quickly decide that it's "good enough" to send. BAM! It's out there.
The Next Day...
You start your day off normally. Nothing exceptional, just excitement about closing the deal. Your phone rings. Your boss would like you to step in to her office to discuss the e-mail message that you sent on behalf of the team. Apparently, it was not the best foot forward and her counterpart in the transaction has expressed concern about the lax attitude demonstrated by her team toward their office. She would like to see a copy of the message. She also wants to know why no one else was consulted BEFORE it was sent. You sit in the chair feeling a little sheepish, rather uncomfortable, and sensing a chill. Now, what?!
What Could Have Been
You kick yourself as you leave her office. She was absolutely justified in reprimanding you for your actions and lack of forethought. If only you had waited, considered the ramifications of your actions and held off on your e-mail, you might have been lauded for your success. Now, the team will have to do some quick recovery work to salvage the deal as a result of your action. It may mean your job, it may mean a demotion. Either way, it is not good.
You Are Not Alone
The speed at which communications occurs in today's world is incredible. You can send a message to a person on the other side of the world and have it delivered within seconds. A news person standing in the Middle East can deliver a report in high definition within seconds of any event that occurs to an audience in California or New York. Media has become such a powerful tool, now it has even greater strength. BUT, as George Santayana said... "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Recently, CNN Mideast Affairs editor, Octavia Nasr lost her post after she allegedly tweeted her respect for Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah.
Veteran reporter, Helen Thomas was pressured to retire after she made a comment which was posted online and was readily perceived as anti-Semitic. Too many people have met their demise after communicating messages electronically. Some have done so by will, others, not necessarily, but the message was distributed nonetheless.
The Message To Deliver
The point of this article is to remind you that the Internet is not a private space. If you decide to post images on your Facebook account of your living it up at a party, don't be surprised when you are confronted by someone challenging your discretion. Be discreet in your posts and messages, and, for goodness sake, remember to proofread whatever you post. You only have one opportunity to make a first impression.
If you feel that this has served you in a positive way and wish to learn more, feel free to contact us to recommend or request additional subjects that you wish to read about. If we can accommodate you, the article may appear in the near future. If we are unfamiliar with the subject, we may research it and report our findings. If you wish to learn more about computers, networking and technology, please visit our blog often or visit our website at http://www.tech4now.com/.
It Still Holds True To This Day
The popularity of the computer has changed the attitude of those that write or "do journalism," but should it encourage writers NOT to proofread their work? Stop and consider the following situation and YOU determine whether it is called for... You are a Sales Representative for MegaCorp. You and your team has been shuttling back and forth overseas to close a mega deal. The team has tasked you to send the thank you note to your counterparts in the client's office. You come home late from celebrating the pending success, you may have enjoyed too much wine, you're a bit jaded from all of the travel. Now, you sit yourself down to draft the message. No one else is around, you reviewed your text and quickly decide that it's "good enough" to send. BAM! It's out there.
The Next Day...
You start your day off normally. Nothing exceptional, just excitement about closing the deal. Your phone rings. Your boss would like you to step in to her office to discuss the e-mail message that you sent on behalf of the team. Apparently, it was not the best foot forward and her counterpart in the transaction has expressed concern about the lax attitude demonstrated by her team toward their office. She would like to see a copy of the message. She also wants to know why no one else was consulted BEFORE it was sent. You sit in the chair feeling a little sheepish, rather uncomfortable, and sensing a chill. Now, what?!
What Could Have Been
You kick yourself as you leave her office. She was absolutely justified in reprimanding you for your actions and lack of forethought. If only you had waited, considered the ramifications of your actions and held off on your e-mail, you might have been lauded for your success. Now, the team will have to do some quick recovery work to salvage the deal as a result of your action. It may mean your job, it may mean a demotion. Either way, it is not good.
You Are Not Alone
The speed at which communications occurs in today's world is incredible. You can send a message to a person on the other side of the world and have it delivered within seconds. A news person standing in the Middle East can deliver a report in high definition within seconds of any event that occurs to an audience in California or New York. Media has become such a powerful tool, now it has even greater strength. BUT, as George Santayana said... "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Recently, CNN Mideast Affairs editor, Octavia Nasr lost her post after she allegedly tweeted her respect for Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah.
Veteran reporter, Helen Thomas was pressured to retire after she made a comment which was posted online and was readily perceived as anti-Semitic. Too many people have met their demise after communicating messages electronically. Some have done so by will, others, not necessarily, but the message was distributed nonetheless.
The Message To Deliver
The point of this article is to remind you that the Internet is not a private space. If you decide to post images on your Facebook account of your living it up at a party, don't be surprised when you are confronted by someone challenging your discretion. Be discreet in your posts and messages, and, for goodness sake, remember to proofread whatever you post. You only have one opportunity to make a first impression.
If you feel that this has served you in a positive way and wish to learn more, feel free to contact us to recommend or request additional subjects that you wish to read about. If we can accommodate you, the article may appear in the near future. If we are unfamiliar with the subject, we may research it and report our findings. If you wish to learn more about computers, networking and technology, please visit our blog often or visit our website at http://www.tech4now.com/.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Improving Your Productivity (Sometimes) With Upgrades
Upgrades are released on a regular basis from software developers. It is their way to maintain an established customer base by delivering enhancements to the way users work, fortify the code to protect against vulnerabilities in the software's security, and to make sure that the funds for development don't go dry by selling: More Better, More Faster.
Not All Upgrades Are Worth Pursuing
Two particular upgrades come to mind when I consider the "misfires." The first was about four years ago, a large corporation had just released its second service pack to the public for its major operating system. Unfortunately, when it was delivered over the Internet the first time, there were some flaws in the deliverable that caused many of the computers to "Blue Screen." The developer, of course, had a clause in the End User Licensing Agreement (EULA) that assured it would not be responsible for contingent liability, but it still had to contend with a public relations nightmare. Many of the corporations that used the software tried to recover some of their losses from the developer under the scope of negligence, not being a lawyer, I could not give you any pertinent details to their case outcomes.
The other upgrade, regarding the same company, involved its release of the "next" operating system. That, too, was not tremendously successful, but for different reasons. This upgrade had been overengineered by those removed from the process. Imagine a world in which all laws and legislation were carried out by lawyers (Oops! Bad example, that is the case!). Okay, let's say a pencil were to be designed by an engineer, not an artist or writer. The pencil may be able to help the user write, but it may require an elaborate setup to enable the writer to actually use the pencil. Without belaboring the issue, my point is that those that use, try to improve. Those that only design, fail to see the practical benefits of certain enhancements and only design for design's sake.
Well, that is what happened with this operating system. It had security features that no one could work with; an interface that took a long time for users to adopt; and, all-in-all, could be considered a marketing flop. When the same company released its latest incarnation, they capitalized on the fact that the new operating system "was designed by ME (the end user)" and the company took its instructions from the public, not the software engineers.
Many of you (over thirty) will clearly recall when a high profile beverage company decided to release a "NEW" recipe of its world famous drink in the mid-1980s. It had a well known celebrity promoting the drink. He cited its new exciting flavor and how the drink was "better than ever before." The marketing built up to the release of the drinks debut over an extended period. Consumers saw the dwindling presence of the "Old" product. Only a few months after the release, it became clear that the original flavor was the one that had the following and the "New" product was promptly limited in the stores.
Some Happier Stories...
Microsoft may be known for being a marketing machine--producing new applications or upgrades on a consistent basis. This practice has managed (for the most part) to keep both the end users and the stockholders happy. The latest version of their commercially available operating system, Windows 7, has proven to be stable and friendly to users. As with any changes in user interface (UI), one can expect to contend with a learning curve as adjustments and adaptation occur. If a user changed from Windows XP to Windows 7, there is a modest amount of adjustment that they will go through; however, for those abandoning Vista for Windows 7, the change is modest and the acceptance is high. The same can be said recently for the changes from Microsoft Office 2007 to Office 2010. Although the products hold close functional similarities, the newer enhancements to the 2010 product make it easier for the transition from Office 2003 and older.
We have been using the Microsoft operating systems and application suites for decades. Even though change was painful and acceptance slow, we have grown to appreciate a number of the improvements built into the newer versions. If you have the opportunity (summer is often a slow time for many businesses), this may be a good opportunity for you to upgrade your business' application software and operating systems. While you're at it, you might even consider upgrading your server, they've been greatly improved, too!
If you need more information on how to upgrade or the benefits of upgrading feel free to contact us at (201) 797-5050 or visit our website, http://www.tech4now.com/, for more links to give you better insights.
Not All Upgrades Are Worth Pursuing
Two particular upgrades come to mind when I consider the "misfires." The first was about four years ago, a large corporation had just released its second service pack to the public for its major operating system. Unfortunately, when it was delivered over the Internet the first time, there were some flaws in the deliverable that caused many of the computers to "Blue Screen." The developer, of course, had a clause in the End User Licensing Agreement (EULA) that assured it would not be responsible for contingent liability, but it still had to contend with a public relations nightmare. Many of the corporations that used the software tried to recover some of their losses from the developer under the scope of negligence, not being a lawyer, I could not give you any pertinent details to their case outcomes.
The other upgrade, regarding the same company, involved its release of the "next" operating system. That, too, was not tremendously successful, but for different reasons. This upgrade had been overengineered by those removed from the process. Imagine a world in which all laws and legislation were carried out by lawyers (Oops! Bad example, that is the case!). Okay, let's say a pencil were to be designed by an engineer, not an artist or writer. The pencil may be able to help the user write, but it may require an elaborate setup to enable the writer to actually use the pencil. Without belaboring the issue, my point is that those that use, try to improve. Those that only design, fail to see the practical benefits of certain enhancements and only design for design's sake.
Well, that is what happened with this operating system. It had security features that no one could work with; an interface that took a long time for users to adopt; and, all-in-all, could be considered a marketing flop. When the same company released its latest incarnation, they capitalized on the fact that the new operating system "was designed by ME (the end user)" and the company took its instructions from the public, not the software engineers.
Many of you (over thirty) will clearly recall when a high profile beverage company decided to release a "NEW" recipe of its world famous drink in the mid-1980s. It had a well known celebrity promoting the drink. He cited its new exciting flavor and how the drink was "better than ever before." The marketing built up to the release of the drinks debut over an extended period. Consumers saw the dwindling presence of the "Old" product. Only a few months after the release, it became clear that the original flavor was the one that had the following and the "New" product was promptly limited in the stores.
Some Happier Stories...
Microsoft may be known for being a marketing machine--producing new applications or upgrades on a consistent basis. This practice has managed (for the most part) to keep both the end users and the stockholders happy. The latest version of their commercially available operating system, Windows 7, has proven to be stable and friendly to users. As with any changes in user interface (UI), one can expect to contend with a learning curve as adjustments and adaptation occur. If a user changed from Windows XP to Windows 7, there is a modest amount of adjustment that they will go through; however, for those abandoning Vista for Windows 7, the change is modest and the acceptance is high. The same can be said recently for the changes from Microsoft Office 2007 to Office 2010. Although the products hold close functional similarities, the newer enhancements to the 2010 product make it easier for the transition from Office 2003 and older.
We have been using the Microsoft operating systems and application suites for decades. Even though change was painful and acceptance slow, we have grown to appreciate a number of the improvements built into the newer versions. If you have the opportunity (summer is often a slow time for many businesses), this may be a good opportunity for you to upgrade your business' application software and operating systems. While you're at it, you might even consider upgrading your server, they've been greatly improved, too!
If you need more information on how to upgrade or the benefits of upgrading feel free to contact us at (201) 797-5050 or visit our website, http://www.tech4now.com/, for more links to give you better insights.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Like Building A House Of Cards - A Tutorial
When a network is established in an office or a home, some of the interactions are as tenuous as a house of cards. There are a number of dependencies between the computers, the router and the protocols that most end users are gracefully sheltered from using a setup CD packaged with the router.
How Does It Work?
Envision your home: A building with a number affixed to the outside to clearly make it a uniquely labeled address. At the front of the house is the door. Here you either grant or deny passage. Once inside the house, there are rooms, each one designated for an individual's space or for a function (e.g., bathroom or kitchen).
A computer network can apply similar descriptions to its parts. The Internet represents the outside world. When someone wants to visit your site, they must connect to your unique address in the world. Once they have found your address, they call at the appropriate port (front door) to request access. If access is granted, then they may try to connect to a computer (a room) within your local area network (LAN) (the house's interior). The computers in your LAN may need to connect to the outside world. In order to do so, they must know where the main exit is from the LAN. This is referred to the gateway. You may compare the gateway to the front door. In fact, the gateway address will be the address of the router on the LAN-side (the inside of the front door).
Who gives out the addresses?
Just as a town has a system for distributing addresses to buildings within its jurisdiction, a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Server has its range for distributing unique Internet Protocol (IP) addresses dynamically ("on the fly")to its scope of computers within the LAN. Every computer that has a network interface card (NIC) possesses a unique serial number that it uses as its MAC (media access control) address. The router then tracks, in its memory, the details of all IP addresses given out. [Try not to let the computer acronyms confuse you, I just don't want you to associate MAC to Macintosh. Macintosh, PCs, and Unix machines all have MAC addresses.] The DHCP Server, which can be the router or a server, communicates with a computer when it powers up to help it determine which unique IP address it shall use. Now, we have unique addresses given out to computers on our local area network. We also have unique IP addresses assigned to all computers on the Internet.
How do we identify a computer known as www.tech4now.com?
Stop and consider how most humans do not feel very comfortable in trying to memorize random numbers. In an effort to make life easier for the humans using computers, wise computer scientists developed a system known as the Domain Name System or DNS. DNS is the mnemonic method used to resolve a computer's address based upon its name. Imaging a gigantic table of names and numbers floating around in cyberspace available for each and every computer to reference when it needs to determine what the corresponding address is for each address that someone types into a browser. That is where DNS comes into play. If you were to open a DOS windows (START/Run/"CMD") and type "ping www.tech4now.com", the computer would go out to the Internet (via the Gateway [router]) resolve the address for the computer and advise you of the exact unique address for the computer responding to the name www.tech4now.com. If you checked it today, the value returned would be 206.188.192.76. You could use this value to visit our website. All you need to do is type http://206.188.192.76, it would have the same effect as typing http://www.tech4now.com.
How Does A Computer Get All Of The Addresses?
Remember we discussed DHCP? Well, not only does the DHCP Server give the requesting computer an IP address, it also gives it the information necessary for it to participate in a network--the gateway address (the door to the outside), DNS Servers (how to find the gigantic address resolution table), and the lease term (how long the computer may use its unique address before it must either renew or relinquish the address. Don't worry, most of the time, it keeps the same address.). We are keeping this simple for getting our point across.
Why Are You Explaining This Now?
Last week, one of our clients had issues with their Internet connection--one moment that could surf the web, the next moment, no one could. As a result of a suggestion from the ISP's tech, the client rebooted (powered off and on) their router. After the router had powered back up, the client's computers could, once again, access the Internet. They were very happy until someone needed to print to a network printer that was using a dynamic IP address. Do you remember how I described the router tracking the IP address information in its memory? What do you think happened to that information when the router was restarted? Because the address given to the printer was dynamic (it could change) rather than a static (non-changing) IP address, the printer got a new address from the router. Unfortunately for my clients, all of their computers knew the printing for their computers had to go to the IP address 192.168.100.109 rather than 192.168.100.101. The modest change in the printer's IP address was enough to reek havoc in their network. A quick visit and a modest change to the printer's settings made it a static address to always remember a specific unique address--problem solved. But the thing to remember here is that the printer's address had not been written in stone, but on the wind.
Lesson To Be Learned
James Bond drove a car that had a license plate which rotated to change its numbers and country of origin. By changing its identification, the adversaries were confused and, perhaps, would pursue the wrong vehicle. If you reboot your router and use dynamic addressing for all components of your network, you, too, may confuse the other computers in the network into believing that they are communicating with the right machine while they are not. All critical network resources should be given static IPs or DHCP reservations on the DHCP server to assure there addresses do not change. If you configure your network correctly, it will perform beautifully, if you don't, it's only a matter of time before things begin to fail.
If you found this to be an informative and useful article, please let us know. For support on your network and to make sure you don't lose functionality at the most inopportune moment, call us and we'll get you back on your feet or put you there for the first time. We can be found online at www.tech4now.com, e-mailed at fred@tech4now.com or phoned at (201) 797-5050.
How Does It Work?
Envision your home: A building with a number affixed to the outside to clearly make it a uniquely labeled address. At the front of the house is the door. Here you either grant or deny passage. Once inside the house, there are rooms, each one designated for an individual's space or for a function (e.g., bathroom or kitchen).
A computer network can apply similar descriptions to its parts. The Internet represents the outside world. When someone wants to visit your site, they must connect to your unique address in the world. Once they have found your address, they call at the appropriate port (front door) to request access. If access is granted, then they may try to connect to a computer (a room) within your local area network (LAN) (the house's interior). The computers in your LAN may need to connect to the outside world. In order to do so, they must know where the main exit is from the LAN. This is referred to the gateway. You may compare the gateway to the front door. In fact, the gateway address will be the address of the router on the LAN-side (the inside of the front door).
Who gives out the addresses?
Just as a town has a system for distributing addresses to buildings within its jurisdiction, a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Server has its range for distributing unique Internet Protocol (IP) addresses dynamically ("on the fly")to its scope of computers within the LAN. Every computer that has a network interface card (NIC) possesses a unique serial number that it uses as its MAC (media access control) address. The router then tracks, in its memory, the details of all IP addresses given out. [Try not to let the computer acronyms confuse you, I just don't want you to associate MAC to Macintosh. Macintosh, PCs, and Unix machines all have MAC addresses.] The DHCP Server, which can be the router or a server, communicates with a computer when it powers up to help it determine which unique IP address it shall use. Now, we have unique addresses given out to computers on our local area network. We also have unique IP addresses assigned to all computers on the Internet.
How do we identify a computer known as www.tech4now.com?
Stop and consider how most humans do not feel very comfortable in trying to memorize random numbers. In an effort to make life easier for the humans using computers, wise computer scientists developed a system known as the Domain Name System or DNS. DNS is the mnemonic method used to resolve a computer's address based upon its name. Imaging a gigantic table of names and numbers floating around in cyberspace available for each and every computer to reference when it needs to determine what the corresponding address is for each address that someone types into a browser. That is where DNS comes into play. If you were to open a DOS windows (START/Run/"CMD") and type "ping www.tech4now.com", the computer would go out to the Internet (via the Gateway [router]) resolve the address for the computer and advise you of the exact unique address for the computer responding to the name www.tech4now.com. If you checked it today, the value returned would be 206.188.192.76. You could use this value to visit our website. All you need to do is type http://206.188.192.76, it would have the same effect as typing http://www.tech4now.com.
How Does A Computer Get All Of The Addresses?
Remember we discussed DHCP? Well, not only does the DHCP Server give the requesting computer an IP address, it also gives it the information necessary for it to participate in a network--the gateway address (the door to the outside), DNS Servers (how to find the gigantic address resolution table), and the lease term (how long the computer may use its unique address before it must either renew or relinquish the address. Don't worry, most of the time, it keeps the same address.). We are keeping this simple for getting our point across.
Why Are You Explaining This Now?
Last week, one of our clients had issues with their Internet connection--one moment that could surf the web, the next moment, no one could. As a result of a suggestion from the ISP's tech, the client rebooted (powered off and on) their router. After the router had powered back up, the client's computers could, once again, access the Internet. They were very happy until someone needed to print to a network printer that was using a dynamic IP address. Do you remember how I described the router tracking the IP address information in its memory? What do you think happened to that information when the router was restarted? Because the address given to the printer was dynamic (it could change) rather than a static (non-changing) IP address, the printer got a new address from the router. Unfortunately for my clients, all of their computers knew the printing for their computers had to go to the IP address 192.168.100.109 rather than 192.168.100.101. The modest change in the printer's IP address was enough to reek havoc in their network. A quick visit and a modest change to the printer's settings made it a static address to always remember a specific unique address--problem solved. But the thing to remember here is that the printer's address had not been written in stone, but on the wind.
Lesson To Be Learned
James Bond drove a car that had a license plate which rotated to change its numbers and country of origin. By changing its identification, the adversaries were confused and, perhaps, would pursue the wrong vehicle. If you reboot your router and use dynamic addressing for all components of your network, you, too, may confuse the other computers in the network into believing that they are communicating with the right machine while they are not. All critical network resources should be given static IPs or DHCP reservations on the DHCP server to assure there addresses do not change. If you configure your network correctly, it will perform beautifully, if you don't, it's only a matter of time before things begin to fail.
If you found this to be an informative and useful article, please let us know. For support on your network and to make sure you don't lose functionality at the most inopportune moment, call us and we'll get you back on your feet or put you there for the first time. We can be found online at www.tech4now.com, e-mailed at fred@tech4now.com or phoned at (201) 797-5050.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
A Client's Emancipation Proclamation
With serious apologies to President Abraham Lincoln, I wanted to borrow his phrase to succinctly describe a dialog that I had the other day with one of our clients...
My client had recently become preoccupied about the activities of a staff member. He had expressed concern regarding that person's ability to access sensitive files as well as that person's ability to modify those files without detection. This client has been with us many years, but never truly tapped us as a resource for his business.
As it turned out, he asked us many direct questions about his business, his infrastructure, and his benefits. By the time he had finished his queries, he was satisfied that the business was not only secure, but he was impressed by the nature of how we provided such a benefit and that it was already available to him. His excitement level was very high and he could not stop expressing how this knowledge had given him a greater command over the information used by his firm. He continued to state how he now felt empowered and sensed an incredible feeling about running his business in a more confident and controlled manner.
Why Do I Cite This Here?
Too many businesses are run in a haphazard and uncontrolled manner. Critical business data is exposed and access to it is totally open. Would you intentionally leave your wallet filled with cash on the floor of a shopping mall's food court? If you did, would you expect it to be returned to you intact? What could you see as the potential risks of leaving the wallet unattended? The cash might magically disappear, your credit card numbers might inadvertently be copied for "posterity's sake" by a passerby, or perhaps, your driver's license or other personal IDs might "wander". Security-wise, consider the same concerns for your company's critical data.
If you are a doctor's office, how do you comply with HIPAA? If you accept credit cards from clients, how do you secure their Personal Credit Information (PCI)? If you are a financial firm, how do you keep your clients' investments private? Last, but not least, if you have any data, how do you keep it under control as priviledged information? If you are unsure how to accomplish these tasks and mitigate these concerns, I strongly suggest that you confer with your IT Consultant. If you don't have one and are located in the area of Northern New Jersey, please feel free to contact us through my email at fred@tech4now.com or call us for an appointment at (201) 797-5050. This is not for the sake of promoting our business, it is with the aim of raising your awareness of data security and maintaining confidences. The critical aspect of data security is to implement the controls BEFORE they are needed. Performing a posthumous forensic investigation is not only more costly, but significantly less effective. Take the time now to consider what your concerns really are, touch base with your Trusted Business Advisor and identify the facets of your business that need attention. Attending to these items now, will payoff in their potential benefits down the road. Afterall, if you lose your integrity, what have you got left?
My client had recently become preoccupied about the activities of a staff member. He had expressed concern regarding that person's ability to access sensitive files as well as that person's ability to modify those files without detection. This client has been with us many years, but never truly tapped us as a resource for his business.
As it turned out, he asked us many direct questions about his business, his infrastructure, and his benefits. By the time he had finished his queries, he was satisfied that the business was not only secure, but he was impressed by the nature of how we provided such a benefit and that it was already available to him. His excitement level was very high and he could not stop expressing how this knowledge had given him a greater command over the information used by his firm. He continued to state how he now felt empowered and sensed an incredible feeling about running his business in a more confident and controlled manner.
Why Do I Cite This Here?
Too many businesses are run in a haphazard and uncontrolled manner. Critical business data is exposed and access to it is totally open. Would you intentionally leave your wallet filled with cash on the floor of a shopping mall's food court? If you did, would you expect it to be returned to you intact? What could you see as the potential risks of leaving the wallet unattended? The cash might magically disappear, your credit card numbers might inadvertently be copied for "posterity's sake" by a passerby, or perhaps, your driver's license or other personal IDs might "wander". Security-wise, consider the same concerns for your company's critical data.
If you are a doctor's office, how do you comply with HIPAA? If you accept credit cards from clients, how do you secure their Personal Credit Information (PCI)? If you are a financial firm, how do you keep your clients' investments private? Last, but not least, if you have any data, how do you keep it under control as priviledged information? If you are unsure how to accomplish these tasks and mitigate these concerns, I strongly suggest that you confer with your IT Consultant. If you don't have one and are located in the area of Northern New Jersey, please feel free to contact us through my email at fred@tech4now.com or call us for an appointment at (201) 797-5050. This is not for the sake of promoting our business, it is with the aim of raising your awareness of data security and maintaining confidences. The critical aspect of data security is to implement the controls BEFORE they are needed. Performing a posthumous forensic investigation is not only more costly, but significantly less effective. Take the time now to consider what your concerns really are, touch base with your Trusted Business Advisor and identify the facets of your business that need attention. Attending to these items now, will payoff in their potential benefits down the road. Afterall, if you lose your integrity, what have you got left?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
