Consider It Fixed

Consider It Fixed: Top Tech Picks

Google Web Search Tools

More than any other web search site, people flock to www.google.com by the millions daily.  However, most google users don’t know about the host of search tools that google provides to its users.  Following is a rather exhaustive list of many of the things that you can do on google.

Weather

To see the weather for many U.S. and worldwide cities, type "weather" followed by the city and state, U.S. zip code, or city and country.

Example:  

Stock Quotes

To see current market data for a given company or fund, type the ticker symbol into the search box. On the results page, you can click the link to see more data from Google Finance.

Example:  

Time

To see the time in many cities around the world, type in "time" and the name of the city.

Example:  

Sports Scores

To see scores and schedules for sports teams type the team name or league name into the search box. This is enabled for many leagues including the National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, and Major League Baseball.

All sports data provided by STATS, Inc.

Example:  

Reference Tools

Calculator

To use Google's built-in calculator function, simply enter the calculation you'd like done into the search box.

Example:  

Book Search

If you’re looking for results from Google Book Search, you can enter the name of the author or book title into the search box and we’ll return any book content we have as part of your normal web results. You can click through on the record to view more detailed info about that author or title.

Example:  

Earthquakes

To see information about recent earthquakes in a specific area type "earthquake" followed by the city and state or U.S. zip code. For recent earthquake activity around the world simply type "earthquake" in the search box.

Example:  

Unit Conversion

You can use Google to convert between many different units of measurement of height, weight, and volume among many others. Just enter your desired conversion into the search box and we’ll do the rest.

Example:  

Public Data

To see trends for population and unemployment rates of U.S. states and counties, type "population" or "unemployment rate" followed by a state or county. You can click through to a page that lets you compare different locations.

Example:  

People Profiles

If you're looking for someone you just met or a long-lost friend, enter the name of that person plus some identifying words about him or her to see a list of people with that name.

Example:  

Choosing Keywords

Synonym Search

If you want to search not only for your search term but also for its synonyms, place the tilde sign (~) immediately in front of your search term.

Example:  

Dictionary Definitions

To see a definition for a word or phrase, simply type the word "define" then a space, then the word(s) you want defined. To see a list of different definitions from various online sources, you can type "define:" followed by a word or phrase. Note that the results will define the entire phrase.

Example:  

Spell Checker

Google’s spell checking software automatically checks whether your query uses the most common spelling of a given word. If it thinks you’re likely to generate better results with an alternative spelling, it will ask “Did you mean: (more common spelling)?”. Click the suggested spelling to launch a Google search for that term.

Example:  

 

Local

Search

If you’re looking for a store, restaurant, or other local business you can search for the category of business and the location and we’ll return results right on the page, along with a map, reviews, and contact information.

Example:  

Movie Showtimes

To find reviews and showtimes for movies playing near you, type "movies" or the name of a current film into the Google search box. If you've already saved your location on a previous search, the top search result will display showtimes for nearby theaters for the movie you've chosen.

Example:  

Health Search

Health Conditions

To see information about a common disease or symptom, enter it into the search box and we'll return the beginning of an expert summary. You can click through to read the entire article in Google Health.

Example:  

Poison Control

You can quickly find the U.S. poison control hotline (1-800-222-1222) by entering "poison control" or similar phrases into the search box.

"Mr. Yuk" icon courtesy of the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Example:  

Flu Shot Search

During flu season, search for "flu" to find tips on how to stay healthy from U.S. Health and Human Services and a flu shot locator which uses Google Maps to show you nearby locations offering seasonal and/or H1N1 flu vaccine.

Example:  

 

Trip Planning

Airline Travel Info

To see flight status for arriving and departing U.S. flights, type in the name of the airline and the flight number into the search box. You can also see delays at a specific airport by typing in the name of the city or three-letter airport code followed by the word "airport".

Example:

Currency Conversion

To use our built-in currency converter, simply enter the conversion you’d like done into the Google search box and we’ll provide your answer directly on the results page.

Example:  

Maps

Looking for a map? Type in the name or U.S. zip code of a location and the word "map" and we’ll return a map of that location. Clicking on the map will take you to a larger version on Google Maps.

Example:  

 

Query Refinements

Plus (+) Operator

Google ignores common words and characters such as where, the, how, and other digits and letters that slow down your search without improving the results. If a common word is essential to getting the results you want, you can make sure we pay attention to it by putting a "+" sign in front of it.

Example:  

Related Search

To search for web pages that have similar content to a given site, type "related:" followed by the website address into the Google search box.

Example:  

Fill in the Blank

Sometimes the best way to ask a question is to get Google to ‘fill in the blank’ by adding an asterisk (*) at the part of the sentence or question that you want finished into the Google search box.

Example:  

 

Search by Number

Package Tracking

You can track packages by typing the tracking number for your UPS, Fedex or USPS package directly into the search box. We’ll return results that include quick links to easily track the status of your shipment.

Example:  

Patent Numbers

To search for U.S. patents, enter the word "patent" followed by the patent number into the Google search box and hit the Enter key or click the Google Search button.

Example:  

Area Code

To see the geographical location for any U.S. telephone area code, just type the three-digit area code into the Google search box and hit the Enter key or click the Google Search button.

Example:  

Revisited: Insidious MS Antivirus Removal Instructions

I last wrote about MS Antivirus and its derivatives in March of 2009.  In recent weeks, this parasite has been extremely active as I have seen a significant spike in service calls.  According to the Wikipedia, this parasite is going by many names: XP Antivirus, Vitae Antivirus, Windows Antivirus, Win Antivirus, Antivirus Pro, Antivirus Pro 2009, Antivirus 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 360, Internet Antivirus Plus, System Antivirus, Spyware Guard 2008 and 2009, Spyware Protect 2009, Winweb Security 2008, System Security, Malware Defender 2009, Ultimate Antivirus2008, Vista Antivirus, General Antivirus, AntiSpywareMaster, Antispyware 2008, XP AntiSpyware 2008 and 2009, WinPCDefender, Antivirus XP Pro, and Anti-Virus-1.

Before I provide instructions on how to remove this parasite, I have a few words of advice.  This parasite will tell you that your computer is infected with many things, and if you buy it for $29.95, $34.95, or 49.95, etc., if will fix your computer.  If you have given this parasite your credit card, immediately stop what you are doing and cancel your credit card.  That said, these instructions have worked on removing the parasite from many computers.  But if you have interacted with this thing a lot or have one of the more destructive versions on your computer, you may end up with no other option than to rescue your data, format your hard drive and reinstall your operating system and applications.  If you don’t know how to do this, contact your local computer professional for assistance.

OK, here’s what to do when you are infected. 

1. Don’t interact with it.  If possible, use Ctrl+Alt+Del to bring up the task list and kill the window which is telling you that your computer is infected.
2. Step #1 - Run System Restore.  You can do this by clicking on Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore.  Select a restore point from before you got infected and run system restore.  If you have no restore points or you run System Restore and you are told that it wasn’t able to restore your computer to date you selected, you may be in trouble.  You can try the next steps, but your chances for a good outcome have just lessened.
3. Step #2 - If you use Internet Explorer, empty your browser cache.  Open Internet Explorer and click on Tools, Internet Options, and delete all of your browsing history and cookies.  Please note that these instructions may vary based on the version of IE that you are using.  You can consult Internet Explorer's Help if you can't figure out how to do this.
4. Step #2 - If you use Firefox, click on Tools, Clear Recent History and delete all your browsing history and cookies.  Please note that these instructions may vary based on the version of Firefox that you are using.  You can consult Firefox's Help if you can't figure out how to do this.
5. Step #3 - Install and run Anti-Malware by Malwarebytes.  Go to http://www.malwarebytes.org/.  Click on the link to “Download free version” on the left side of the screen.  Next, install it on your computer.  Leave both check marks selected and start Anti-Malware and update.  Make sure that you have the Scanner tab selected. Select Perform full scan.  When the scan is complete, you will be given the option to remove what Anti-Malware finds. Use that option. It may ask for permission to restart your computer. Do so.
6. Setp #4 - Install and run Microsoft’s Malicious Software Removal Tool.  Go to http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.aspx.  Click on "Skip the details and download the tool".  Click on the download link and install. Run Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool and follow it's instructions to remove any malware that it finds.

If you are unable to perform these steps, you are in trouble.  Your best course of action is to backup your data, format your hard drive and reinstall your operating system and applications.  I know that it hurts, it hurts a lot.

In the future, be very careful when security warnings appear on your computer. Unfortunately, you need to evaluate them and decide if they are real, or as in your recent case, malware.  It is very confusing.  If you get involved with this type of malware in the future (and Windows XP is the target as Visa is more secure), go immediately to system restore and restore your computer to a date prior to the infection. Do not interact with it as by doing so, you are most likely giving permission to install on your computer.  If you are unable to perform a restore, call me or your local computer repair professional for assistance.

Contact Info: info@consideritfixed.com
                    860-985-7300

Cloud Computing: A Law firm in the Clouds

The law firm, Seiger Gfeller Laurie LLP of West Hartford, Connecticut had a huge challenge.  They decided to depart from their parent firm that provided their information technology infrastructure, and they needed to get on their own systems as quickly as possible.  The current systems were “state of the art” IT solutions for the legal world.  No expense had been spared in selecting server, communications, and office hardware; and the software choices were modern and considered among the best.

 

In my interviews with the partners, I found that while they had these great systems in place, they often referenced their limitations, not their capabilities.  Slow was often used in describing email, and remote access was often described as painful.  Quite a shame since these attorneys spend a good deal of time on the road traveling both domestically and internationally.

Background

Seiger Gfeller Laurie LLP (SGL) is a law firm founded on the principle of doing things differently and better.  In contrast to the traditional law firm model, focused on billable house and staffing matters based on a hierarchical pyramid, SGL’s focus is on obtaining results for its clients in the most efficient ways possible.  Today, SGL is comprised of 8 experienced and tenacious litigators from some of the largest international law firms in the world. 

Its existing IT solutions consisted of Microsoft Exchange Server, Hummingbird DM, Time Matters, Equitracs, and Blackberry phones.  Their branch office was connected to the main office via a T1 and the applications were hosted either in the main office or on a local server.  For example, the Exchange Server was hosted at the main office.  Remote access was provided by connecting to the local server and then routing over the internal network from the office in West Hartford, Connecticut, to the main office several states away.  Other applications resided in the local office.  So, the users always had to connect via the local office.  As well, since they were accessing their network via a virtual private network (VPN), they couldn’t easily access Exchange via Outlook Web Access nor run Outlook on more than one machine outside the office.  Every application had to pass through the VPN.

SGL needed to deploy their new IT solutions rapidly, manage costs, and have excellent remote access.  A traditional approach would work, but also reproduce the limitations that they had with their current IT infrastructure.  It was time for a different approach and an opportunity to get out of the business of leasing and managing servers, communications hardware, and several complex software licenses and upgrade programs.

I talked to the partners about the multiple benefits of using the Internet and Internet-based solutions for their business.  These type of modern solutions are called Software as Services or SaaS.  The category as a whole is often referred to as cloud computing where the cloud is the Internet.  Cloud computing, according to the Wikipedia, is a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a service over the Internet.  Users need not have knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure in the "cloud" that supports them.  My job was to identify, test, select, and implement applications that would solve SGL’s IT requirements.

In the world of technology, major advancements occur that enable newer, and often times, better approaches to solving the same problem.  Things that we now take for granted, were once recognized as major advances.  In the 1980s, most business computers were large and complex.  They were called mainframe and mini computers.  Users accessed business applications via character-based terminals.  These computers cost thousands of dollars, and were very complex to operate and support.  In the 1990’s, these computers were replaced by lower cost PC-based servers and clients running graphical operating systems.  This drove down the cost of business computing and made it much more accessible.  But is still had a fair amount of complexity in that the systems required specialized software running on the client as well as the server.  Today, while this model of computing is still in broad use, the client/server model is being replaced by a newer model which doesn’t require specialize software on the client, and the server is maintained by a 3rd party on a fee per use basis.  The client accesses the business application through an Internet browser.  This simplifies the configuration significantly as the business no longer needs to maintain complex servers and the client configuration is dramatically simpler.  In truth, the clients still needs to run applications like Microsoft Office and utilities like virus protection software.  But these are off the shelf applications.  As a testament to the validity of this approach to computing, millions of people are already using Internet hosted applications in the form of Gmail, Amazon, Google, E*TRADE, and the list goes on and on.

Application Selection

Calendar and Messaging.  The first application that we selected for SGL was Microsoft Exchange Server.  But rather than purchasing hardware and software licenses, we selected a vendor that provides what is called hosted Microsoft Exchange Server.  To setup the service, we pointed SGL’s MX record to the right DNS, setup accounts, and configured Outlook on each workstation.  Even better, our hosting vendor offers full support for Windows Mobile, Blackberry, and iPhone synchronization as well as modern SPAM and virus protection.  Deployment was rapid and without fault.  Each employee had access to Outlook on all of their PCs, Outlook Web Access, and an iPhones with full support for mail, calendar, and contacts.

Cost: $12.95 per user a month including unlimited mailbox size, SPAM and virus protection, and smartphone synchronization.

Document Management.  Good document management is a key ingredient in any successful law practice.  SGL had been using Hummingbird DM.  It provided excellent document storage and retrieval, with integration into Microsoft Office and Outlook.  They had it setup on their local server and replicated over their internal network to headquarters.  As a client/server application, Hummingbird had to be installed and setup on all PCs that access the system.  It was a good solution, yet it required constant supervision and maintenance.  Considering that this application is the ‘bread and butter’ of the firm, a move into the clouds had to meet with extremely stringent criteria.  It had to be secure, reliable, and offer very similar capabilities to what the firm was used to – easy access, robust search, and Office and Outlook integration.  SGL choose a solution that they immediately were able to use.  The vendor provided free migration support which went flawlessly - users, client numbers, matter numbers were setup, their document library imported, and they were up and running.  To use the product, all you need to do is open a web browser and login. Additional, the product has the ability to create restricted access so that others outside the organization can access documents in the library if needed.  So, now they have the ability to dynamically virtualize their organization with external resources.  SGL now has all of this combined with the peace of mind knowing that their most important data is maintained and backed up in a secure, world-class data center.

Cost: $30 per user per month.

Time and Billing.  The next application we selected for SGL was time and billing.  In the past, SGL had used a powerful system that required a server and individual user licenses.  The cost of purchase combining hardware and software licenses was very high.  As well, remote access into the system required a VPN connection.  This can be extremely complicated when 3rd party book keeping and accounting staff need access into the system.  SGL looked at a number of solutions and quickly settled on a product that met their requirements.  It is available from a web browser so they and their designees, can easily access the system from any place, and their data is safely stored in a state of the art data center. 

Cost: $19.95 per user a month.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

1. Ease of deployment.  Cloud computing is the next evolution in modern computing.  Deployment is simplified in that you don’t need a local server, software licenses, and server support and maintenance.  Furthermore, applications are accessed through a browser and data is securely maintained and backed up in a state of the art data center.  So, client-side configuration is simplified.
2. Pay as you go.  Fees are typically paid monthly calculated by the number of users.  There is no capital expense nor depreciation of expensive server and communications hardware.  You are out of the business of software maintenance programs, and installing upgrades and patches.
3. Automatic backup.  Your data resides in state of the art data centers where is it secure and backed up.  Often times, these data centers are in multiple locations and regularly audited by security experts.
4. Technical Support.  Technical support is provided as part of the business application.  There is no special fee for support.  Support is part of the product and typically available 7/24/36.
5. No software updates.  All application improvements are managed by the application hosting company and added in when available.  You are no longer in the businesses of patches, hot fixed, and updates.
6. Rapid deployment.  New application deployment is rapid and can often happen as soon as an account is setup with the application vendor.  Users typically have access to an administrative portal where they can add, manage, and delete users.  Deployment for new users is typically a simple add user function.
7. High availability.  Users can access their business applications from anywhere using nearly any computer.  When a computer fails, the user can simply move to another computer and get busy without installing and configuring new software.

A Testimonial

The senior partner at SGL recently traveled to the UK.  He took a brand new netbook, an ASUS 1008HA.  To setup the new PC, I installed virus protection, Microsoft Office, Skype, configured Outlook, and setup Office integration software for the document management system.  That’s it, nothing else, nothing more.  The senior partner was able to connect to the Internet from his hotel in London and access all of his critical applications and data just as if he were in the Office.  He’s never been able to do this before.  Now, he can simply work anywhere as productively as if he were in the office.

If you are interested in learning more about how cloud computing can integrate and benefit your business, please contact Consider It Fixed.

Contact Info: info@consideritfixed.com
                   860-985-7300

Clouding Computer, Legal, Law, Software as Services Saas, NetDocuments, TimeSolv, AppRiver Mailstreet,  Legal software, Law Firm software, Law software, document management, time and billing, host Microsoft Exchange Server, Mark Seiger, Charles Gfeller, Robert Laurie, Seiger Gfeller Laurie LLP

Netbooks: A Good Look At The ASUS Eee PC 1008HA

I have been sitting on the fence looking at netbooks.  My quest – a lappy that is powerful enough, that has enough storage, that has a high quality screen with a decent keyboard, and that has the ability to run Windows 7 well.  I’ve been diligently monitoring new product announcements and became aware of the pending release of the ASUS 1008HA.  I was attracted to its integrated design; thin and light; that it uses the newer ATOM N280; that it has a LED screen; and that it has reasonable storage.  I didn’t like that it was reported as having a problem running Windows 7 and that is was extremely difficult to upgrade its RAM and hard drive.  Yes, you can upgrade its RAM from 1GB to 2GB, and the hard drive can also be replaced.  But it requires a complete dissassembly of the machine to upgrade.  I continued to monitor Eee PC user groups and learned that a recent BIOS upgrade fixed the Windows 7 issue.  Then I learned that an ASUS reseller, AGearNotebooks.com, can upgrade the 1008HA to 2GB of RAM and upgrade the hard drive to a number of available options including 500 GB products and SSDs.  So, I purchased the 1008HA from AGearNotebooks.com configured with 2 GB of RAM and a 7200 RPM 320 GB hard drive.  Very cool indeed!

When I received my netbook, I immediately upgraded the BIOS to version 0602.  I then wiped the hard drive and install Windows 7 RC1 (version 7100).  The machine started right up, connected to my wireless network, and proceeded to automatically update several device drivers.  I was impressed – everything worked great on the 1008HA except the trackpad.  It worked but lacked its more advanced functions including scrolling and zoom.  I tried downloading the available XP driver from the ASUS support site, but it didn’t add the missing functionality.  I hunted around and discovered a posting saying the the touchpad driver for the T91 would give me what I was looking for.  So, I installed it, and viola, I now had the advanced functionality that I wanted.  Next, I installed Kaspersky’s beta Windows 7 virus protection, my apps and utilities, and have been using it for a week. 

My initial impressions:

Size – Excellent

Small, light and good looking.  Initially, it had a toy-like quality about it.  How could a serious computer be so tiny.  Now, I’m used to it and love it.

Screen – Very Good

Bright, crisp, and very readable. Not quite as good in outdoor light, but what display is.

Performance – Excellent

The 1008HA has very impressive performance, in fact, better than I expected.  I am running Windows 7, Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Microsoft Office, both IE and Firefox, Feed Demon, EverNote, Dropbox, and Windows Live Writer.  Windows 7 loads quickly and I can easily run multiple applications without noticeable degradation.  As I write this, I am running IE, Firefox, Outllook, and Live Writer. It’s humming along beautifully.

Keyboard and Touchpad – Good

Like all new laptops, it takes a few days of use to adjust to a new keyboard and touchpad.  It took a bit longer than usual for me to get used to the 1008HA.  Perhaps it’s the small size that’s at the heart of this.  Overall, it’s fine.  But I do find the keyboard a bit noisy – some of the keys make a sort of rattling sound.  I initially had a problem hitting the ‘a’ key and often hit the ‘s’ instead.  That problem has stopped.  Like the keyboard, it has taken me longer to adjust to the touchpad.  The touchpad buttons are a one piece rocker.  It doesn’t take much effort to depress it, but it is somewhat narrow, perhaps 3/8”.  So, I need to be right on top of it to press it.  The scroll location is in the typical location (right side vertical) and works OK, but due to its overall small size, it’s a smaller target.  The touchpad also supports zooming with gestures similar to the zoom gestures on the iPhone.  It works OK, but I find that the mouse pointer sometimes move off the screen and it looses its focus.

Ports – Very good

The 1008HA has 2 USB ports; a VGA port much like those found on the new Macbook Pros that requires a special adapter which ASUS cleverly stores on the underside of the netbook; 1/8” audio in and audio out ports; an Ethernet port; and a SD card slot.  The ports are all covered with small doors that give the machine a sleek, sculpted look.  Time will tell how durable they are.  ESATA would have been really sweet.

DVD drive – What do you expect?

There is no DVD drive.  But if you install SlySoft’s free Virtual CloneDrive, your netbook can have a virtual blu ray drive.  I installed Microsoft Office via an .iso file.  You can play blu ray movies the same way.  That’s cool.

Video Camera – Very Good

I installed Skype and had it up and running in no time.  The camera works as it should.

Battery – Very Good

I haven’t had time to do any accurate measurement of battery life.  I have been using the machine on battery, but without much effort at conservation.  I’m getting around 4 hours of battery life in a performance setting which is quite adequate for the way that I work.  So, I have no complaints about battery life.   

AC Power Adapter – Poor

The AC power adapter is small and white to match the white body of my 1008HA.  I just can’t understand why ASUS, who seems to be paying attention to Apple’s design sense, didn’t do anything to make the charger easier to store and transport.  The adapter has long enough cables, but it’s narrow design gives the user no easy way to store the cables.  It seems that a bit of thought in this area would yield a much more useful power adapter that would take up so much less space.  A very small netbook with a bulky, unwieldy power adapter makes little sense.

In summary, after a bit of fooling around and adjusting, I am finding the ASUS 1008HA to be a great netbook.  Its performance is better than expected running Windows 7.  It is small, light and good looking.  The screen is very readable, and the keyboard and touchpad are fine once you spend a bit of time with them.  Upgrading the netbook is a challenge unless you enlist the help from a firm like AGearNotebooks.com.  Then it’s a non-issue.  If I could change one thing, I’d redesign the AC power adapter to match the coolness and integration of the 1008HA – smaller with built-in cable storage a la Apple.  I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a good netbook today.  Tomorrow may be a different story as new products in this category come to market.

Contact Info: info@consideritfixed.com
                   860-985-7300

Cloud Computing: Moving into the Cloud

For many years, I seek the best computing environment that I can find.  I used to think that it was a big, fat laptop.  Next, I thought that it was a tablet PC.  Then, I became convinced it was an Apple.  But today, I've changed.  I no longer need the latest and greatest computer.  In any given day, I may use 2, 3 or more computers - a Apple laptop, a PC desktop, an iPhone, or my media center connected to a 52 HDTV.  What's become my central need is easy and full access to my data no matter what device I'm using.  I need applications that store data on the web and can be accessed equally well from a PC, Apple,  iPhone, or a web browser.  The good news is that many software developers understand this and are building applications that can live in the Cloud.  As of today, I am using 5 applications that live in the Cloud that I can't live without.

The Cloud, according to Wikipedia is:

"Cloud computing is a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualised resources are provided as a service over the Internet.  Users need not have knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure "in the cloud" that supports them.

The concept incorporates infrastructure as a service, platform as a service and software as a service as well as Web 2.0 and other recent technology trends that have the common theme of reliance on the Internet for satisfying the computing needs of the users. Examples of software as a service vendors include Salesforce.com and Google Apps which provide common business applications online that are accessed from a web browser, while the software and data are stored on the servers.

The term cloud is used as a metaphor for the Internet, based on how the Internet is depicted in computer network diagrams, and is an abstraction for the complex infrastructure it conceals."

Here are my top application picks:

Microsoft Exchange.  My use of the Cloud began many years ago after I left Microsoft in the late 1990's.  I registered my first domain name and set up a hosted Microsoft Exchange account.  With ease, I could get access to my email, calendar, contacts from multiple PCs, web browser, and Windows Mobile smartphone.  Any change to my data made on any device was synchronized on the server.  So, I was always working on current data no matter how I was accessing it.  Since that early time, Exchange has evolved to include Apple via Entourage and iPhone, and Linux via Evolution.  Using hosted Exchange was my first experience at putting my data on somebody else's server and trusting that they will manage it well.  In retrospect, I made a smart decision picking Mailstreet (www.mailstreet.com) as my hosted Exchange provider.  I am still with them today.

LassPass (www.lastpass.com).  I have used Roboform on my PCs and 1Password on my Apple to manage my passwords and web form filling.  I used to use some local synchronization software to copy Roboform's data across my various computers.  It was a clever approach and it worked, but it was a bit heavy handed and didn't work at all across platforms.  Synchronization, in its early days was rather dangerous.  One bad move could create data duplication or loss.  I recently learned about LassPass from one of my readers, ran a trial, and quickly migrated to it on all of my computers.  It's cross platform (although I'm still waiting on the iPhone client) and manages my passwords, data scraps, and form filling.  Any change made on any computer is synchronized and stored on its servers.  It works great and I highly recommend it.

Foxmarks (www.foxmarks.com).  Foxmarks began as a tool to synchronize bookmarks across several computers as long as you use Firefox.  It has evolved and is now supporting Internet Explorer, Safari, and web access.  More recently it started the process of changing it's name to Xmarks as it's no longer a Firefox only utility.  It is just too sweet to open up a browser on any of my computers and have access to all of my bookmarks.  If I'm not at my PC, I can access my bookmarks from the web or my iPhone.  If you're like me and have hundreds of bookmarks, this is a killer app.  It works reliably, it's free, and comes with my personal recommendation.

Dropbox (www.mydropbox.com).  Dropbox is virtual and synchronized storage for PCs, Apples, and the web.  Put a file in it, change it on one computer and it's updated and available to all of your computers.  Put a file in it and you can share it with others.  I put a video file in it and my daughter who's away at college can have access to it.  She can even play the file directly from the Dropbox via a web browser.  I use Dropbox daily to make my data available across my computers - accounting data, spreadsheets, documents that I'm working on and other stuff that I just always need access too.   Because it's in the Cloud, my data is safe and always backed up.  You can setup a trial account for free with 2GB of storage.

Evernote (www.evernote.com).  Evernote is the latest addition to my Cloud.  I used to keep my client information in Microsoft Onenote.  Then I move to Apple and started to use NoteTaker.  In both cases, the data was not portable.  So, I had to manually migrate it to my most popular platform of the month.  As you can imagine - quite a pain.  Enter Evernote - it's a cross platform, note creation and management program.  It runs on the PC, Apple, web, and iPhone.  No matter where I am, I have access to my client records.  Each note is a container that can hold text, graphics, and data files.  It's simple to setup and easy to use and it just works.  Evernote has a free version that is quite capable.  So, you can give it a try for free.

Cloud computing is here to stay.  It's a significant move from PC-centric computing to data-centric computing.  The idea is to not worry about your data, but to simply have flexible and easy access to it.  An added benefit of the Cloud, is that a crashed hard drive doesn't need to be such a big deal anymore.  Your data is safely living in the Cloud, not vulnerable to hardware failure and the sometimes doubtful success of your last backup.  If my computer doesn't work, I just go to another without missing a beat.  Can you do that?

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Is LastPass the Last Password Manager that I Will Ever Need?

I have been using a password manager for a long time.  My first was Roboform on the PC.  When I moved to the Mac, it was 1Password.  Both password management programs are excellent.  In fact, many would say 'best in class'.  But, and this is a big BUT, neither program is cross-platform.  By my viewpoint, that is unacceptable today. 

In an effort to find a strong, cross-platform solution, I turned to my blog and wrote, Password Managers with Cross Platform Support: Where Are They?  The next day, a reader commented, "LastPass.com is what you are looking for."  So, went to check it out.  I now use it on all of my computers including Windows XP, Vista, Mac OS X, and Ubuntu.

Screen shot of LastPass Vault

Screen shot of LastPass site sidebar in FireFox OS X

The program has a wide range of capabilities, but it is well constructed and installs easily so you don't need to be a nerd to use it.  It works in IE and Firefox browsers.  It synchronizes information between machines and my LastPass Vault is available to any computer on the Internet.  It recognizes webpage logins, autofils forms, manages scraps of data, displays logins effectively as a sidebar in the browser, and much, much more.  If you are looking for a better way to manage your passwords and fill forms, LastPass may be it.  You can check it out here: lastpass.com

Please post a comment if this has been helpful to you.

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                     860-985-7300

Computer repair in West Hartford, Computer repair in Avon, Computer repair in Simsbury, Computer repair in Farmington, Computer repair in Newington, Computer repair in Canton, Computer repair in Hartford, Computer repair in Bloomfield, Computer repair in Unionville, Computer repair in Wethsfield, Computer repair in Glastonbury

Black Screen of Death

Does your display suddenly go black and your computer shut off?  If it does, you may be suffering from what I call the black screen of death.  When this happens to most people, they simply restart their computer and move on.  When it happens again, they get confused and often think that they have a virus or spyware infection.   After scanning, and usually not finding much, the computer goes black again. 

Fixing computers requires a fair amount of detective work.  It's very helpful to look closely at the computer's behavior,  and to identify any patterns that appear to repeating.  In this case, the screen usually goes black and the computer powers off.  However, sometimes the screen goes black and there is a small flashing cursor in the upper left corner as the computer does not power off.  If this is the case, the computer doesn't easily restart and unplugging the power cord or holding down the reset button may be the only way to get it to start again.  Another telling bit of information is if the computer is making loud fan noise.  Users often complain that their computers are making a lot of noise.  The typical 'noise' is that of cooling fans blowing continuously, never cycling down.

These are the signs and symptoms of an overheating computer.  Nearly all computers built today have a thermal switch.  When the computer reaches a certain high temperature, it shuts itself down to prevent heat damage.  Without this switch, the computer could be irreversibly damaged, and at high temperatures, become a fire risk.  Computers accumulate a lot of dust and hair around their fans and vents.  This is especially the case with computers that are left powered on for extended periods of time and/or are used around pets that shed.  As the computers collect dust and hair, their cooling systems need to work harder.  So, the fans work harder and stay on longer as they can never reduce the temperature to the point where the fans are instructed slow down or power off.  Hence, the increased fan noise.

Dust and hair are not the only causes of overheating.  Here is a simple list of other causes:

• Defective cooling fans
• Blocked airways and vents
• Unseated or underpowered heat sinks
• Dust and hair accumulations that physically stop cooling fans
• Laptops sitting on pillows and blanket that block their cooling vents

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Password Managers with Cross Platform Support: Where Are They?

It not new news that computer users have too many passwords, key codes, and bits and pieces of important information.  To complicate matters, we often have more than one computer.  Any many of us have computers running Windows, OS X, and increasingly Linux.   My current count includes 266 logins, 104 notes, 3 credit cards, and 2 different profiles.  I could never keep this information organized and safe without a software utility that manages this stuff.  This category of software utility is often called a password manager.  But that's actually a misnomer.  This type of software does much more than just manage passwords.  It manages and auto fills usernames and passwords; fills in web page forms; keeps bits and pieces of useful information; generates secure passwords; and maintains electric wallets.  The good news is that there is a small number of reasonably priced products available that do this well.  Many are now expanding their offerings to include web interfaces and one way support for mobile platforms like Windows Mobile, Palm and iPhone.

My two favorite products are 1Password for OS X and Roboform for Windows.  I use both daily and don't know what I would do without them.  The are well designed, reliable and mature, and do the job well.  But there is one thing that they don't do at all that is starting to make me crazy - neither product offers any type of reasonable cross platform support and synchronization.  1Password does offer very broad support to import password data from a large number of competing products.  Roboform does this too, but is more limited.

This is very useful when you are evaluating their software.  You can get up to speed quickly as you don't have too much information to re-key.  Also, both products offer good ways to synchronize data between multiple computers of the same platform.  And both products offer one way synchronization to popular mobile platforms.  But neither product offers synchronization between Windows and OS X.  This is what I need desperately.  I've been combing the Internet looking for a good solution and I can't find one.  So, I'm asking - Does anyone know of a good password/form filler/data scrap manager that is as good as 1Password or Roboform that is cross platform?  If so, please tell me.  I know there are many of us out there looking for a solution.

Please post a comment if this has been helpful to you.

Contact Info: info@consideritfixed.com
                    860-985-7300

Cheap Laptops Are Finally Good

In my business, I help clients select new computers.  Until recently, I told my clients that they should expect to pay about $1200 to $1400 for a decent laptop.  I typically steered them away for the advertised 'cheap laptops' from Dell and the like.  In my experience, they were underpowered, lacked adequate RAM to get real work done, and left the user regretting the purchase as they were just too slow to enjoy using.  Today, I'm pleased to report that is no longer the case.  The low end laptop, when picked properly,  now has serious power to do serious work.

Here are a few examples of laptops that I found at a few reputable web-based computer sellers:

From Best Buy's Outlet Center at $599 each:

Laptop #1: Gateway - Model: T-6836 | SKU: 8892861; Intel® Core™2 Duo mobile processor T5750; 4GB DDR2 memory; DL DVD±RW/CD-RW drive; Labelflash technology; 14.1" widescreen; 250GB hard drive; built-in webcam; Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with SP1

Laptop #2: HP Pavilion - Model: dv6835nr | SKU: 8780125; Intel® Core™2 Duo mobile processor T5550; 3GB DDR2 memory; DL DVD±RW/CD-RW drive; 15.4" widescreen; 250GB hard drive; built-in Web cam; Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1

From eCOST.com at $509:

Laptop #3: HP Pavilion - Model: DV6915NR eCOST.com Part #42260062 2.0GHz AMD Turion X2 Dual Core TL-60 Processor, 3GB RAM, 200GB Hard Drive, DVD+/-R/RW DL w/ LightScribe, Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG, NVIDIA GeForce 7150, 15.4" WXGA HD Display, Webcam, Windows Vista Home Premium (HP Recertified)

From Circuit City Outlet at $579.96:

Laptop #4: Toshiba Satellite L305D-S5881 15.4" Widescreen Laptop Model #: TOS L305DS5881 - AMD Turion 64 X2 RM-70, 3GB of DDR2 memory, Built-in webcam, 200GB hard drive, Burns DVDs and CDs, Windows Vista Home Premium

From Newegg.com at $599.99:

Laptop #5: Acer Aspire AS5730-4163 NoteBook Intel Pentium dual-core T3200(2.00GHz) 15.4" Wide XGA 4GB Memory 320GB HDD DVD Super Multi Intel GMA 4500M

From Geeks.com at $599.99

Laptop #6: Dell Inspiron 1525 Core 2 Duo T5750 2.0GHz 3GB 250GB DVD±RW 15.4" Vista Home Premium (Brown) (Refurbished)

Please post a comment if this has been helpful to you.

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iPod Touch Email Settings for Comcast

A friend recently told me that she was very frustrated.  She'd been unsuccessful with setting up her new iPod Touch to get email from her Comcast account.  She tried to set it up. It didn't work.  She went to the Apple store.  The Genius couldn't get it to work.  She called Comcast.  Their tech support couldn't get it to work.  And so on.  All told, she spent about 4 hours trying to get it to work and failed.  I like a challenge, so I told her that I would take a look into it.  I came up with 3 working solutions.   

The first is to setup the Touch's mail app to receive email. This solution is detailed below.  The second it to use the new Comcast  micro browser portal.  Any device that has a WAP 2.0 browser and a link to the world wide web can navigate to this new portal which can be found at http://m.comcast.net.  The third is to forward Comcast's email to another email service, like Gmail, which the Touch is pre-configured to receive.  Comcast allows you to permanently forward email for any of its email accounts.

Here are the setting to set up Comcast email in the iPod Touch email application.

Select Settings, Mail, Add Account, Other as in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Select POP as the mail server.  Put your information in as shown in Figure 2.  Make sure that you type in your correct password.  If you are not absolutely certain of your password, you can reset it on http://www.comcast.net.  Once your settings are in, click on Save at the top of the display.  The email app will try to verify your settings and we return to the setting screen.  This may take a while so be patient.

Figure 2

Now you will need to configure the Advanced settings.  Select Mail from the Settings menu. Select the Comcast account under the Accounts section.  Select the Advanced option toward the bottom of the screen as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3

Configure your setting as shown in Figure 4.  Make sure that you change the outgoing Server Port to 465.  Save these settings.  Go back to home and launch the mail app.  It may take a while for mail to download and setup on your Touch.  This will be dependent on the amount of email that you have stored on the Comcast server.  Now you can consider it fixed.

Figure 4

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Computer repair in West Hartford, Computer repair in Avon, Computer repair in Simsbury, Computer repair in Farmington, Computer repair in Newington, Computer repair in Canton, Computer repair in Hartford, Computer repair in Bloomfield, Computer repair in Unionville, Computer repair in Wethsfield, Computer repair in Glastonbury

Update: Microsoft Entourage 2008

I’ve been using Microsoft Entourage 2008 for 13 days.  Initially, I was disappointed with its lack of key Exchange support over the 2004 release.  I don’t know what you need.  But I need task and note synchronization with Exchange server.   When I purchased Mac Office 2008 and discovered its limited Exchange support, I got pretty upset.

In my view, Microsoft’s Mac Business Unit (MacBU) has been very evasive about Exchange support in Entourage 2008.  During development, they fed us bits and pieces about Entourage, but were pretty mum about Exchange support.  How many years has it been since the last release of Office – humm…4?  Wouldn’t you think that they’d listen and release 2008 with Exchange support on parity with Outlook?  The answer that I found is no.  To add more salt to this wound – the MacBU is charging extra money for Office with Entourage over its 2004 packaging.   Right after Mac Office 2008’s release, a lot of users made the same discovery that I did and many were pissed off.

I went looking in the Mac user forums for some explanation, some information on how I could get task and note sync.  Brave Andy Ruff, Microsoft’s MacBU Lead Program Manager for Entourage, has been active in the forums.   I sent him an email voicing my concerns hoping that Microsoft would come clean and explain itself.  You know – why didn’t you do what everyone was asking for?  Brave Andy answered my email and gave an explanation.  Now, you may not know it, but I used to work for Microsoft when most people considered it a very cool company.  So, I can understand Andy’s reply.   Here’s our dialog:  

Ian: “I'm looking for task and notes sync with Exchange - like all Mac/Exchange users.  It's really frustrating to wait for release to find out that it's not included in Entourage 2008.  The MacBU has been incredibly vague about Exchange support.  From my viewpoint, and as an ex-MSFT employee, you guys really missed the mark with this release.  Full exchange support should have been on the top of the list.  At least, help us better understand why we don't have it now, and if we can ever expect it.”

Andy: “I agree that these are top demands from customers and we do intend to deliver them to the product.  As I stated on the forums, we’ve added dozens of new Exchange features to Entourage in the last few years as regular, free updates to the product.  We had a quality and reliability issue as a result of adding so much to the app.  For 2008, we stepped-back and focused on solidifying the app, making things work as you’d expect, so that, in future releases, what you get is reliable.  While we could have checked-off more features in a list, we want to bring the functionality in a way that truly works.”

Ian: “Thanks for the reply.  I understand that you are balancing many priorities with Entourage.  But, I find myself saying, “yes, but.”

“As a Windows, Windows Mobile, Exchange and Mac user, I feel that my Exchange data (tasks 1st, notes a distant second) is land-locked on the Windows platform. Entourage is the only reasonable client for Mac/Exchange integration.  So, how do I get my tasks sync’d across all of my devices and PCs?  I was hoping that you’d do it for me.  You didn’t.  Like many users, I’ve been waiting a long time to get this fixed.”

“The missing info is - how much longer do I have to wait to get parity with Outlook in terms of sync services (read that as tasks 1st, notes whenever)?  Can you offer any guidance?  A lot of us want to know.”
Andy: “Totally understand the “yes, but.”  I’d love to knock-off that last part and just make it, “yes!” and that’s pretty much our primary goal.  You will see the results of our work, just this wasn’t the time yet.  We’re not sharing the timeframe right now, but we will in the future.”

So, that’s that and we can expect improved Exchange support at sometime in the future.  Humm…am I any happier now?  To be honest, a bit.  The new Entourage client is very nice.  It looks good and works very well.  Its interface is clean.  Its performance is good.  Its searches are fast.  I do miss the drag and drop capabilities that I take for granted in Outlook.  But it’s so greatly improved over the 2004 release.  Now, MacBU, please, please, please…get us task and note sync as soon as you can.

Please post a comment if this has been helpful to you.

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Entourage 2008 - Microsoft’s MAC Business Unit Better Be Listening

I recently pitched my everyday PC for a Mac.  I would prefer to use a Mac-based Exchange client, but I can’t find one that does what I need – mail, calendar, tasks, and notes.  Here are the options that I’ve been able to come up with:

• Coble together a Mac app solution.  You can coble together Mac Mail, iCal, .Mac, and Snerdware’s Groupcal. But this solution is dependent on 2 pieces of software to sync the calendar and task data, and notes remain landlocked on the Exchange server.  To inflame matters more, Leopard (OS X 10.5) has broken Groupcal and Snerdware predicts a fix in Q1 2008. 
• Use Entourage 2004.  Use Entourage 2004 and accept that your existing tasks and notes are landlocked on your Exchange server and your new tasks and notes are landlocked in the Mac world.
• Go Mac only.  Forget about that for me and thousands of other users.
• Run Outlook under Parallels or VMware.  It’s a reliable solution if you can wait for everything to load.  OS X loads so much faster than Windows.  With this solution, you have to wait really long for everything to load, but it's what I'm doing for now while I wait for a better solution.

I figured that Microsoft would fix Entourage in Office 2008 and make it as good an Exchange client as Outlook.  It’s very interesting though – Microsoft’s Mac Business Unit has been extremely quiet about Entourage 2008.  So, I set out to learn what I could about it.  Public information is sparse.  We know that it will be better and have OOFs.  That’s about it.  So, I got hold of a beta of Office 2008 that was released in late September 2008.  I figured that I would only see good news and full Exchange support.  I was completely shocked to learn that it was only a marginally better Exchange client than Entourage 2004.  It now has Exchange support for tasks created when setting a flag on an email message.  Big freakin' deal! 

The Internet is littered with blog and forum entries complaining about the poor support for Exchange offered in Entourage 2004.   So, why isn’t Microsoft telling us that they have fixed this glaring problem?  Beats me!

If anyone reading this post knows something more about this, please let me know.  Also, if anyone knows of a reasonable solution to get full Exchange functionality in a Mac client, let me know.  I sure hope that the Mac Business Unit is paying attention.

Please post a comment if this has been helpful to you.

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I’m a Believer – Apple’s Airport Extreme is Very Good

Recently, I added a MacBook Pro to my home - all PC - network.  I had setup the network using a wireless router and an old Windows XP PC as a print server to share a Canon MP780 multifunction printer.  After setting up the Mac, I tried to get it to print to the shared printer.  I followed the tech note that I found on the Apple support site.  I couldn’t get it to work.  I searched the net and found a bunch of suggestions.  Some didn’t work.  Some were ridiculously complex.  All said and tried, I couldn’t get the Mac to print on my Windows network. 

So, I decided to take a different approach and consider using a wireless print server.  I looked at the product offerings from the key network hardware players.  I was genuinely surprised that I couldn’t find a PC and Mac compatible solution that would support a multifunction printer.  I started to think that it would be far easier and less expensive to purchase another printer to connect to the Mac.  That was a good and bad solution - I don’t  need another printer, nor do I have space for it. 

So, I decided to take a different approach and consider using a wireless router with USB printer support.  Again I looked to the key network hardware players.  Again, I couldn’t find a solution that would support both PCs and Macs and multifunction printers.  I then looked at the Apple Airport Extreme.  The Apple site says, “The same USB port does double duty by letting you share a printer throughout the network.”  This sounded too simple, so I set off looking for a printer compatibility list.  I couldn’t find one on the Apple website.  I headed over to the local Apple store and ask about printer compatibility.  After a bit of confusion, I was told that the Airport works well with most Canon printers and that I have 14 days to return the Airport should it not work.  So, I paid double what I’d pay for any other wireless router and headed home with another Apple product. 

Setup was simple and quick.  I configured the Airport from my Mac.  I setup the router, then the printer.  It worked first try.  Next I setup the PCs.  All I had to do was install Bonjour for Windows on the PCs and run the Bonjour Printer Wizard.  I setup 4 PCs – each saw the printer first try and printed without a problem!  In fact, on of the PCs is a Parallels virtual machine running on my MacBook Pro.

I setup PCs and networks for a living.  Usually, there are a number of problems I encounter with each network and I have some insider magic that I do to get things working.  This wasn’t the case here at all.  The Airport works as advertised – setup is a breeze and its performance and range so far has been fine.  I suspect that I’ll be recommending the Airport Extreme to my clients with a mixed PC/Mac environments going forward.

Please post a comment if this has been helpful to you.

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Computer Recycling

In my business, I replace a large number of computers for my customers.  Typically, I remove the hard drive from the old computer and ask my client to keep it. The idea is that they may have some important data on the drive that's been overlooked. Many of my clients ask me, "Do you think that anyone would want my old computer." Unfortunately, many of these old computers would be more of a burden than a benefit to a new owner. A common thought is to donate it to a not-for-profit organization. Unfortunately, most of these older PCs don't work well in modern office environments and most not-for-profit organizations have small budgets excluding necessary funds for computer repair and support.

While it's not well known, there are a number of options for recycling your old computer. Here are some that you can consider.  Many of the major computer manufacturers offer PC recycling services at little or no cost:

• HP - http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship/environment/recycle/index.html
• Dell - http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/environment/en/recycling_main?c=us&l=en&s=corp
• Apple - http://www.apple.com/environment/
• Toshiba - http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/ebtext.to?page=reuse
• Sony - http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/Environment/recycling/recycle/america/index.html

Contact your town to see if they have a computer recycling program in place. If they don't, let them know that you think it's a good idea.

There are a number of recycling companies in your community and around the country that you can contact for PC, monitor, and printer recycling at little or no cost. One of my favorites is Earth 911 (http://earth911.org/). To find one that you may want to use, simply use your favorite search engine.

Today, there are many options available to recycle your old computer equipment at little or no cost. It takes very little effort to do and will pay off enormously for future generations.

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