Should I upgrade to Windows 10? This is a question we in IT computer consultant industry hear a lot from our clients. The truth isn't a simple yes or no question. However,depending on what programs you utilize, and what setup you need for your office or home, many different variables can determine the actual answer. Would I lose anything going to Windows 10? Yes and no. Data files, such as word documents, spreadsheets, photos, and videos would all be transferred … [Read more...] about Should I upgrade to Windows 10?
Pleasanton
Computer Security
Computer Security Turn on automatic update and leave it that way. Windows releases computer security updates on the 2nd Tuesday of each month and these should be applied immediately. More information on Windows Update can be found here. Mac users should also apply updates when they are made available. Install antivirus and make sure it is receiving updates. Windows Defender is included with Windows 8 and Windows 10. Microsoft Security Essentials is a free download for … [Read more...] about Computer Security
Computer and Network Security
Computer and Network Security Major Security Breaches Continue: If you have been following the news lately, it is evident that large businesses, government departments and other organizations continue to be hacked, sometimes disclosing personal information of millions of customers. Recent major breaches include the Sony Pictures hack (which was purportedly carried out by the North Korean government) and the Anthem breach, which affected millions of customers. In the Anthem case, … [Read more...] about Computer and Network Security
Google Apps
We hear a lot about cloud computing these days, so I thought I'd cover one of the most popular and powerful suites of cloud-based services available today: Google Apps. (By the way, Cloud computing is Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and mobile devices on demand.) As usual, feel free to suggest topics which you would like to see covered in an upcoming newsletter or on the Grundig IT news page, which can be found at … [Read more...] about Google Apps
Backup and Data Recovery
Backup and Recovery Data Recovery Hard Drive - A hard drive (or multiple hard drives) store all the valuable user data in a computer or server Hard Drive Failure - A hard drive can fail at any time. Mean Time Before Failure is from 3-7 years for most drives. A computer that stops working usually has most or all of the data intact. However, it is not accessible or not recognized by the filesystem. In case of damage to the filesystem, data can usually be recovered using specialized … [Read more...] about Backup and Data Recovery
Windows 8 Preview
Windows 8 Windows 8 is expected to be released in the 2nd half of 2012. Windows 8 will be very similar in many ways to Windows 7, but will incorporate many new features such as the new Metro User Interface, Windows App Store and improved security features. New 'Metro-style' user interface with metro style apps Windows 8 certainly has got a mind blowing interactive user interface(UI), which has been extensively redesigned. The Metro-style design, which shows … [Read more...] about Windows 8 Preview
2 Time-Saving Tools
Keeping track of contacts within an email application such as Outlook can be a tough task, especially if one is not in the habit of saving everyone's information. I first started using XOBNI for Outlook 3 years ago when I downloaded the free version (a pay version with more features is also available). It's a simple, easy-to-use tool that searches and indexes your mail in order to be able to quickly access contact information when you ask it to. XOBNI is also available for GMAIL, … [Read more...] about 2 Time-Saving Tools
Cloud Computing Revisited
Cloud computing refers to computing that is taking place somewhere other than on your computer or local server. Since the computing in cloud computing takes place elsewhere, it requires a good, stable internet connection to be accessed from your PC, laptop, Mac or smartphone. For example, web-based email can be considered a cloud service and has been around for a long time. Other, newer services, such as Google Docs, Office 365 and others are becoming more popular every day. QuickBooks online … [Read more...] about Cloud Computing Revisited
Mac vs. PC
Mac vs. PC In many respects, Mac vs. PC is not really so much of an argument any longer, as both Mac and PC are based on the same fast Core line of chips from Intel. Computers based on the Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors can easily handle everyday computing tasks like surfing the web, email, photos and music. Core i5 and Core i7 enable more demanding applications such as Photoshop and Autocad. However, there are some noteworthy differences to note when considering when … [Read more...] about Mac vs. PC
Here’s what I am thankful for this year in the computing world and in my business. What are you thankful for?
Here's what I am thankful for this year in the computing world and in my business. What are you thankful for? Windows 7 I am thankful for Windows 7. The successor to Windows Vista, and Microsoft's new operating system, Windows 7 was officially released on October 22nd, 2009. It's faster, easier to use and has better built-in backup than Windows Vista, among other new features. Windows 7 is my first choice for most business and residential computer systems that will be … [Read more...] about Here’s what I am thankful for this year in the computing world and in my business. What are you thankful for?
