Triona's Tech Tips

Why get a generic geek when you can work with an award-winning computer professional for less? My rates for 2010 (pdf) are the same as 2009, and include brand-new options such as personalized advice on social networking and blogs.

Guidry Consulting, Inc. provides computer services for business and home. On-site service is available in the northwest Chicago suburbs.

• Tech support for PC and Mac
• Networks, servers, and security
• Web design (see my portfolio)
• Computer classes (see my schedule)
• Blogs
• Social networking including LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter
• …and much more!

But don’t take my word for it. Find out what my customers are saying, then learn how I can help with your computer needs.

Your free email subscription to Tech Tips includes bonus tips, tricks and product reviews. Through January 31, 2010, new subscibers will also receive a special gift: my IT Business Continuity Checklist. Click here to subscribe or send email to techtips-request-at-guidryconsulting-dot-com, subject “subscribe”.

Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to assist with your computer needs. I hope to work with you in the new year!

In response to reports of flickering displays on the new 27″ iMacs, Apple has released a firmware fix. You can find it here.

No word yet on when the shipping delays will improve. The Apple Store still lists the 27″ iMacs as shipping within 2 weeks, while the 21.5″ iMacs ship within 24 hours.

Through December 31st, new subscribers to my Tech Tips email list will receive my tip sheet on Creating Strong Passwords. Click here to sign up or enter your email address in the sidebar to the right.

If you’re planning to buy Apple’s 27″ iMac, you might be waiting a while for delivery. In a recent interview, Apple confirmed delays in shipping its popular new computer.

The shipping delays have been attributed to several things, including a shortage of components. Unconfirmed by Apple are reports of hardware problems. Online forums mention hard drive failures and flickering or damaged displays. If you have a 27″ iMac and want to check the display, visit this web site for an online test.

In other news, Fujitsu has recalled certain batteries for its Amilo line of laptops, including the Amilo Pa2510, Pi2512 and Pi2515 sold between April 2007 and June 2009. For more information, visit the Fujitsu web site.

Through December 31st, new subscribers to my Tech Tips email list will receive my tip sheet on Creating Strong Passwords. Click here to sign up.

Each holiday season I try to give you some fun and innovative gift ideas. These aren’t paid ads, they’re simply gadgets I’ve run across that I think you might like.

One of my favorites this year is the ioSafe Solo, a hard drive built to resist water and fire. It has a large capacity and is a great choice for a backup drive in case of a business disaster. www.iosafe.com

I also like the NovoThink surge, an iPhone case that includes a hybrid solar charger. www.novothink.com

Mobile mavens may enjoy the Verizon MiFi 2200, which offers WiFi access via Verizon’s 3G network. No more searching for hotspots! www.verizonwireless.com

For the graphic designer on your list there’s ColorMunki, which helps maintain consistent color across all of your software and devices. It’s great for anyone who needs exact color matching for advertising or other purposes. www.xrite.com

Finally, clean your computer with the DataVac Electric Duster from Metrovac. This handy tool replaces canned air products with a cordless fan designed for use on computers and other electronics. www.metrovacworld.com

In January we’ll talk about Fixing Printer Problems. Through December 31st, new subscribers to my Tech Tips email list will receive my tip sheet on Creating Strong Passwords. Click here to sign up.

Is upgrading your computer the right choice for you?

I’ve mentioned before that computers have built-in obsolescence. This has less to do with your use of them and more to do with computing in general. An older computer is hard-pressed to compete against Internet threats and cybercrime, especially if it’s not running the latest Windows or Mac software. The longer you’ve had your computer, the more susceptible it is to errors and infection.

One popular upgrade option is memory. There are two kinds of memory on a computer, the RAM and the hard drive. RAM is like the top of your desk: the larger it is, the more room you have to work on files. Hard drive space is like your filing cabinet. The more drawers you have, the more you can store. You’re going to run out of RAM before you run out of hard drive space, unless you have a very small drive or are working with very large files. Fortunately, RAM is relatively inexpensive at the moment. Check with your manufacturer to see how you can upgrade your computer’s memory.

If you’re thinking about upgrading to the latest versions of Windows or Mac software, check your hardware against the compatibility lists. Check Microsoft’s requirements for Windows 7 or try the Upgrade Advisor. Mac users will want to compare their hardware against the system requirements for Snow Leopard.

Sometimes you just have to buy a new computer. But if you plan ahead, you might be able to stretch this one a little bit longer.

In January I’ll answer the question, How Secure Is Social Networking? Through December 31st, new subscribers to my Tech Tips email list will receive my tip sheet on Creating Strong Passwords. Click here to sign up.

The Internet is abuzz with talk of the new Facebook privacy settings. But what does this mean to you, the average Facebook user?

It means you’d better go through your profile and make sure that everything is set the way you want it to be. While Facebook says the new rules increase privacy, you may find more of your settings exposed.

Forget the Transition Tool and go straight to the source. From Facebook, click on Settings in the upper right-hand corner, then Privacy from the pop-up menu. Then go through each section to check your settings. I recommend you set everything to Friends Only unless there are specific things you want to share with the entire Internet, like perhaps your web site if you run a business. You can preview your profile to see how it looks to others. Sophos has some good advice about Facebook security you should take to heart.

This is even more important now that major search engines like Google and Bing are scrambling to include updates from social networking sites including Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. What that means is that anything you put online could end up in a search engine and plastered across the Internet.

If I were you, I would consider social networking sites like cocktail parties. Anybody might overhear what you say, and it could easily end up front-page news tomorrow.

And while you’re at it, for heaven’s sake use different, secure passwords for each of your online profiles. If you don’t, you’re practically begging for someone to compromise your account. Through December 31st, new subscribers to my Tech Tips email list will receive my tip sheet on Creating Strong Passwords. Click here to sign up.

If you are using an old version of Internet Explorer, your PC is more vulnerable to viruses and spyware.

The current version of Internet Explorer (IE) is version 8, but I routinely encounter computers running version 7 or–heaven help us–version 6. Upgrading isn’t a matter of wanting all the bells and whistles. It’s a security necessity.

The longer a piece of software is publicly available, the easier it is for hackers to design viruses or spyware to exploit its weaknesses. Also, newer software benefits from advances in security research. By running the most current version, you boost your protections.

I advocate that you break the Internet Explorer habit by using an alternate web browser like Firefox. But you still need to keep up to date on your Internet Explorer patches. Because IE is a component of Windows, you are vulnerable even if you don’t use it. One rare reason you might not want to upgrade to IE8 is if you have software that isn’t compatible. Unless this applies to you, you should consider the upgrade.

You can check your version of Internet Explorer within the program by selecting About Internet Explorer from the Help menu. To upgrade, visit update.microsoft.com or click here to go directly to the download. After you’ve installed, be sure to visit update.microsoft.com again to seek out the most recent security fixes for IE8. This will provide you maximum protection.

If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to the email version of Tech Tips for bonus tips, tricks and product reviews. Through December 31st, 2009, new subscribers will receive a special gift: my tip sheet on Creating Strong Passwords (PDF). Just click here to sign up.

Join me for a free seminar on Social Networking: Marketing Your Business Online, sponsored by the Business Networking Group. The seminar will be held Friday, December 11, 2009 from 7:30am-8:30am at Grandma V’s Restaurant, Routes 176 and 45 in Mundelein, Illinois.

Have you been asked to get LinkedIn? Can you make business contacts through Facebook or MySpace? Should you Twitter your business? We will discuss how these social networking tools can help you develop new referrals and open new markets for your business.

For more information visit the Business Networking Group web site, or see my computer class schedule. Hope to see you there!

If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to the email version of Tech Tips for bonus tips, tricks and product reviews. Through December 31st, 2009, new subscribers will receive a special gift: my tip sheet on Creating Strong Passwords (PDF). Just click here to sign up.