Triona's Tech Tips

My tech column in today’s Northwest Herald is about how to protect your passwords and your privacy on the Internet. Remember, to create strong passwords:

• 6 to 12 characters in length
• Mix of lower- and uppercase letters and numbers
• Symbols if allowed
• Not easily identifiable (your spouse, your kids, your dog)
• Create a passphrase
  • fourscore and seven years ago = 4Score&7Yrs (don’t use this one!)
• Different password for every account
• Change your passwords regularly, at least every 3 months
• Don’t re-use or cycle through the same set of passwords
• You can write them down, but keep them in a safe place

No one is immune to having their accounts compromised, and weak passwords are often the method. So take some time this weekend to secure your world by setting strong, unique passwords for all of your accounts.

Here are links to the resources I mentioned in the article (they’re all free):

• About the Twitter worm
• KeePass password manager, available for Windows, Mac, and smart phones
• ExpandURL for expanding shortened links
• McAfee SiteAdvisor
  • and, in a similar vein, LinkExtend for Firefox

If you found this information helpful, sign up for my free Tech Tips newsletter and continue to learn how to get the most out of your PC or Mac computer. Click here to subscribe or send email to techtips-request-at-guidryconsulting-dot-com, subject “subscribe”.

There are continuing reports of problems with Apple’s 27″ iMac, which is now delayed indefinitely. Unconfirmed reports say that Apple has suspended production of their flagship iMac until the problems can be resolved.

If you have a 27″ iMac, you should install the most recent firmware updates to fix any flickering display problems. If your display remains black after the update you should contact AppleCare for assistance. Note that there are now two firmware updates for this model. The first was the 27″ iMac Graphics Firmware Update 1.0. This most recently released one is the 27″ iMac Display Firmware Update 1.0. Yeah, that’s not confusing at all.

You can find a great deal of discussion on this topic on Apple’s forums. At fault appears to be the particular graphics card used in the computer.

Today, amid much hoopla, Apple finally unveiled its iPad tablet computer. Was it worth the hype? While I don’t think it’s the be-all and end-all of the universe, I think the iPad has great potential. It fits the niche between the iPhone and Mac computer, the price is right, and it simultaneously takes a swipe at both netbooks and e-readers.

This being Apple, of course the iPad is aesthetically beautiful. It has a 9.7″ multitouch color display (that works portrait and landscape) and weighs in at only 1.5lbs. It comes in six models, including 16GB, 32GB and 64GB with WiFi or WiFi+3G plus Bluetooth, and will start shipping in 60 days. Reports from the field say the graphics are smokin’ fast. The iPad interface will be familiar to anyone who’s used an iPhone or iPod touch. It reportedly has at least 10 hours of battery life and can remain in standby up to 30 days. It uses AT&T’s network but unlike the iPhone the device is unlocked and requires no contract, which will undoubtedly be a big enticement.

The fact that the iPad can run iPhone apps out of the box is another big plus in Apple’s favor. That means the iPad runs ready-made software people already use, as well as leveraging the existing development process. The iPad has a large on-screen keyboard, and there is also a full-sized keyboard dock available. You can use the iPad to do anything from playing games to watching movies to catching up on Facebook, all from one ultraportable device.

The new iBooks store goes hand-in-hand with Apple’s iTunes and Apps stores. Apple has buy-in from big-name publishers including Simon and Schuster, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin and Hachette. The familiar iPhone-like interface combined with the use of the ePub format, a standard for e-readers, will give the iPad a big push in the e-book market. Again, Apple is showing its prowess at leveraging its own strengths.

The iPad’s price point is right on the money. The iPad starts at $499 for a 16GB model with WiFi and goes up to $829 for 64GB with WiFi+3G. That’s well within the realm of possibility for consumers. The iPhone was priced too high at the beginning; clearly Apple doesn’t intend to make that mistake again. And Apple sorely needed a netbook-like solution to round out its notoriously higher-priced Macs.

The iPad is an all-in-one solution for entertainment: music, photos, TV, movies, books and games, with access to email, the Web, social networking sites like Facebook and all manner of apps. It’s a potent combination of usability and interaction that, like the iPhone, will set a standard for the industry. The introduction of the iPad is a great way for Apple to start 2010, a year that should prove most interesting in this arena.

What do you think? Is Apple’s iPad worth the hype? Are you considering one? Why or why not?

Starting in 2010, I’m writing a monthly technology column for The Northwest Herald. In January’s column, Old Software Poses Risk Of Viruses, I talk about how outdated versions of your software can open the floodgates. Here are some previous Tech Tips articles on how you can protect yourself:

• Old Versions Of Internet Explorer Vulnerable To Viruses
• Fall In Love With Secunia Personal Software Inspector
• Mozilla Firefox Expands Check For Unsafe Plug-Ins
• No Click Required: Malware Via Infected Ads

Below you’ll find links to related resources including those mentioned in the column.

• Adobe Acrobat Reader updates
• Flash updates
• Mozilla Firefox plug-in check
• Microsoft Update for Windows, Office, Internet Explorer
• Apple Software Updates for Mac OS, iTunes, Safari, iPhone and iPod
• Secunia Online Software Inspector for Windows

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”.

It’s eight-thirty in the morning. You’ve got a big meeting at nine… and your printer jams. What can you do?

Printer jams are often caused by paper residue. Compressed air can keep your printer clean. It’s also important to use good quality paper. The cheap stuff leaves more residue and is more likely to jam the printer.

If you still can’t print but there’s no jam, try turning your computer and printer off, then back on. If that doesn’t work, check the cables. Your printer’s software may also give an indication of the problem. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of changing your default printer. In Windows XP, go to the Control Panel, then Printers And Faxes. Look for Printers under Hardware And Sound in Windows Vista, or Devices and Printers in Windows 7. Right-click on the printer you want and select Set As Default. On a Mac, go to System Preferences under the Apple menu and choose Print & Fax and change Selected Printer In Print Dialog.

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”.

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.

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 federal government predicts that online retail sales will reach over $235 billion this year. Here’s how you can shop safely online this holiday season.

• Before you shop, make sure you have adequate computer security protections, and that they are up to date. Where possible, consider using a browser other than Internet Explorer (like Firefox, Safari or Opera). If you must use Internet Explorer, be sure to use the latest version, and check update.microsoft.com for Windows and Microsoft Office security fixes.
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• You should also be sure that other programs like Flash and Adobe Acrobat Reader are up to date (here’s why). Secunia Online Software Inspector provides a quick way to do this for Windows users. Mac users should check Software Updates under the Apple menu, and visit web sites like adobe.com for common software to check for new versions.
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• Never shop from a public network or WiFi hotspot. Only do your shopping from a secure Internet connection, such as the one at your home or office.
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• See if your bank offers a virtual or one-time credit card number that you can use for online shopping. Or, get a credit card with a minimal limit (like $500) that you use exclusively for online purchases. Don’t use a debit card online, because it’s easier to get fraudulent charges removed from a credit card.
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• Shop with known retailers. If you’re thinking about doing business with a site you’ve never used before, do some Web searches for reviews to assess other customers’ satisfaction.
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• Never click an email link to reach the site. Such emails are often phishing scams trying to lure you into visiting malicious web sites. It’s safer to type the store’s Web site directly into your browser.
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• Only shop at sites that offer secure checkout. Look for the “https” (instead of “http”) in the address bar of your browser, but be warned that even secure sites can be compromised.
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• Beware of bad web links that may lead you to malicious ads.
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• Keep an eye on your credit card statements for erroneous charges or theft.
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• To avoid spam, create a separate email address for online purchases.
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• Print your receipts, either to paper or electronically to a PDF file. PC users will need a PDF program like FoxIt to do this. Mac users can simply select Print To PDF from the Print window.
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• As with anything else online, if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Through December 1st, 2009, new subscribers to the free email version of Tech Tips will receive a special tip sheet: Ten-Step Computer Troubleshooter. Just click here to sign up.