Archives for July 2013

GEEKNOTE: Backups

July 28, 2013 By Rob Marlowe

GEEKNOTE: Now that you have that shiny new computer on your desk, what steps do you need to take to protect yourself from disaster? Actually, the answer is fairly simple:

If your computer came without a Windows disk or a recovery disk, the first order of business should be to create a recovery set. This will typically require 1-3 DVDs and the software needed to create the recovery set should already be installed on your computer. The software will walk you through the process step by step.

Make sure you have a copy of all disks needed to reinstall any software on your computer. If you purchase software at a store, set up a place to put all the disks. If you download software, burn a copy of the software to a CD or DVD before you do anything else.

You can manually back up your pictures, documents, etc. by burning them to CDs or DVDs. You can also copy the files to an external hard drive. I do NOT recomment you use flash drives for backups as they are much more prone to becoming unreadable than you might think. I archive my pictures annually to DVDs.

The key is doing regular backups. Most of us tend to forget to do backups until it is too late. If you have a single computer, you should consider one of the online backup services. I recommend F-Secure Online Backup, which is just $49.95 a year and we have it at the store.

If you have multiple computers, you might consider a Windows Home Server or similar NAS box. They typically start at around $400, but can automatically back up as many as 10 computers. The reason I can get away with archiving my pictures online once a year is because I use a Windows Home Server to back up all the computers on my home network.

I don’t recommend using so-called thumb drives or USB memory sticks. They are great for transferring data from one machine to another, but they have a painfully regular habit of dying at the worst possible time.

Burning everything to CD or DVD will work, but you have to remember to do it. I prefer making the process automatic so I don’t forget.

The same thing applies to using an external hard drive. This potentially works great, but you have to remember to back things up and if you trip on the cable, like one of my customers, you potentially lose everything.

Feel free to drop by the store or drop us a note via email if you have any questions.

GEEKNOTE: NUC Update

July 7, 2013 By Rob Marlowe

GEEKNOTE: A little over three months ago, I reported on Intel’s “Next Unit of Computing” or “NUC”. We now have our hands on all three processor versions….the Celeron, the i3, and the i5 versions.

We’ve run the Windows Experience Ratings for each of them, plus three conventional workstations as reference systems.

The 1.1ghz Celeron NUC came in dead last in processor performance, scoring a 3.9. My six year old Quad core system at home came in second at 5.9. Mid pack were an older 2.8ghz E5500 desktop and the i3 version of the NUC at 6.2. The 1.8ghz i5 NUC came in a little better at 6.9, just a tad below the 7.1 of a 3.1ghz i3-2100 and my screaming i5 quad core (less than a year old) at work. What is interesting to me is the fact that the clock speed doesn’t mean that much anymore. The newer systems tend to run faster than the older ones, even those with faster clock speeds or more processor cores.

Graphics performance is even more interesting. The Celeron NUC out performs all of the conventional desktops except my i5 quad core at the office, and my quad core at the office can’t keep up with either the i3 or i5 versions of the NUC when it comes to graphics. Again, this is an example of the newer systems simply out performing older ones and a good reason to consider replacing older systems.

The NUCs take everything on hard drive performance, but that isn’t a bit surprising, given that they all use solid state drives. My SSD equipped desktop at work is the only one of the conventional systems that has similar performance.

The conclusion I’ve come to from this exercise is that the Celeron NUC is passable for light duty use, such as the email and web surfing duties that many of our customers do. With a boot time of just 20 seconds and extremely low power consumption, the Celeron NUC worth looking at.

The i3 and i5 versions are quite capable desktop replacements for office use. They both have plenty of horsepower for normal office duties.

One feature of the i5 version is that it supports vPRO, meaning that it supports “out of band” network communication. Put in layman’s terms: We can take remote control of an i5 NUC even if the system won’t boot and needs to have Windows reinstalled. For our customers trying to minimize tech time onsite, this is potentially a huge benefit. The i5 NUC will also drive three monitors compared to the dual monitor capabilities of the other two NUCs (The i5 has one HDMI and two Displayport interfaces, the i3 and the Celeron units have dual HDMI interfaces).

There are four things to consider before picking any NUC as a replacement for your current desktop system:

The NUCs have limited storage. The largest SSD I’ve found for the NUCs is a 480gb unit. If you store large audio and video files, you can fill one of these up pretty quickly.
The NUCs do not have an optical drive. With so much software now coming as downloads, this is less of an issue than it might seem. If you back up your data to the cloud, or another machine on your network, then this is not a problem. External optical drives run about $50.
The NUCs only have three USB ports. If you plug in a keyboard, mouse, and a printer, you have used up all the ports. Fortunately, USB hubs are inexpensive.
Audio output is via the video ports, so your monitor needs to have speakers or you are going to be using one of your USB ports for a USB audio device.

Does all this sound like fun? Drop by and we’ll let you take them through their paces.

July Newsletter

July 1, 2013 By Rob Marlowe

July signals the middle of summer. So by now, you’re probably enjoying a comfortable routine of your favorite summer activities. There’s always
room for something new, however. For fresh ideas to try this month, take a peek at the Pinterest and Sites of the Month sections below. You’ll
find inspiration for July meals, celebrations, vacations, and more.

Also in this issue, we share a warning about the practice called “Like Farming” used by spammers on Facebook. Your innocent “Like” could end up being used for less than honorable purposes, so be selective about what you “Like” on Facebook from now on and spread the word with family and friends.

Keep exploring this issue to check out the first website, watch castles made from humans and a magician made from wood, and learn to create a Pinterest secret board for “hush, hush” project planning.

We think you’ll find the information contained in this newsletter to be a valuable tool for enhancing your Internet experience.

Here’s what’s inside our July 2013 Newsletter:

FACEBOOK ALERT! – SPAMMERS MAKE MONEY WITH “LIKE FARMING”

NEWS FROM THE SHOP

Go Pinterest-ing! – Cool Stuff To Pin On Your Pinterest Boards

THIS MONTH’S FAQ – WHAT DID THE FIRST WEBSITE LOOK LIKE?

SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN JULY

TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO MAKE A PINTEREST SECRET BOARD

The Gulfcoast Networking Team

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FACEBOOK ALERT! – SPAMMERS MAKE MONEY WITH “LIKE FARMING”

When scrolling through your Facebook News Feed, chances are you’ve seen pull-at-the-heartstrings photos with captions such as “Please help! If this 18-month-old girl gets 10,000 ‘Likes,’ her heart transplant is free.”

Without a second thought, you may “Like” the post as a quick and easy way to show you care. But unfortunately, doing so will only benefit spammers and accomplish nothing good, since the post is probably a fake and the photo stolen. What’s going on here? It’s called “Like Farming” and it works like this:
~A person or group of people create a Facebook page or website with an appeal to “Like” something and shares it among their networks.

~The people in the creators’ networks like and share the page with their own networks, who in turn “Like” and share it. In this way, the post continues to spread.

~Facebook’s automated algorithms notice a lot of activity on the post, so they work even harder to make sure it’s seen.

~The more people see it, the more people “Like” it. And the more people “Like” it, the more people see it. Before long, the post goes viral by the sheer force of its own momentum.

~The creators illegally sell the Facebook page to a business or advertiser for a hefty sum, and now the new owner can send spam to any user who has “Liked” it.

We urge you to be smart and selective about what you “Like” on Facebook so you don’t support these underhanded “Like Farming” pages and put dollars in the pockets of spammers. If you’ve clicked on “Like” for something in the past and now regret it, you can “Unlike” it. Go to your Facebook profile, choose the “More” button, and choose “Likes” from the drop-down menu. Select the one you want to remove, click on the “Like” button that appears, and then select “Unlike” from the drop-down menu.

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NEWS FROM THE SHOP

Christmas in July Sale – We are looking to move out some old inventory, so come in for some amazing deals. A small sample:

Custom built Skeleton computers – These demo systems are 50% off their original prices.

Manhattan mice – 50% off regular price

Oki toner – 75% off.

Sale prices are limited to stock on hand.

Visit each week in July for new sale items.

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Go Pinterest-ing! – Cool Stuff To Pin On Your Pinterest Boards

Kabob Comb Makes
Food Removal Easier
http://pinterest.com/pin/291537775848635245/

A New Way To Display
Is Around the Corner
http://pinterest.com/pin/291537775848693670/

Punch Box Is A Fun
Piñata Alternative
http://pinterest.com/pin/291537775848635210/

You haven’t started pinning on Pinterest yet and you want to get started?
To sign up, go here https://pinterest.com/join/signup/

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THIS MONTH’S FAQ – WHAT DID THE FIRST WEBSITE LOOK LIKE?

Question: I heard somebody mention that the World Wide Web is now 20 years old. I’m curious — what did the first website look like?

Answer: It certainly wasn’t much to look at, especially compared with the websites of today. Here’s a brief history: On April 30, 1993, a team at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) first made the technology underlying the World Wide Web available, royalty-free, to anyone who wanted to use it.

Their initial website was very basic — just a summary of the product including the development history, instructions for creating your own pages, and technical information about the World Wide Web. But this text-only website laid the groundwork for the estimated 630 million websites that followed in the subsequent 20 years.

This is what it looked like…

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2013/1307_C2_webpage.jpg

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SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN JULY

Be Prepared For Tornadoes And Thunderstorms
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/tornadoes/prepared.asp
Being informed and prepared is the best way to stay safe during severe weather. Take a few minutes now to review the important information on this site. It covers what to do in the event of a tornado watch or warning, what supplies to have on hand, how to shut off utilities, and more

Create A Customized City Guide For Your Next Trip
http://www.stay.com
Travel to this site when planning a vacation. You can choose from 120 cities and then create a customized city guide with a map to take with you. Check out hotel, restaurant, and sightseeing recommendations. Plus, sign in with Facebook and see friends who have been to that city.

Enjoy Yummy Treats For National Ice Cream Month
http://www.delish.com/recipes/cooking-recipes/easy-ice-cream-recipes#slide-10
July is National Ice Cream Month so it’s the perfect excuse to indulge your sweet tooth with a few new ice cream desserts. The delicious recipe assortment here includes Watermelon Bliss, Orange Creamsicle Pie, Grilled Banana Splits, Apple Ginger Ice Cream, and Cheesecake on a Stick.

Pick Up Hot Ideas For A Sizzling Summer
http://www.marthastewart.com/275001/21-fun-things-to-do-this-summer/@center/276964/60-days-summer#167696
You could call this “Summer Central” since it’s where Martha Stewart has gathered all kinds of summer recipes, party ideas, crafts and projects, and family activities. From building sand castles to hosting outdoor gatherings, it’s one great idea after another.

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TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2013/1307_VIDEO_A.htm

Human Castles Built With Courage
In the city of Tarragona, Spain, castellers gather every two years to see who can build the highest and most intricate human castles. Some are up to 10 layers high! Take a look at the astonishing strength, balance, and courage displayed by these performers.

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2013/1307_VIDEO_B.htm
A Masterpiece Of Marionette Magic
Known as the “Puppeteer to the Stars,” Scott Land created this marionette of comedy magician and actor, Carl Ballantine. In this charming video, the puppet performs a stylized version of Mr. Ballantine’s original magic act, complete with a disappearing moustache.

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SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO MAKE A PINTEREST SECRET BOARD

Most of the time, you’re probably happy to share the great ideas you’ve pinned on Pinterest. But there are certain situations — such as surprise party planning or gift buying — when you might want to keep things under wraps. That’s the time to create a Pinterest secret board.

When you add pins to secret boards, they won’t show up anywhere. This means they won’t appear in the categories, search results, your home feed, or your followers’ feeds. Pinterest won’t even alert another pinner if you repin their content.

There are two ways to make a Pinterest secret board. Simply log in to your account and follow one of the procedures below:

~Scroll down to the bottom of your profile. You will notice that Pinterest automatically gives you three blank secret boards at the bottom of the page titled Create A Secret Board. These can only be seen by you (the board creator) and any contributors you choose to add. Just click on one and begin pinning.

-OR-

~Go to the Add tab at the top right-hand corner of your page. Choose the option Create A Board and move the slider button to secret (red) in the settings.

NOTE: Pinterest limits you to three secret boards at any one time. If you’re using a mobile device, you need to first go to http://pinterest.com/about/apps/ and download the most recent version of Pinterest for iPhone, iPad, Android phone, or Android tablet. Then, go to your profile, click on the Boards tab, and scroll down until you see the option for Create a Secret Board.

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We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It’s our way of keeping you posted on the happenings at our shop.

Thanks for your business!

Best regards,

Rob Marlowe
Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.
6335 Grand Blvd
New Port Richey, FL 34652

727-847-2424

(We have used our best efforts in collecting and preparing the information published herein. However, we do not assume, and hereby disclaim, any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence, accident, or other causes.)

GEEKNOTE: Going Mobile

July 1, 2013 By Rob Marlowe

GEEKNOTE: In reviewing the analytics for a number of websites I manage, I noted that a couple of the sites have a significant amount of traffic from mobile devices (eg. smart phones of various flavors and Apple iPADs). Not surprisingly, the two sites with the highest percentages of mobile traffic were Greater New Port Richey Main Street and a local restaurant.

If you will pardon the pun, I think I’ll chew on these results for a bit before drawing any final conclusions. It is probably safe to say that this past weekend’s Friendly Kiafest in Sims Park had a lot to do with Main Street’s mobile web traffic. On Kiafest Saturday, they actually had more mobile than non-mobile traffic.

Other sites I looked at, including my company’s website, have much lower ratios of mobile to desktop use, typically 10-15% of the totals being mobile devices.

The fact that ANY traffic on any website comes from mobile devices is a testament to how popular smart phones have become. Even my old flip phone has a web browser. I tend to do my web surfing on a desktop machine. Those twin 22″ widescreen monitors on my desk have spoiled me.

Websites are being redesigned to display properly on smart phones. That was part of what prompted me to rebuild our website a few months back. While I may be viewing our website on a pair of big screens, the percentage of folks looking at the site on their phones is growing. I can foresee the day when “I found you on my phone” will eclipse “I found you in the yellow pages” as the number one way new customers find us.

One interesting side effect of the general availability of smart phones is the emergence of a new form of business card. The Savvy Card is a product of a Tampa Bay company. I first heard about it at this year’s Business Development Week and the NPI network marketing group I participate in has adopted Savvy Cards as an extremely easy way to swap member information and share that information for referral purposes.

The Savvy Cards are formatted to fit a smart phone screen and have all the contact information you are used to seeing on a business card, plus much much more.

Those of us who tend to use our phones just for phone calls are missing out. I was quite surprised a couple of years ago to discover than my little flip phone actually had a GPS receiver built in. The map is admittedly very small, but it lets me know right where I am. No more getting lost.

Are you using your phone for surfing the web? Would you use it more if you had an unlimited data plan? Let us know.

Archives for July 2013

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