The Election is at Hand

Greetings. The election is at hand now. Be sure to vote.

Windows Home Server
I am recommending that small businesses get windows home server if they have ten computers or less on their network. I am doing this for several reasons, many of which IT Pro's won't agree with. IT Pro's will want you to get Microsoft Windows Small Business Server so they can do your administration and charge you for it. For a small shop with less than 10 computers, I don't think it's necessary. I think you can do well with Windows Home Server.

First, Home Server does not require using a domain. It will work with workgroups, and therefore it will work with XP Home, and Vista home basic/premium. Second, it does its own backups. You just designate a machine to be backed up and it will do the backup on its own schedule. Third, you can share files as you can with Small Business Server. However you don't have the complex administration to deal with. And, you still can impose restrictions on users to keep them out of areas you don't want them in.

I would not recommend getting the HP Mediasmart Home Server because it tends to be sensitive to its operating environment. If you have a large range of temperature variations, or a dusty environment, it may adversly impact the Media Smart Server operation. As an alternative you can keep an eye out for other manufacturers offerings, or enlist the help of a custom computer builder to assemble a custom made server for your environment.

Quick Books Data Entry
We now offer Quick Books Data Entry services. We will work with your current configuration and your business accountant to get the most out of Quickbooks. Write us for more information.

Today's Tips

Short Cuts

I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the key shortcuts in Windows. While you may be accustomed to using your mouse to navigate windows and windows aps, you actually can do many things faster by using the shortcut keys. Try it.

First, highlight a line of text with your mouse. Then, to copy it use the Control C shortcut to copy it. (That is hold down the CTRL key and hit the C key) Now to paste the text, you would use the Control V to insert. This actually works out to be faster than right clicking and clicking on copy, and then pasting by right clicking and clicking on paste.

There are many more shortcuts that could do your day to day tasks quicker than only using the mouse. Try it out.

Fall Cleanup

Ready for fall? The weather is turning cooler and soon the leaves will start to change. Now is the time for you to consider cleaning up your PC and network as well. How often do you run defrags or disk cleanups? Are your virus signature files up to date? How about Windows updates? Call me to arrange an appointment to get a fall cleanup. I'll verify your settings for your anti-virus software, and windows updates. Don't wait, do it now. 732-568-4943

Peace,

Dave

Today's Tips

Hello all. How is everyone today?

I've been thinking recently about home networking. I would bet that almost everybody is using wireless networking. Sure, it's easy, quick and mostly painless. No wires, no electrician, right? Just configure a few things and you're off and running!

Wait a minute though. The Netgear Power Line networking adapters are much faster than wireless. You can have up to 15 devices (don't quote me) on a network. With the advent of streaming video and home servers, it may be better to look into using power line network devices instead of wireless. Sure you can have wireless co-exist with power line. You can hook up your laptop quickly and use your network connection. But for faster media sharing over the network it the desired order would be: First and foremost, Cat 5 or 6 network wiring. That is the fastest beside fiber optic cable. Next would be the Netgear 200mbps power line adapters, then wireless. Keep in mind that most older PC's have 10/100 network "cards" on their motherboards. More recent PC's have Gigabit (10/100/1000) capabillities. So a newer PC could take advantage of the 200mbps powerline network adapters.

Give it some thought.

Peace,

Dave

http://www.davepickel.com/

Quicken Philosophy

I wanted to make a comment here on Quicken. I've been using it for over 15 years. The first version of Quicken I bought was a DOS version. There were no windows versions at that time.

Here's the thing. I have always run Quicken independently of everything. I mean that I don't use the download feature with a few exceptions. With my checking and savings accounts I do my entries manually and then reconcile them at the end of the period with the statements. I find that this is the best way to handle the accounts. I reduce the risk of accidentally over-drawing my checking account. And it serves as a double check with my financial institutions.

I had a client recently who insisted that he was too busy to run his finances that way. And indeed he was. But, I still recommended it. We wasted no less than four months trying to get a bug solved in Quicken with NO success. We were on several conference calls with Intuit support and no resolution. To this day there is no resolution. The problem was with Washington Mutual and Bank of America accounts. And finally after many calls, Intuit support (foreigners in India) insisted that it was the institutions' problems.

I disagreed with that. But since I didn't write the program, I cannot get in and fix the source code. So I will insist that all my customers who use Quicken use it as I direct them. It's more work but it provides a good cross check to your institutions and is independent of any download problems.

The exception to this is if you have IRA's, stocks, etc. These transactions may become complex and difficult to enter and reconcile. My client has an extensive portfolio with Fidelity Investments. And to their credit, Fidelity was performing accurate downloads. This allowed my client to track the dismal performance of his portfolio (but that's another subject all together).

And so, I stick with what I said. I will train you to run Quicken independently of downloads for the most part. And it will run and you will be pleased with the outcome.

Peace!

Dave

Visit my website at http://www.davepickel.com

Windows Vista - The next time around

Microsoft is apparently trying to re-promote Vista. They recently tried an experiment called "Mojave". The deal was they presented a "new" operating system to unknowing users, calling it a beta version of the successor to Vista (Mojave).

The trial users were very impressed. What they did not know is the operating system was Vista with all the updates and service pack. It apparently has improved that much. Microsoft has also updated drivers so the printers that once didn't work, now DO work.

Maybe Vista is ready for another look. You'll have to look anyway because XP is no longer available on newly purchased PC's.

More later.

Peace,

Dave

http://www.davepickel.com

Radio Program

Soon we will resume our weekly radio broadcast on Blog Talk Radio. We had suspended these broadcasts while working for our "employer". We will most likely resume Sunday Morning Broadcasting. I will write a post in the blog here saying when our first broadcast will be.

Peace,

Dave

Services

I provide the following services:

-Wireless/Wired home network troubleshooting
-Wireless Home network installation
-Training on popular home and business applications
-Home network design

Active Seniors Welcome.

Call 732-568-4943