An End of Year Suggestion

I realize that this is a very busy time of the year; nevertheless I have a suggestion that might save you countless hours of work and frustration. It will only take a few minutes and hopefully you will never need the product of your work.

With more and more of us using our computers and other digital devices for tasks once the province of paper and ink, we accumulate a tremendous amount of digital stuff. There are the electronic pay check stubs, tax reports, bank statements, electronic bills and bill payment documentation and let’s not forget all those names and addresses. Pictures from Johnny’s piano recital or Suzie’s soccer match are stored somewhere on your computer rather than in the shoe box on the top shelf of the closet.

It is great to have all these things available at the click of a mouse. It is disastrous when that doesn’t work…when your data storage fails.

The solution is to pay attention to the old saw “never put all your eggs in one basket.” Make sure you have more than one basket and make sure that all the “eggs” are in each. In other words, back up your data!

There are many ways to do this. There are services that literally back up everything you do by connecting your computer via the Internet to a secure, redundant data storage site. Most of these charge for the service and your computer has to be online. Rather than to try to cover all the features here you can go to PC Magazine’s web site, it has a good summary of these services at http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2288745,00.asp

There are other simpler and less expensive options. The easiest is to make copies of the important files on inexpensive CDs or DVDs. Most computers have drives that will “burn” CDs. Since they are so inexpensive I suggest making two copies and making sure that you don’t store them in the same place.

You can also use Flash Drives. These little devices plug into the USB port and can hold a tremendous amount of data. They do, however, have a finite number of read/write cycles (in the thousands).

You may wish to consider the purchase of a USB external hard drive. The prices of these devices have plummeted to a point that you can get a 1 terabyte drive for about $100. Unless you have lots of videos to save, a 1 terabyte drive will handle all your “digital stuff.” Remember that these are mechanical devices and as such can fail. So it is still a good idea to have the most important files also backed up in some more robust format like a CD or DVD.

Again, you may never need these back ups. I hope you don’t. If you do need them you will be happy you spent the time.

An End of Year Suggestion

I realize that this is a very busy time of the year; nevertheless I have a suggestion that might save you countless hours of work and frustration. It will only take a few minutes and hopefully you will never need the product of your work.

With more and more of us using our computers and other digital devices for tasks once the province of paper and ink, we accumulate a tremendous amount of digital stuff. There are the electronic pay check stubs, tax reports, bank statements, electronic bills and bill payment documentation and let’s not forget all those names and addresses. Pictures from Johnny’s piano recital or Suzie’s soccer match are stored somewhere on your computer rather than in the shoe box on the top shelf of the closet.

It is great to have all these things available at the click of a mouse. It is disastrous when that doesn’t work…when your data storage fails.

The solution is to pay attention to the old saw “never put all your eggs in one basket.” Make sure you have more than one basket and make sure that all the “eggs” are in each. In other words, back up your data!

There are many ways to do this. There are services that literally back up everything you do by connecting your computer via the Internet to a secure, redundant data storage site. Most of these charge for the service and your computer has to be online. Rather than to try to cover all the features here you can go to PC Magazine’s web site, it has a good summary of these services at http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2288745,00.asp

There are other simpler and less expensive options. The easiest is to make copies of the important files on inexpensive CDs or DVDs. Most computers have drives that will “burn” CDs. Since they are so inexpensive I suggest making two copies and making sure that you don’t store them in the same place.

You can also use Flash Drives. These little devices plug into the USB port and can hold a tremendous amount of data. They do, however, have a finite number of read/write cycles (in the thousands).

You may wish to consider the purchase of a USB external hard drive. The prices of these devices have plummeted to a point that you can get a 1 terabyte drive for about $100. Unless you have lots of videos to save, a 1 terabyte drive will handle all your “digital stuff.” Remember that these are mechanical devices and as such can fail. So it is still a good idea to have the most important files also backed up in some more robust format like a CD or DVD.

Again, you may never need these back ups. I hope you don’t. If you do need them you will be happy you spent the time.

A Holiday Lament

Deck the halls with things electric
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Sony, Apple, Panasonic,
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Now they have some neat new features.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
But directions come from alien creatures.
Fa La La La La, La La La La

Why are “E” things still not easy?
Fa La La La La, La La La La
All the problems make me wheezy.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Call the hot line with your issue.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Someone in India can talk to you.
Fa La La La La, La La La La

So when the season comes a knocking.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Put some coal in Sony’s Stocking.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Toss the batteries and the hard drive.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
No phone, no iPod you’ll survive.
Fa La La La La, La La La La

A Holiday Lament

Deck the halls with things electric
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Sony, Apple, Panasonic,
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Now they have some neat new features.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
But directions come from alien creatures.
Fa La La La La, La La La La

Why are “E” things still not easy?
Fa La La La La, La La La La
All the problems make me wheezy.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Call the hot line with your issue.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Someone in India can talk to you.
Fa La La La La, La La La La

So when the season comes a knocking.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Put some coal in Sony’s Stocking.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Toss the batteries and the hard drive.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
No phone, no iPod you’ll survive.
Fa La La La La, La La La La

Stocking Stuffers of the High Tech Kind

For the last two weeks I have provided some suggestions for some high tech gift giving. This week I will continue, but will offer all suggestions under $15 making them great stocking stuffers.

Anyone who uses a computer or MP3 player will appreciate having extra storage for all those video, music or picture files. Consider buying a few SD cards or “Flash” drives. These small storage devices can plug into various digital devices and expand the amount of storage capacity. Flash drives require a USB port and as such are used primarily with computers while SD cards can be used with a variety of devices from small mobile phones to large flat screen TVs. SD cards come in several “sizes” from 1 gig to as large as 8 gig or more of capacity. (Figure that an average of 600 pictures or songs will fit on a 1 gig device) For MP3 players and mobile phones, you may need a “micro SD card.” These are about the size of the finger nail on your pinky finger. Locally Staples has a great selection.

Do you have someone that travels a lot with a laptop computer? Here is a neat addition to that road warrior’s armaments. Give them a laptop lamp. This small gooseneck plugs in the USB port of the laptop and casts a soft light on the keyboard. These are great for working in low light situations like planes or conference rooms during Power Point presentations. You can find them on-line and at many local computer stores.

Another cool device for someone who uses an MP3 music player is an FM transmitter that allows the car radio to serve as the speakers. It plugs into the MP3 player and car power port (nee cigarette lighter.) You can find them on line and at Best Buy.

For those who may have given up the desk top computer for a laptop, one of the things you will miss when doing financial stuff is a good numeric pad. How about a USB numeric keypad? It is about the size of a mouse and allows you to enter numbers just like you did with your desktop keyboard. You can find this on line for about $8.

Gift cards are also great. For the younger set a gift card for some iTunes will always be appreciated. You’ll find them where ever gift cards are sold.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Stocking Stuffers of the High Tech Kind

For the last two weeks I have provided some suggestions for some high tech gift giving. This week I will continue, but will offer all suggestions under $15 making them great stocking stuffers.

Anyone who uses a computer or MP3 player will appreciate having extra storage for all those video, music or picture files. Consider buying a few SD cards or “Flash” drives. These small storage devices can plug into various digital devices and expand the amount of storage capacity. Flash drives require a USB port and as such are used primarily with computers while SD cards can be used with a variety of devices from small mobile phones to large flat screen TVs. SD cards come in several “sizes” from 1 gig to as large as 8 gig or more of capacity. (Figure that an average of 600 pictures or songs will fit on a 1 gig device) For MP3 players and mobile phones, you may need a “micro SD card.” These are about the size of the finger nail on your pinky finger. Locally Staples has a great selection.

Do you have someone that travels a lot with a laptop computer? Here is a neat addition to that road warrior’s armaments. Give them a laptop lamp. This small gooseneck plugs in the USB port of the laptop and casts a soft light on the keyboard. These are great for working in low light situations like planes or conference rooms during Power Point presentations. You can find them on-line and at many local computer stores.

Another cool device for someone who uses an MP3 music player is an FM transmitter that allows the car radio to serve as the speakers. It plugs into the MP3 player and car power port (nee cigarette lighter.) You can find them on line and at Best Buy.

For those who may have given up the desk top computer for a laptop, one of the things you will miss when doing financial stuff is a good numeric pad. How about a USB numeric keypad? It is about the size of a mouse and allows you to enter numbers just like you did with your desktop keyboard. You can find this on line for about $8.

Gift cards are also great. For the younger set a gift card for some iTunes will always be appreciated. You’ll find them where ever gift cards are sold.

Have a Merry Christmas!

More High Tech Gift Ideas

Last week I gave some suggestions for some high tech gift giving. This week and next we will continue to look at some items that are available from local retailers or on line. I am trying to cover a variety of items, and in keeping with the economic situation, I’ll concentrate on staying away from the budget breaking 70” flat screen TVs. The good news is that prices continue to be very affordable for most home electronics and there are some very cool products that have entered the market this year.

I know I have suggested a Flip video camera before (I am not getting a kick back) but the product just seems to get better and better and is a perfect item for those who want to capture video of family events or vacations without the hassles of bulky hard to use video cameras. The camera is about the size of a large pack of cigarettes and now comes in a high definition model.

The beauty of the Flip is that is has only a few control buttons and anyone can make very good, clear videos. You press one button to start recording and press the same button to stop. Videos are stored in the camera and can be easily transferred to a computer or emailed to a friend. It comes with a cable to connect to a TV so you can immediately play your videos right from the camera. You don’t need a VCR or a computer

It is self contained and fits in your pocket. Even better, it fits in your budget. I have seen Flips selling for about $150 on line and less the $200 in stores. You can by a standard definition model for as little as $89.00. If you get one, be sure to open it first on Christmas morning.

The TV commercials are filled with iPods and iPhones. For sure Apple has some very well designed products, but they remain pricey. For far less money there are some very good MP3 players. You may wish to look at the SanDisk Sansa Clip. This tiny player measures about 2” x 1.5”, can hold hundreds of songs and recordings and can easily be connected to a computer to transfer music from the Internet.

The Sansa Clip and a similar model, Sansa c250, have a very good FM radio receiver built in and allow you to listen live or record from the radio. Both also have a built in microphone for recording although the quality of the recordings is marginal at best. One other down side is that it is so small you can easily misplace it.

This is a perfect gift for a jogger or walker. The prices are right as well. Both the Sansa Clip and the Sansa c250 can be found for between $30 and $40 at most any local discount or electronics retailer. You can get even better deals at Amazon.com.

More “stocking stuffer” ideas next week.

More High Tech Gift Ideas

Last week I gave some suggestions for some high tech gift giving. This week and next we will continue to look at some items that are available from local retailers or on line. I am trying to cover a variety of items, and in keeping with the economic situation, I’ll concentrate on staying away from the budget breaking 70” flat screen TVs. The good news is that prices continue to be very affordable for most home electronics and there are some very cool products that have entered the market this year.

I know I have suggested a Flip video camera before (I am not getting a kick back) but the product just seems to get better and better and is a perfect item for those who want to capture video of family events or vacations without the hassles of bulky hard to use video cameras. The camera is about the size of a large pack of cigarettes and now comes in a high definition model.

The beauty of the Flip is that is has only a few control buttons and anyone can make very good, clear videos. You press one button to start recording and press the same button to stop. Videos are stored in the camera and can be easily transferred to a computer or emailed to a friend. It comes with a cable to connect to a TV so you can immediately play your videos right from the camera. You don’t need a VCR or a computer

It is self contained and fits in your pocket. Even better, it fits in your budget. I have seen Flips selling for about $150 on line and less the $200 in stores. You can by a standard definition model for as little as $89.00. If you get one, be sure to open it first on Christmas morning.

The TV commercials are filled with iPods and iPhones. For sure Apple has some very well designed products, but they remain pricey. For far less money there are some very good MP3 players. You may wish to look at the SanDisk Sansa Clip. This tiny player measures about 2” x 1.5”, can hold hundreds of songs and recordings and can easily be connected to a computer to transfer music from the Internet.

The Sansa Clip and a similar model, Sansa c250, have a very good FM radio receiver built in and allow you to listen live or record from the radio. Both also have a built in microphone for recording although the quality of the recordings is marginal at best. One other down side is that it is so small you can easily misplace it.

This is a perfect gift for a jogger or walker. The prices are right as well. Both the Sansa Clip and the Sansa c250 can be found for between $30 and $40 at most any local discount or electronics retailer. You can get even better deals at Amazon.com.

More “stocking stuffer” ideas next week.