Small Business Tech

I have read differing reports who originated Clean Out Your Computer Day, but either way this is it. The second Monday in February. Here are some ideas to "celebrate"...

• Organize and delete files. If you are like me you just drop files off of your camera onto the desktop when you are in a hurry. This is a good change to do some basic file organizing. If you are using Google Desktop you may want to consider just creating a better file name description and sliding the file into a folder that is off of your desktop.
• Defrag your hard drive. This has been automated on Windows Vista and 7, but you still need to do it by hand in Windows XP.
• Run a good deep virus scan and run Windows Update to check for any updates you may missed in the past year.
• Physically clean the case. If you have a notebook or netbook computer be sure to clean the exhaust vents. A can of compressed air is handy if used carefully. Desktop computers should be dusted and fans blown clean.
• Last but not least clean your LCD screen.

Labels: clean, desktop, LCD, netbook, notebook computer

On occasion I like to take some time to think about a new product before I post my thoughts. I usually get better results when I wait a few days to read and ponder. I have waited a few days to write down some thoughts about the just announced Apple iPad. I want to reflect on the device as a business tool.

Form factor. If you ask me it looks like a big iPhone. It is not the first tablet PC. There have been plenty in thhe market for many years with very little success. The biggest problem with a tablet is the poor position to hold it while you are typing. You almost need to stoop over it to type unless you do the two thumb procedure. You better have big hands to use your thumbs. For just web browsing or data perusal it would be a good form factor for a short period of usage. It is thin at just 1/2 inch thickness and most of the front is glass. I cannot imagine that I would carry this anymore beyond my home or office. Breaking my phone or notebook make me nervous enough.

Limitations. Based on published reports it will not include Adobe Flash so that rules out watching streaming video from Hulu, TV.com, or any number of other sites. You would need to limit your video media to downloaded podcasts or purchased iTunes programs and movies. That is a shame. The other limiting factor is the same that afflicts the iPhone - it will only run one application at a time. There are a couple of exceptions much like the iPhone, but most applications will only run one-at-a-time.

The name. I hate to judge someone else's marketing decision, but there had to be a better name out there. I understand that iPad is similar to iPod, but iPad is just rife with parody.

It would be neat to use an iPad while watching television or in a meeting, but I cannot imagine much use beyond those tasks. It would have very little substantial application in the business environment.

Labels: Apple, iPad, iPhone, tablet

I recently wrote about Backupify. One feature disabled was backing up Gmail. They have posted on their blog about why it was disabled.

Labels: Backupify, Cloud Computing

Many of us are now depending on online services to store images, documents, thoughts, and memories. A service has surfaced called Backupify that backs up all of this data. Backupify is an online service that backs up data on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google Docs to Amazon's S3 backup service.

When I first heard of Backupify I was intrigued but wondered why. The whole selling point of online services is that we do not need to worry about our local hard drives and backup routines, etc. What are the chances of an online provider such as Google just disappearing or losing our data? Well there is a point I had not considered. What if your online provider cuts you off. It can happen and it has happened to a few users. Read your Terms of Service. There is probably language in there to prevent you from doing things that are on the wrong side of the law. Whether that includes copyright infringement or defamation or any other nefarious activity. Your provider can cut off your access just based on a complaint. They would rather just anger you then fight a legal case.

The sign-up for Backupify is very straight forward. You use your email as your user name and create a password. They ask if you would like the free version or bring your own Amazon S3 account. Right now the service is free for new users who sign up before January 31, 2010. Once you have signed up you just add your services such as Google Docs or Facebook via your login information for those products. Some products such as Zoho require an API key as well.

I do have a couple of questions about Backupify. How are they going to make money down the road? Will they charge for restoration or access to data? Even if I choose to save the data in my Amazon S3 account is the data accessible via another portal into S3 such as Jungle Disk?

Labels: Amazon, Backupify, Jungle Disk

Spruce Up Cleaning has a good article with tips on cleaning LCD screens.

Labels: LCD

A reader asked via the comment system if he could post my comments in the Google Picasa 3.5 article. The reader did not leave any contact information so - yes, you can.

Labels: comment, Google, Picasa

During this time year we all tend to reach out to family. We all have those family members that are not connected via email, Facebook, or other means. Sometimes you just need to send an old time letter.

I had just such as occasion with a family member that is busy so she is difficult to catch on the phone. The economy has forced her disconnect her Internet connection. Call me lazy, but I did not look forward to typing a letter, locating an envelope, addressing it, and then digging a stamp out of a drawer. What is the proper amount for postage?

I looked for an online service that would send a postal letter. I ran into several. One was free but it did not look very professional. The others ranged in cost and most you had to sign up for an account.

The most drop-dead simple provider that I could find was SnailMailr.com. You pull up the site and fill in an envelope on the first page with your return and recipient addresses. On the next page you write your letter. You can embed color photographs or other graphics into your letter. You then preview the letter and pay just 99 cents to send it. The other great thing besides the features and low price is that they do not requires any site sign-up. You just use your Amazon log in and your prearranged payment method. Amazon handles your receipt and confirmation of your letter printing and being sent. They typically print and send your letter in 24-hours.

Give it a try. It is a great way to send a nice looking letter this holiday season to your relatives or friends that are off the grid.

Labels: postal mail, SnailMailr