If you normally do not read my Tech Toy articles, be sure to read this one! This Tech Toy is a little different in that I am highlighting not a single product, but an entire class of technology. I am choosing to highlight this technology now because it has finally matured to where it makes sense for average consumers.  And wow, is it a game changer! If you’re interested in getting a few more years out of your existing computer, be sure to keep reading!

Simply put, solid state drives (SSD) are a replacement for hard drives. They basically do the same thing hard drives do, and if you didn’t know any better, you probably could not tell the difference between a computer with a solid state drive or a hard drive – at least at first, which I’ll explain soon. The main technological difference between a solid state drive and a hard drive is the way they store data. Hard drives use spinning magnetic platters to store data. Solid state drives basically store data in microchips. This is roughly the same type of technology used in “flash” drives that most people are familiar with. Because of this design, solid state drives have several advantages over hard drives.

First, solid state drives are more reliable than hard drives. With no moving parts to wear out and no magnetic fields that can be distorted to corrupt data, the likelihood of an SSD failing or losing data is many times lower than that of a hard drive. Second, because there is no motor in an SSD needed to spin platters, they use much less power and generate much less heat than hard drives. This allows portable devices to have longer battery life and also run cooler. Just think of the iPad for an example of a device that has long battery life and runs cool. The iPad uses “flash” memory, which again, is basically the same technology that solid state drives use.

But the most appreciable benefit that an SSD gives you compared to a hard drive is speed! Solid state drives can transfer data much faster than a hard drive. With the amount of time that a computer spends accessing and writing data to its drive, the speed difference between an SSD and a hard drive is very noticeable, even with older computers. Computers boot much faster, programs launch quicker, web browsers load pages faster – everything is snappier. This difference is especially noticeable with laptops that have 5400 RPM hard drives. 5400 RPM drives are commonly used in laptops because they use less power and generate less heat (the platters spin slower than 7200 RPM drives). But they are relatively slow drives. Replacing a slow hard drive with a fast SSD can make your old laptop feel like new.

I can personally vouch for this, as I recently replaced the hard drives in my family’s 3 laptops with solid state drives. It definitely made a difference in all 3 laptops. But the most striking change was in my own personal laptop, the oldest of the three. I purchased my current laptop in May of 2007, and it was a model originally introduced in late 2006. Once I installed the SSD, my 5 year old laptop using 6 year old technology has never felt so fast! As I mentioned, everything loads quicker and the computer is just much snappier overall. I had been planning a purchase of a new laptop, but now I’m in no real hurry. It really does feel like I have a new laptop!

SSD technology has been available for several years now. The problem has always been that they were quite expensive. Even today, solid state drives cost a lot more than comparably-sized hard drives. But the good news is that the price per gigabyte has come down enough to where reasonably-sized solid state drives are affordable for average consumers. Since most people only use a fraction of their huge hard drives anyway, a smaller SSD can make sense. If your data usage can fit within a reasonably-priced SSD, the performance benefits are well worth it.

With so many people trying to stretch the lives of their old computers, a solid state drive might be just what the doctor ordered. Contact me for more information about solid state drive technology and I’ll be happy to discuss if an SSD is right for you!

Marcel Brown Technology Services celebrated 10 years of business in April! Looking back on these 10 years, technology has changed more so than at any other time in history. Right before our very eyes, we are witnessing the end of the 30+ year PC era. Where only big companies could fully leverage the Old World of Technology, the latest technologies are empowering small business and individuals in a way never before seen. However, many people are still stuck in the Old World, or are just starting to learn about all the great new technologies that are available to them. So in celebration of ten years in business, and to help everyone get a jump-start into the New World of Technology, I have written the following list of technologies that everyone should get familiar with.

Each technology links to a web site for more information and I will detail why you should be using these technologies – along with the excuses given to why most of you aren’t already doing so! Remember, excuses are just that, so after reading this list, start doing some research and learn how to best leverage these technologies for your own business or personal use. Of course, if you have any questions, I’m right here, ready to help, just as I have been for over 10 years now!

Without any further ado, here are The Top Ten Technologies You AREN’T Using … But You Should Be!

Dropbox

A service that lets you bring all your photos, docs, and videos anywhere. 

Why You Should: Synchronize your files across multiple computers and mobile devices; access your files anywhere; offsite backup. It’s like having your own file server in the cloud.

Why You Aren’t: You’ve probably never heard of it; you don’t realize how powerful it is; you don’t understand how this could work so well; you’re scared to try

Google Apps

Web based email, calendar and documents that let you work from anywhere.

Why You Should: Automatic synchronization of your calendar and contacts across your computers and mobile devices that can also be shared with your co-workers; excellent business-class e-mail, including accurate spam filtering (not too loose, not too strict).

Why You Aren’t: You didn’t know Google also did business-class services; you don’t know how to get started.

Macintosh

“The Computer for the Rest of Us” is still around and resurging.

Why You Should: Computing the way it should be: easy to use, virus-free, more reliable.

Why You Aren’t: You hold outdated misconceptions about compatibility; you are still listening to people who are stuck in the “Old World of Technology”.

Anymeeting

Free web conferencing/web meeting software

Why You Should: Free and simple webinars.

Why You Aren’t: You aren’t aware of the power of webinars; you think webinars are too much work to set up.

Hootsuite or Sendible

Two different social media management services

Why You Should: Scheduled and automated social media posting and management.

Why You Aren’t: You aren’t leveraging social media correctly; you think your teenaged intern is a “social media genius”.

iPhone

The phone that changed the world

Why You Should: It still has unmatched power and ease of use; competitors are shallow copies, the BlackBerry is on life-support

Why You Aren’t: You think it is “too powerful” for you; you think you won’t understand how to use it; you don’t know what you are missing; sheer lazinesss has made you put it off.

WordPress

Software to build your web site and blog

Why You Should: Easy, self-manageable web site and blogging platform; run your own blog on your own domain

Why You Aren’t: Your web designer hasn’t mentioned it; you don’t grasp the power of blogging

Highrise

Web-based small business CRM and contact manager

Why You Should: A reasonably priced CRM for small business; access your client data anywhere.

Why You Aren’t: You’re using an outdated CRM; you didn’t know web-based software could do so much for so little cost

Square

A credit card processing service that can be used with smartphones or tablets

Why You Should: Accept credit cards anywhere, no set monthly fee, reasonable per-transaction cost.

Why You Aren’t: You think there’s a catch; you still don’t have a smartphone or tablet.

iPad

The computing appliance that has changed the PC market

Why You Should: Mobility and power in a small but usable form factor; a compliment to your existing PC or laptop

Why You Aren’t: You still haven’t tried one; you think it’s too high-tech for you; you’re waiting around for everyone else to get one first.

Again, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to answer your questions or help you implement any of these technologies.

Having run a small business for 10 years now, I am very aware of the challenges that small businesses face. One of those challenges is offering the ability to accept credit cards. Many small businesses would like to accept credit cards, but the reality is that most credit card processing companies make it financially difficult for small businesses to do so, especially if those businesses are mobile. The two main problems are set monthly fees and lack of feasible mobile payment options. Set monthly fees that are charged regardless of the amount of transactions add up quickly and eat into any profit a small business makes from accepting credit cards. As more and more small businesses are mobile by nature, the lack of a feasible mobile payment option makes the transaction process difficult, less professional, and potentially less secure. Fortunately, in the span of two short years, a new service has completely revolutionized the world of credit card processing for small businesses. Even if you would like to occasionally accept credit cards for the smallest of businesses, you should read on.

Likely by now you have at least heard of Square. But I still find many small business owners who really don’t know how Square works. To put it simply, Square is a credit card service that allows you to process transactions through your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Android device. It works by running the Square app on your device and swiping the card through the “Square Reader” that plugs into your device’s headphone jack. You can also manually type the credit card number by hand. Sounds pretty high-tech, right? It certainly is, but in reality there are many companies that can do mobile credit card transactions through smartphones and tablets. Where Square really sets itself apart is in its pricing model.

Most credit card processors will charge small businesses in the range of $20-$30 per month just to have the ability to accept credit cards. This is before any transaction fees are calculated. For many small businesses, they may only transact a handful of sales by credit card. Some months they may not even need to run a card at all. Yet they still must pay this fee. Most processors require small businesses to sign a contract which locks them into those fees and they often will charge a setup fee upfront. Additionally, much of the time small business must buy or lease a credit card machine to run the cards, which can be very expensive. And the options available for mobile credit card transactions are limited and astronomically expensive. Square completely changes all of this.

To start, it is completely free to sign up for Square. They even send you their Square Reader for free. And if you lose your Square Reader you can pick one up for $10 at many electronics stores. This alone can save small businesses several hundred dollars. But where Square really shines is the fact they do not charge any set monthly fees. Regardless of how many transactions your business does through Square in any given month, even if it is zero, you do not pay the $20-$30 fee most processors charge. The savings on the monthly fee can really add up for small businesses. And you can accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover without any additional fees for the different types of card you accept, like is required for most traditional processors. Square gets paid simply by taking 2.75% of each swiped transaction or 3.5% + 15 cents for each manually keyed transaction, again regardless of what type of card is used. Obviously, it is in your best interest to use the Square Reader to swipe your transactions, but if you must run a card manually (say a phone order) then at least you have that option.

Those of you that are familiar with credit card processing rates will at first think that Square’s transaction fees are high. True, their per transaction rate is higher than what most other processors list. However, the savings of the monthly fees more than outweighs that for many small businesses. That’s not even factoring in the ability to run cards while mobile without paying thousands of dollars for a traditional wireless credit card machine. Plus, with some of the extra fees that traditional processors charge for accepting American Express, or Discover, or business cards, or cards with rewards plans on them, Square’s rate isn’t really that much higher for those cards. It is also so much simpler to calculate what a transaction will cost a small business with Square’s flat transaction fee than it is to decipher the overly complex fee structure that most traditional processors present. All that said, however, there is a point where the volume of money that a business runs through credit cards will change the equation back into the favor of traditional credit card processors. So you must do your due diligence and make sure that Square will actually save you money if you run a fairly high volume of credit cards. Also, if your business primarily does manually entered transactions and you will do more than $1000 a week, you will need to contact Square to request your deposit limit raised or Square will hold some of your transaction revenue for 30 days as a security precaution.

One thing to note is that even if your company is best served by a traditional credit card for the majority of your transactions, having a Square account costs you nothing and can act as a great supplement. For example, you may only use Square for on-site visits or road shows. Or perhaps you can use it as a backup if your credit card machine is out of service. Like I said, Square has really changed the game when it comes to credit card processing and there are many possibilities for your business to take advantage.

Using my own business as an example, I switched to Square last year. I reviewed my credit card charges for the previous six months with our former processor and calculated what we would have paid using Square. I found that we would have saved about $100 over those six months if we had been using Square. And I calculated that it would take about $4000 of monthly volume before Square started to get more expensive than our previous processor. My business rarely does anywhere near that amount in credit card transactions. So the decision was pretty easy for my business. We’ve been using Square since then and it has been absolutely a great service. Nearly everyone I talk to that uses Square says they love it. Other than the way people talk about their iPhones, I’ve not seen people be so happy with any product or service in a long time.

Finally, some of you may have heard some talk in the news last year about Square’s service being insecure. The whole issue was that the credit card data wasn’t being encrypted when transferring from the Square Reader to the Square app. I can honestly tell you that this whole situation was blown quite out of proportion, primarily by a competing traditional credit card processor. Ironically, the way the competition sensationalized the issue actually backfired on them because most people could see that there really wasn’t an issue. The reality is that all data is encrypted by the Square app when transmitted to be processed – where it really matters. The fact that the Square Reader didn’t encrypt the data to the Square app made the transaction no less secure than any other time people hand their credit card to anyone else. The real issue is trusting the person or business you give your credit card to, regardless of how they swipe it. Regardless, it is all a moot point now anyway as Square has introduced a Square Reader that does encrypt the swiped data, just to silence those critics.

To sum up, I highly recommend that all businesses take a look at Square and evaluate if it will make sense to use it. However, if you run a small business, especially a mobile business, I wholeheartedly recommend that you sign up for an account and start testing it right away. It will either save you a lot of money on your current credit card fees, or it will allow you to finally start taking credit cards.

If you have any questions about Square or credit card processing technology in general, please don’t hesitate to contact me!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Apple has just released the 3rd generation of the iPad, which they are simply calling the “new” iPad. What you may not know, however, is that Apple has kept around the 2nd generation of the iPad, known as the iPad 2, in 16 GB capacity models. In doing so, they have dropped the price of the 16 GB iPad 2 by $100, suddenly making the iPad more attractive to those customers who wanted a lower-priced option. Because of this, many people are asking if they should save the money and purchase the iPad 2, or if the improvements to the new iPad are worth it.

The first important fact to note is that Apple has only kept the iPad 2 in production in the 16 GB models. So unless you can find a 32 or 64 GB iPad 2 on close-out, you will not be able to purchase an iPad 2 in any other capacity besides 16 GB going forward. But since most people are purchasing 16 GB models, the question remains very valid.

To quickly sum up, the main improvements to the new iPad are its high-resolution “Retina” display, a more powerful processor, a better camera, and 4G LTE capability. I’ll take a quick look at each feature to give you an idea of how the new iPad compares against the old iPad.

To me, the camera isn’t really all that big of a deal. It is now a 5 megapixel camera as compared to the previous 1 megapixel camera, it has facial detection, and it now shoots 1080p video as compared to 720p. Yes, it is a very nice upgrade, but I think the camera on the iPad is not a core feature. The upgrade basically makes the iPad camera “good enough” for almost all picture and video needs. Sure there are better cameras on mobile devices out there, but if you’re buying the iPad based on the camera, then you are an odd duck indeed. Ironically, the arguably more important front-facing FaceTime camera that can be used for video conferencing is basically the same. So again, I think the camera just isn’t relevant to most people’s iPad buying decision.

The 4G LTE capability can be very important to those that use the iPad while on the road. But it really doesn’t add anything new to those who use it on Wi-Fi. Because 4G LTE is simply faster Internet and Wi-Fi is already faster Internet. But if you use the iPad away from Wi-Fi networks and speed is important to you, the the 4G LTE capability can be very useful. However, 4G LTE networks are not very widely deployed so even then it may not make all that much of a difference until the carriers expand their 4G LTE networks.

The more powerful processor in the new iPad, the A5X, is primarily needed to increase the graphics performance in the new iPad. This is because the new iPad has 4 times the number of pixels to power. Without increasing the graphics performance, an increase of that many pixels would have caused a noticeable slowdown. It is yet to be seen if the increased performance will make a difference in actual responsiveness in the real world. I predict it won’t be significant because most of the increased performance will be used to power the Retina display rather than overall speed. I could be wrong, but in my initial testing, I did not see a significant difference in speed as compared to the iPad 2.

When all is said and done, the decision to purchase the new iPad or the iPad 2 really comes down to your perspective of the Retina display. First, you should really see each iPad in comparison to each other so you can make a truly informed decision. When it comes to displays, there is no substitute for seeing with your own eyes. Apple calls the display a “Retina” display because they claim the human retina can not discern the individual pixels in this new display. I must agree that I could not see any pixelation in the display across the board, but the most noticeable difference is when viewing text. Rather than looking slightly fuzzy, the text is razor sharp. Again, you’ll need to see it for yourself to appreciate it.

Bottom line, if you need an iPad and need to keep the cost to a minimum, the iPad 2 is a very good choice. But if you are going to use the iPad as an eReader, I highly recommend the new iPad. As well, if you are going to use the iPad for games or want the best possible view of photos and videos, the new iPad is your best bet. This of course, assumes you can find a new iPad. As is usual during the early stages of new iPad releases, Apple can’t make them fast enough and most places are sold out! Contact me if you need help locating an iPad.

I’m not going to debate the particulars of revenue-generating speed traps and artificially low speed limits in this article. Suffice to say, who doesn’t hate getting a speeding ticket? In my over 20 years of driving, I’ve received less than a handful. Still, it stings every time, especially when your friendly, neighborhood officer isn’t so friendly. So after my last ticket in late 2010, I went on a hunt for a radar detector. Eventually I found the Cobra iRadar, which seemed like a perfect mix of features and price – plus it integrated with the iPhone! I didn’t buy it right then, however, because my research made me want to wait until I got a new iPhone. Well, the latest iPhone release was delayed by a few months and I sort of forgot about the iRadar until this past Christmas season. So I put the iRadar on my wish list and my wish was granted. Now I’ve had a month to use the iRadar. Was it worth the wait?

Keep in mind that while I am a techie, I’ve never owned a radar detector before. So I don’t have something to personally compare against. And I’m not looking to go into intricate detail about the technology as some radar “geeks” would do. Which is just fine, because my goal, as in most of my articles, is to portray the device from a non-techie viewpoint.

Overall, I’ve been very impressed with the iRadar. The device is able to detect every type of radar and laser gun used by police. It has been simple to use and has worked very reliably. Part of this is because all the configuration of the device is done through an App. Instead of reading a thick manual and fumbling around with obscure buttons on the detector, anyone who can use an iPhone can configure the iRadar. Finally, for the relatively low price, it incorporates many features that are usually only available on expensive, high-end radar detectors.

Speaking of the iPhone integration, while it can be very useful to have the iRadar app running while using the detector, it is not required for the iRadar to function. If the app is running, it will show you some detail when the unit detects a radar. However, if the App is not running, the iRadar will still give audible alerts to what kind of radar or laser it is detecting. This is important because it may not always be possible to have the iRadar app running while driving. Perhaps you also use a GPS app on your iPhone. Or perhaps you are on a call. Whatever the reason, this is an important feature that any potential buyer needs to be aware of.

One thing I’ve discovered by having the iRadar for a month is that there aren’t as many radar guns in use as I would have thought. Still, the iRadar has successfully detected every radar gun I’ve encountered – even when the officer has simply left their radar on while they are parked and not monitoring drivers. So if you own an iPhone and are in the market for a radar detector, I definitely suggest taking a look at the iRadar.

If you didn’t already own a GPS device or use a GPS app on your phone, many of you probably received GPS devices for Christmas. By now you have likely run into situations where the location data isn’t quite correct. Maybe a business address is wrong or the location of your destination is off by several buildings. Rarely is this the fault of your GPS device itself. It is more likely that the map data is simply wrong. Most people have no idea where this data is coming from, yet alone how to get it corrected. Luckily, I have found the answers for you!

The first thing to do is to make sure you have updated your GPS device with the latest map data. Many GPS devices require you to do this manually. Additionally, to get map updates many GPS manufacturers require a subscription fee. However, many newer devices can automatically update (especially GPS apps) or notify you when it is time to update. As well, many higher-end devices come with free lifetime map updates. As an aside, if your GPS device is hard to update or you don’t want to keep paying a subscription, you may want to look into a new device. Back on topic, oftentimes updating your GPS device will correct location errors. But if you have updated your device and the error still exists, then you must report the problem to the companies that supply the map data.

A few newer GPS devices allow their users to make corrections directly on screen and upload them to the manufacturer. If you have one of those devices, then simply follow your instructions. But most GPS devices do not have this feature. Instead, you must manually do this on-line. Usually, companies that make GPS devices get their map data from one of two sources. NavTeq and Tele Atlas. So to make corrections to the map data, you must submit your corrections to those companies, regardless of what brand of GPS unit or app you have. Simply use the links below to submit your corrections. It can be hard to know which brand of GPS uses which map data company, so it is advised to simply submit your corrections to both companies.

NavTeq Map Reporter

Tele Atlas Map Insight

If you are interested in more of the technical details of how to fix errors on GPS devices, this link has a lot more information: http://www.gps.gov/support/user/mapfix/

If you have any questions about GPS devices or related technology, please feel free to contact me.

Every year I create a list of Holiday Tech Toys. I thought I would change it up a bit this year. Instead of a list of Tech Toys for consumers, this year’s list is for businesses. As many businesses look to spend some money at the end of the year for tax purposes, here are some ways to spend that money and get some great technology that will help their bottom line. As usual, review my past Holiday Tech Toy articles (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) for more ideas and if you have any questions about these items, please feel free to contact me.

New Desktop or Laptop Computers

A pretty obvious choice of technology purchases, newer faster computers can certainly help out productivity. But before you run off and purchase the cheapest PC you can find, consider that the technology world is transitioning into the “post-PC era”. Due to years of reliability issues and other problems like virus infections, more and more businesses are moving away from the commonplace Windows PC. It is in your business’ best interest to review whether or not a Macintosh computer could bring benefits to your workplace. Buying a Mac to test pilot in your work environment just might be a great way to spend that end-of-year money and position your company well for your next computer purchases.

Battery Backups

It is amazing just how many computer problems are caused by poor power or catastrophic power events like surges. Every computer, server, printer, and network device should be properly protected. Battery Backups (also known as UPS or Uninterruptible Power Supplies) are the best form of power protection, going above and beyond simple surge protectors. If you aren’t making use of battery backup units, consider buying one for all the devices in your office. Usually the money you save on service calls will more than make up for your spend on battery backups.

Technology Services

Of course, when making technology purchases, you’ll need someone to consult with and implement the technology. Why not pay ahead for those services you’ll need next year right now? Most technology professionals will offer a retainer option, which in most cases is simply buying services ahead of time and often includes a discount on the service rate. Spending the money now will likely reduce your tax burden for this year and set you up for having technology services when you need them next year.

Portable Device Charger

As more workers become highly mobile, their ability to keep their technology devices charged and working becomes increasingly important. Sometimes, it just isn’t possible to find a power outlet to plug into. Portable device chargers, such as the Gum Plus from Just Mobile, are basically batteries that hold enough power to recharge devices such as iPhones when a power source is otherwise unavailable. I like the Gum Plus because it has a high-power output that quickly recharges devices and holds enough power to supply multiple recharges. Buy one for all your employees that are frequently on the road.

iPad 2

As I mentioned above, the world is transitioning into the “post-PC era”. No device epitomizes this New World of Technology as does the Apple iPad. Thin, light, and powerful, the iPad has turned the technology world upside down. Industries across the board are tripping over themselves trying to figure out how to best utilize the iPad and keep up with their competition. If you haven’t yet begun to implement the iPad into your workplace, now is the time to do it before your competition gets the upper hand.

Monitors

If your employees are using monitors that are over 4 years old, it is time to look into replacing them. As screen sizes have gone way up, prices have come way down. The improved productivity from larger monitors is documented and often old monitors lose brightness, which strains vision. Additionally, adding a second monitor can also help productivity. Just ask anyone who has a dual-monitor setup how much more they enjoy it as compared to a single monitor. Look for brands that have longer than one-year warranties. Acer is one such brand that I have had great success with myself and many of my clients.

Mobile Hotspots

The ability to access the Internet from anywhere is very important to mobile workers. As these mobile workers begin to use multiple devices or work in teams that all need access, it isn’t enough to have a USB wireless broadband device that can only be plunged into one computer at a time. Mobile Hotspots solve this need by using Wi-Fi that can be accessed by multiple devices at one time. As 4G services become more widely available, it would make sense to purchase a 4G Mobile Hotspot from your favorite wireless company.

iPhone 4S

The smartphone that sets the bar for all other smartphones, the latest version of the iPhone, the iPhone 4S, raised the bar again with it’s integrated Siri function. Siri is voice recognition that allows users to talk to their iPhone to do things like setting appointments, look up the weather, or send text messages. Now that all 3 major wireless companies carry the iPhone, it may be time for your company to upgrade phones. Don’t be fooled by the imitators, only the iPhone can truly deliver with a combination of power, ease of use, and availability of Apps. While the other phone companies try to impress with flashy commercials touting how powerful their phones are, that power is often wasted when problems and confusing interfaces stymie their users. Do your company and employees a favor and just get iPhones already.

Gigabit Networking

The current standard of networking technology is gigabit Ethernet. Referring to the throughput (or speed) of the network, gigabit is equivalent to 1000 megabits. Many companies, however, still are using 100 megabit or even (gasp!) 10 megabit networks. As prices have come down significantly in the last few years, it is worth investigating if gigabit Ethernet is something that would benefit your company. Generally, computers made in the last 5 years can support gigabit networking, so it may be as simple as upgrading your main network switch to achieve gigabit speeds. Consult with your technology professional to find out if gigabit networking can benefit your company.

Wireless Router

The rate at which wireless networking has improved over the last few years is staggering. The latest technology drastically improves speed and range. If your wireless router or routers are more than a couple of years old, it is worth investigating whether a new wireless router would help out any devices that use wireless in your company. Again, consult with your technology professional to make this determination.

Unlike most months, this Tech Toy isn’t a gadget, but rather a service. Dropbox is an increasingly useful service that I have deployed to many of my clients and I wanted to make sure that I informed as many people as possible about it.

Simply put, Dropbox is an Internet-based file storage service. First, it allows you to access your files from any computer or mobile device anywhere you are through a web interface. This feature by itself is extremely powerful. Second, it can directly synchronize your data among multiple computers. The synchronization feature can replace the need for a file server for many small businesses. Dropbox also allows you to share selected files with other users. Finally, since the data is being stored on Dropbox’s servers on the Internet, your files are effectively backed up offsite.

In operation, once the very simple software is installed, a “Dropbox” folder is created and any files you put in that folder are uploaded to Dropbox’s servers and synchronized to any other computers you install Dropbox. It’s very simple and uses the same files and folder metaphor that most people are familiar with. Dropbox uses encryption to store and transmit your files, so your data stays secure.

If all this sounds good, Dropbox is also very inexpensive to boot. To start, Dropbox is free for up to 2 GB of storage. For many users, 2 GB is more than plenty and you can expand your free storage up to 8 GB if you refer other users to Dropbox. Beyond the 2 GB, Dropbox goes to 50 GB for only $10/month, and you can get a couple of months free if you sign up for a year at a time. Dropbox has larger capacity subscriptions as well.

If you are interested in Dropbox, you can sign up for a free trial plus get some additional storage for free by clicking on this link. If you have any questions about Dropbox, please feel free to contact me.

Every so often, a client asks me if a particular utility software is worth purchasing. Usually the software claims it will speed up their computer or fix hidden problems or provide some other benefit. Given that the history of personal computing is full of tips and tricks that helped users tweak their computers to work better, the vast number of utility software out there is no surprise. However, what most people don’t realize is that in today’s day and age, much of this software provides virtually no benefit, or at worst, is an outright scam.

The first thing to realize is that modern computers are simultaneously both more reliable and more complex. The evolution of cars and computers makes a good analogy. Many people used to maintain their own cars and similarly many people became accustomed to maintaining their own computers. As cars have become more reliable and complex, now most people simply bring their cars in to be periodically maintained. The same can be true of computers today.

Modern computers do not need the level of maintenance that older computers did. Yes, there are some routine things that should be done to keep a computer running well. But many of the questionable utility softwares perform actions that are of dubious value. Combined with the fact that the complexity of modern computers makes tinkering with the system software a risky venture, most users take their computing lives into their own hands when they choose to use a utility software.

I recently became aware of a software named MacKeeper that was causing some of my clients problems. I had seen the advertisements for MacKeeper all over the Internet this year and my immediate thought was “why does anyone need this software?” Mac computers are the most reliable computers out there. Only a minimal amount of maintenance is needed. Why would anyone want to muck up their computer with software that does a bunch of relatively useless things? I didn’t pay it much heed until I learned that some of my clients had purchased this software and it ended up causing them problems. For a program that is supposed to make your computer work better, that is a catastrophic failure in my opinion!

Bottom line, rather than trusting some software that attempts to automate potentially risky operations, it is best to ask for help from a qualified computer professional. My Computer Tune-Up service can take care of all your periodic maintenance needs and you get the peace of mind that a professional with a lifetime of experience is taking care of your computer and data. Feel free to contact me anytime if you feel your computer needs some service.

The fact that the iPhone 4S is the Tech Toy for this month should be no great surprise! It is amazing that each succession of the iPhone surpasses the amount of anticipation and headlines that the previous one did. Each new phone outsells the previous one! However, with each release, there is a also a lot written negatively prior to the phone going on sale. So let me give you the straight story and personal experiences.

Realize that much of what is written negatively is done by technology “experts” and technically savvy individuals. They generally view technology from the perspective of one who is very fluent with it and are looking for the newest, cutting edge features and options. They complain and downplay new devices that aren’t on the technology cutting edge. However, this is not the viewpoint of everyday people. Yes, everyday people want great technology, but they want their technology to work well first and foremost. If it is cutting-edge, great, but it must work easily with virtually no problems. Apple gets this and is why they don’t necessarily jam-pack each new device with every possible new technology available. They create the best device possible that provides the best customer experience. Obviously this is a formula that works as each iPhone continues to set sales records – without the need of pricing discounts or free phone giveaways as their competitors must do.

So that being said, how does the new iPhone 4S stack up? One can read all the tech specs and get lost in all the details but let me sum it up: the iPhone 4S is a definitive upgrade in power and technical specs from the iPhone 4 and a huge leap from the iPhone 3GS (which many people like myself will be upgrading from). Besides the greatly improved central processor and graphic processor in the iPhone 4S, the camera is also greatly improved, offering higher megapixel resolution on both still photos and videos. That being said, these improvements aren’t likely enough to justify an upgrade for most iPhone 4 owners. However, the next feature will.

By far the biggest improvement to the iPhone 4S is the addition of the Siri feature. Siri lets you use your voice to control your phone. Now you can ask your iPhone to set reminders for you, look up information, or give you directions. You can also now dictate text messages and e-mails! Voice control was something that I was looking forward to on an iPhone, but I didn’t expect it to arrive with this revision of the iPhone. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised. So far in my testing of Siri, I’ve been impressed how well it works. There is room for improvement, but the great thing is that Siri should automatically improve over time. I expect that over the next few weeks and month, the accuracy of Siri will get better and better.

I read an article stating that we may be witnessing history with the iPhone 4S. Siri has the potential to change the technology world similarly to the way the mouse did. Voice control of our technology has been a holy grail and Apple may have finally gotten it right. I agree with the premise of the article. It is easy to imagine that one day we will look back and say, “Remember when we couldn’t control our technology with our voice? The iPhone 4S may be the device that launches this new era in voice control.