Tech Tips

It really is amazing just how quickly social networking has become engrained into our society. Two years ago, barely anyone that wasn’t on a college campus had heard about services like Facebook and Twitter. Now it has gotten to the point that businesses are scrambling to make sure they have a presence on social networking sites or fear being left behind. However, the quick pace at which social networking has come to prominence has left many opportunities for people and business to make mistakes in the way they set up their accounts on social networking sites. One mistake in particular seems especially pervasive and I’d like to address that now.

Facebook allows for 3 different types of presences. The first is the personal “profile”, which most Facebook users are familiar with. This is where people become your “friends” on Facebook. The second is the business “page”, also known as a fan page because this is where other users can become “fans” of a business. The third is the “group”, which is easy to think of as a sort of online club or meeting place. Facebook users can become “members” of groups. For purposes of this article, I’ll focus on the distinction between profiles and pages.

As my descriptions to this point have alluded, profiles are for personal use and pages are for business use. Unfortunately, it is very easy for new users to Facebook to overlook the fine print describing this and many users create personal profiles for business use. While it may not seem like a big deal, doing so can be problematic. First, profiles are not optimal for use with business. The biggest reason for this is that profiles are not accessible by the general public until you approve them as friends and do not show up in search engine results. Business pages can be found by search engines, can be viewed by anyone without needing your permission, and users can become fans of your page right away. But most importantly, using a personal profile for business use is a violation of Facebook’s terms of service. Facebook can and has terminated personal profile accounts for being used for business purposes.

Now many of you are reading this and thinking to yourself, “oh crap”. Don’t feel bad. I’ve seen many, many businesses make this mistake. Social networking is still a very new phenomenon. Even those who claim to be experts are still learning all the time so don’t think that you are some sort of idiot for creating a “profile” instead of a “page”. It’s an honest mistake and one that Facebook should hold some accountability for because I think they don’t make the distinction clear enough for new users.

So how do you fix this mistake? The first thing to do is stay calm. While Facebook has terminated accounts over this, the reality is that they are not rabidly hunting down violators, especially small businesses with relatively small groups of friends. Second, you need to create a page. The link to create a Facebook page is here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php. Get your page customized with all your pertinent information and logos. Finally, start promoting your new page to the people who are friends of your current profile and get them to turn into fans of your new page. Eventually, you’ll want to deactivate your old profile to avoid confusing people.

Social networking can be a confusing topic, so if you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me. Actually, you might be better off contacting my wife’s company, Queen Bee Consulting, as she is a business coach and has a lot of experience with social networking topics.

Just in the last month I’ve had two clients have their hard drives fail. One had their data backed up and I was able to restore their computer back the way it was. The other was not so prepared and ended up losing a lot of valuable data. This client might have been able to have the data rescued by a data recovery specialist company, but those companies charge at least $700 and usually between $1000 – $1500. If your hard drive were to fail right now, which scenario would you be experiencing?

Many users put off purchasing a backup system because they think they are too expensive. Too many users do not realize just how valuable their data is until they lose it. Business data, financial information, irreplaceable pictures, school work … I’ve seen way too many users suffer needlessly when a simple backup system would have saved their data. The good news is that simple backup systems for home users can be less than $200 and good backup systems suitable for businesses can be $400 or less. Compared to the devastation from losing data, or the price of a data recovery specialist, the cost of a backup system is negligible.

If your New Year’s resolution didn’t include protecting your data, it is not too late. Contact me today, let’s talk about what kind of data you need protecting, and I can recommend a backup solution that keep your data safe without breaking the bank.

There is a relatively simple way to make yourself more productive when using your computer. It is commonly used today in certain industries, but I think more people would make use of this method if they realized how easy and inexpensive it has become to do so. I am talking about using two monitors on your computer.

It used to be that monitors were expensive and not many computers could easily support two or more monitors. Today, monitors are relatively inexpensive and most computers produced in the last two years can easily support two monitors.

Many people scoff at the thought of using two monitors. They think that using more than one monitor is a luxury or it is something that only highly technical users want. However, the reality is that as average users make more use of their computers, having more screen “real estate” can help everyone be more productive. It is a simple matter of being able to efficiently manage all the windows a user keeps open on their computer and being able to see more at one time quicker. If you don’t believe me, simply ask someone who does use more than one monitor and see what they think. If you try it for yourself, you will become quickly hooked.

One of the more common examples of the use of multiple monitors is in the financial industry. For many years, people in finance have used multiple monitors to help them keep an eye on the status of the various markets they monitor. Because they can keep the tickers and graphs of the markets open on their second monitor, they can use their primary monitor to do their regular tasks. Similarly, other users can use their second monitor to place windows that they like to keep an eye on but not necessarily in front of mind. One very common use of a second monitor is to keep e-mail or a news web site open. For those who own a laptop, using an external monitor in combination with their laptop screen is an easy way to have the advantage of two monitors, especially if attached to a docking station or port replicator.

So if you are looking to splurge on yourself a little this holiday season, consider a new monitor for yourself. If you aren’t sure if your computer can handle multiple monitors, feel free to contact me!

It’s November and that can mean only one thing: it’s time for Windows users to update their anti-virus software! It seems that each year, malicious software written for Windows gets trickier and more persistent. For this reason it is imperative that Windows users keep their anti-virus software updated with each new yearly release. It isn’t enough to only keep the anti-virus definitions updated.

In the last two years, a relatively new type of malicious software has become extremely prevalent. Known as rougeware, scamware, or scareware, this type of “virus” (they are technically categorized as spyware, not true viruses) has quickly become the most widespread and efficient form of malicious software to ever infect Windows systems. The great majority of virus cleanups we perform are due to scam/scarewares.

And now, a new trend is ransomware: malicious software that encrypts your data, then demands a payment to decrypt it!

As I’ve said many times, the ultimate solution is to move to a platform that is not so vulnerable to viruses, such as the Mac. But if you can not or are not yet ready to switch away from Windows, it is absolutely imperative that you run a current version of quality anti-virus software and keep it updated. For the month of November, The Tech Spot is offering 50% off Trend Micro Internet Security when purchased as part of a Computer Tune-Up. Call or contact us today to schedule your Computer Tune-Up!

As social networking continues to grow by leaps and bounds, it is important to keep up with the latest trends. Twitter, in particular, has developed its own jargon among heavy users of the service. Luckily, I was able to find a great article that offers a glossary to the new Twitter lingo.

The article is by Jason Hiner, the Editor in Chief of TechRepublic.com. In addition to being a glossary, it is also a quick guide to get up to speed on Twitter if you are new to the service. For those who are a little more advanced in Twitter, part 2 to the article talks about 10 Twitter utilities to take you beyond just using the Twitter web site. So go ahead and read the articles and if you have any further questions, feel free to discuss this article on The Tech Spot’s social networking site, http://thetechspot.ning.com.

Over the next month, droves of students will descend upon college campuses all over the country. Many of them will also be bringing along their laptops. While I can’t honestly give a number, based on my experience in the computer service field, I know that a great many laptops will not make it to graduation with their student owners. To help more students keep their laptops safe and sound (and keep their parents happy too!), I have a few tips.

First, laptops must be kept safe from theft. I wrote an article about keeping laptops safe from theft last year, so I will refer you to read it again. Do take the advice I give very seriously. Laptops are easy to steal and are highly coveted by thieves.

Second, it amazes me how many laptops we see that have been damaged from liquid spills. It seems a disproportionate number of these are owned by college students. Rule #1: keep liquids away from your laptop! No matter how careful you think you will be, any number of things can happen to cause a glass to tip over and flood your laptop. As much as possible, do not keep glasses or bottles on the same table as your laptop. Put them on another table or surface. If you do end up with a liquid container near your laptop, make sure you remove it if you step away from your laptop. At least if you’re near it, you can somewhat control it. But many liquid spills happen when the laptop owner has left a container near their laptop and someone else (or a pet) accidentally knocks it over.

Finally, I have seen many laptops that have been damaged in some extremely strange ways. It wasn’t all that long ago that I lived in a dorm – I know that some crazy things can happen. But please, for you and your laptop’s sake, keep your laptop in a safe, secure location when you are not using it. Leaving a laptop out where it can get knocked over, kicked, stepped on, or otherwise mangled is just asking for trouble! Keep your laptop in a sturdy case and put it in a closet or other secure location when you are not using it. Also, never keep a laptop (or any computer) near an open window. Rain storms can come suddenly and if you are not around, your laptop may just get an unwelcomed shower. Trust me, I’ve seen the aftermath.

If you follow these tips, you will greatly increase the odds that your laptop will be there with you when you graduate. Feel free to discuss this article on The Tech Spot’s social networking site, http://thetechspot.ning.com.

Having spent a few weeks with my new iPhone now, I can state that the 3rd generation of the iPhone is polished and fast. The basic functions of the iPhone are well thought-out, easy to use, and intuitive. The integration between the pre-installed apps is well-designed and for lack of a better term, slick. However, the real power of the iPhone lies with all the software available for the iPhone, better known as “apps”. I’m going to share a few examples of apps that I’ve personally used in the last few weeks and how having all this software available to you could literally change your life.

The first app I’ll discuss is called “Things”. “Things” is an advanced “to-do” or task list manager. I needed something to help manage my time better, so I started researching this type of app. As an exercise, I did all my research on the iPhone itself, purposely not using my computer to see just how much I could get done using the iPhone alone. I was able to search for apps that matched my criteria, see the prices, read the description of the apps, see screenshots, find out how the apps were rated, and read user reviews. This was from within the App Store itself. I was able to do further research using the Safari web browser on the iPhone. With all the information I was able to find, I felt I was able to make a good decision, and bought and downloaded “Things”.

The second app is one called “Ping Lite”. I was in a situation where I needed to test network connectivity for a client, but I had to test it from outside their network. Using the iPhone’s 3G data network would have been perfect, but I didn’t have any software on the iPhone that could do what I needed. Within minutes I had the free Ping Lite app downloaded and performed the test I needed to do. Again, I did all this only using my iPhone and simply using the info provided by the App Store. The key here was that I was able to do this within literally a few minutes using only my iPhone.

Finally, a fun app that has been featured on Apple’s commercials is called Shazam. It is a program that can identify songs by simply “listening” to them. I was at a friend’s house when someone asked the name of a song playing on the radio. Before the song was over, I had searched for, downloaded, installed the app, and identified the song using Shazam. While this app is more fun than anything, my example again showcases the power of the iPhone and the App Store. Before the iPhone, what I did would not have been possible, and now I can do it in minutes.

The point of all this is that the iPhone allows us to have virtually unrestricted access to information, anytime, anywhere. It’s hard to describe to those who don’t have one just how liberating a feeling this is. At least for me, someone whose job depends on quick access to information, having an iPhone is changing my life. I expect that many others would feel this way as well. If you don’t have an iPhone see if you can borrow one for a few hours, play with a few apps, and search for apps that might interest you. If you already have an iPhone, try using it in any situation that requires the quick lookup of information and see just how quickly you can get the answer you’re looking for.

The Tech Spot will be having an “App Party” on July 22nd where iPhone and iPod Touch users can get together, talk about their favorite apps, and share their real life experiences with each other. This will help us all learn about new and useful apps.

There’s been a lot of news lately regarding the iPhone. Most of the news revolves around the rumored new iPhone that may be released very soon. Other news discusses the upcoming Palm “Pre” device, of which many are playing up the potential competition between it and the iPhone. With all of this iPhone news in the air, I thought this might be a good time for some iPhone tips.

In doing research, I found a very nice article highlighting several iPhone tips. Rather than reinventing the wheel, I’ll simply direct you to this article at taptaptap.com.

If you have any good iPhone tips (or tips on any technology), feel free to share them on The Tech Spot’s own social networking site, http://thetechspot.ning.com

Last month was the 7th year anniversary of Marcel Brown Technology Services. This month marks the the 1st year anniversary of The Tech Spot. We’d like to take a moment to thank all of our customers and clients for all of your support during all these years! The world has changed a lot during the time we’ve been in business. Just think, in April of 2002 there was no such thing as the Geek Squad at Best Buy. The iPod was only 6 months old. But perhaps one of the most significant things to happen in the last 7 years is the continued growth of the Internet. The Internet has become ubiquitous enough that average people are now comfortable socializing and keeping in contact with others through online social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. Businesses now must pay attention to this emerging virtual world. It is in this realm that we would like to introduce some new ways that we can help you stay on top of the latest technology tips and tricks.

First, we would like to re-introduce our social networking site on Facebook. If you are on Facebook, make sure to become a fan of The Tech Spot so that you may stay on top of the latest promotions, events, and any advice we may share on this page. Second, if you use Twitter, you may follow The Tech Spot at http://twitter.com/thetechspot. For some people, Twitter is a more convenient way to stay on top of those people and businesses they wish to stay connected to. If you are not on Facebook or Twitter, it is probably time that you become familiar with these social networking sites. We will be hosting trainings on social networking at The Tech Spot in the month of May and probably beyond.

Finally, we have started a new on-line community for The Tech Spot at a social networking site called Ning. In this new site we have an area for tips and tricks, a place to post tech items for sale or trade, a questions and answers section, and a general technology discussion forum. The site will also feature a calendar of events and promotions, plus articles from Marcel’s technology blogs, including his new one, State of the Tech. Our plan is for this new site to be a thriving virtual community for those who wish to stay informed about technology. Please visit and sign up today!

Spring is finally here (although right now it doesn’t seem like it – stupid cold weather). Along with spring comes the annual tradition of spring cleaning. Obviously people think of spring cleaning as a time to clean out their garage, tend to their lawns, spruce up the house, and any number of odd jobs around their home. However, I am here to add a new tradition to your spring cleaning ritual – your technology! With all the recent hype regarding the Conficker worm, now is as good of a time as any to make sure your technology is properly “cleaned” and maintained. This article will detail a few things you should consider during your technology spring cleaning.

As long as you’re cleaning the house (or estimating when to schedule a maid), you might as well clean up the fans and vents in your computers. While you could blow out the fans and vents in your computers, canned air really just spreads around dirt and dust. You must be careful to actually blow it out of your computer, not back into it. I much prefer to vacuum out the large majority of dust in a computer, then save the canned air for the stuff that resists vacuuming. However, to be completely safe, vacuuming the inside of your computer should be done with a vacuum designed to safely do this. Vacuums can generate a large amount of static electricity and electronic-safe vacuums are designed to properly and safely discharge this static away from the user and computer, so as to not zap your computer. Most people don’t have electronic-safe vacuums, so if you would like this done properly, we can do this at The Tech Spot.

Is it time to replace the battery in your battery backup unit? Most batteries have about 3 – 5 years of useful life in them. A dead or weak battery does not allow the unit to do its job properly. If your unit is older than 3 years, this may be a good time to replace it. Also, how old are your surge protectors for your home theater equipment? If they are several years old, this might be a good time to replace them, especially if you are getting or recently purchased a new HDTV.

If you haven’t yet updated to the latest Service Packs for your Windows operating systems (SP 3 for XP, SP 1 for Vista) or the latest system update for your Mac operating system, give it some thought. With all the information regarding the Conficker worm highlighting how important it is to keep your OS updated, this is a good time to be sure you are up-to-date. A word of warning, however. Please be sure to have backed up before attempting a major OS update like a Service Pack. And don’t do a major update if you are on any sort of a deadline. If there are any underlying system problems they can cause a system upgrade to fail, possibly leaving the computer in an unusable state.

Of course, if you’re not comfortable doing all this stuff yourself, and I don’t blame you, pretty much all of these tasks can be completed with a Computer Tune-Up, exclusively from The Tech Spot. One of the benefits of letting us do a Tune-Up for you is that we fully back up your computer before we start the Tune-Up to keep your data safe. Let us do the dirty work for you while you spend your time soaking up the spring sun!

If you have any questions about keeping your computer maintained, please don’t hesitate to contact me!