Grundig Consulting

For the last year, I have been using Google Docs as a replacement for Microsoft Office applications whenever possible.

What is it? Google Docs is a free set of online productivity applications from Google, including a Word Processor, Spreadsheet and Presentation Program.

What are some advantages of Google Docs? Google Docs can be accessed from any computer with a web browser and Internet access.  Simply login to your free account and begin creating documents, spreadsheets or presentations.  Documents can be saved at any time and accessedd from any computer with Internet Access.

Can Google Docs be used exclusively as a complete replacement for Microsoft Office? If you use Microsoft Outlook for email access, a switch to Google Docs is possible, but not always easy.  GMAIL, Google’s email program, can be used with the Google account.  However, most Outlook users are really attached to their Outlook inboxes.

What are your experiences with Google Docs?  Try it now if you have not used it yet.

You will probably pay more attention this year to your selection of a smartphone than to buying a computer.

The personal computer has been around since the early 1980s.  The original Macintosh followed shortly thereafter, in 1984.  Computers as we know them are over 25 years old.

Smartphones, on the other hand, such as the Blackberry from Research in Motion and the iPhone from Apple, are relative newcomers on the scene.  Today’s smartphones are packed with more computing power than the original computer models mentioned above.   They do many of the same things as any of today’s computers, such as accessing the internet, enabling easy communication by email and SMS (text message) and standard mobile phone capability.

What really sets then new smartphone devices apart from the PC and Mac worlds, though, is the pace of innovation in the smartphone area.  While the Blackberry defined the smarphone for several years, iPhone, a relative newcomer, has captured that imagination of many.  More importantly, Apple has released a programming toolset which enables and individuals or compans to create iPhone applications and sell them at the iPhone App Store.  Blackberry, and others, have followed suit.  Thousands of applications have been created and millions downloaded.

Why does this matter to you? IPhone and Blackberry development will continue at a feverish pace, allowing you to access more of the world from the device in your hand.  You may even find yourself using your computer a bit less as a result.

What’s the best way to decide which device to purchase?  Ask someone who has one! Do they like it?  What are the positives?  Any drawbacks? I currently have a Blackberry 8830, but am considering switching to an iPhone at some point in the near future, mainly because of the interface and applications available.

Please comment on your experience with Blackberry devices, iPhones or other smarphones.

There has  been a lot of attention paid to the potentially damaging capabilities of the Conficker worm, which has been circulating on the Internet for several months now, but which was set to markedly increase this month with new attacks.   Whether on not you have been affected, the attention to this virus / worm does raise some good points regarding protection of your PCs in general.

1. Install a good antivirus program which automatically updates itself with the latest definitions.  Check periodically to see that it is functioning normally.

2. Make sure that automatic updates is enabled if you have a Windows operating system.  The Windows vulnerability that is targeted by Conficker is addressed through automatic updates.  Many other fixes are regularly repaired through the automatic update mechanism.

3. Use anti-malware / anti-spyware such as Malwarebytes

4. Run the Malwarebytes every other week - do the full scan

5. Don’t browse Porn or Casino sites.  A lot of junk comes from these areas, as well as from illegal file sharing platforms.

6. Consider getting a Mac for security reasons, but remain aware that Macs can be attacked, also.

Any other suggestions?

If you are a business owner, you probably have very busy periods, when it seems almost impossible to get anything done followed by very slow periods when you are wondering how to fill the day.

The busy periods are tremendous fun can be challenging as well.  The main problem with being super-busy all the time is that we only have the time and energy to focus on the immediate task at hand, whether this is the current job, the next job or the next day.  In effect, we are working “in the business” but are neglecting it at the same time!

Usually, when coming out of these busy periods, we are suddenly faced with time aplenty and not so much inclination about what to do with this time.  We are also forced to look for new work or business to keep us or our companies busy again.  We now have the time to focus exclusively on getting more work or we can choose to devote some time to ‘working on the business.’

Lately, I’ve been reading again in “The E-Myth Revisited“, by Michael Gerber, an excellent book which offers many proven ideas for taking a small business to the next level.   I’m working to incorporate some of the thinking and methods offered this book which will help my business not only now, but in the long run.  It’s a very good read and I highly recommend this book to any business owner.

How do you react when business is slower than normal.  More sales?   More marketing?  More networking?  Bigger changes to your business?

Free anti-virus from AVG has been upgraded to version 8.5. Version 8.5 is very similar in look and feel to version 8.0. I only recommend upgrading to the latest version for those who are still running AVG 7.5. Several important features are included with version 8.5 which are also in version 8.0, such as anti-virus, anti-spyware and link scanner.

For those of you looking for the best anti-spyware, Malwarebytes is still the best., although running Spybot and Adaware are also recommended.

Decisions being made by computer owners or prospective owners are mainly being drive by price these days, for obvious reasons. Not everyone wants to spend a ton of money on a new PC, unless the return on investment is high enough. However, quality matters, too, as does the manner in which you will be using your machine.

So, here are the 4 choices which I see right now for most business or home computer users.

1) Netbooks (a new term which has arisen over the last several years to describe a sub-compact, notebook-type computer). Netbooks are small that notebooks and are ultra portable. The storage subsystem often has no hard drive. Instead it often uses flash memory, similar the the ultralight MacBook Air. Netbooks are good for surfing the web and email and still come with a regular operating system, so they can run Office applications, too. The best deals that I see on Netbooks are at RadioShack. The prices quoted online are actually higher than the in-store price. I saw a similar model to the ones displayed online selling for $100, provided that the buyer sign at 2-year contract for ATT wireless. The cost to get out of the wireless plan is $180 or $200, if desired.

Notebook computers can be a great deal these days. For an inexpensive, but useful notebook, check out the Dell Vostro line. Latitude and Precision laptops from Dell are also popular and are better for more demanding applications. I like HP, too, but Dell is what I buy for myself and my clients in most cases. When purchasing a notebook, ask yourself how much travelling you will do - how often will you be away from home. If the answer is ‘no’, choose a laptop with a docking station or port replicator or a desktop. This will enable you to attach a normal monitor, keyboard and mouse to your system and to easily pop in the laptop and remove it.

Desktops are the best choice if you are looking for a cheaper, fast PC and will not be moving around at all. Pay attention to the case size when buying, as some of the slim cases will limit how many extra goodies (hard drives, video cards, etc.) you can add to your desktop PC later on. For these types of add-on component, Grundig Consulting can help you choose or you may want to buy online from an excellent vendor, such as Newegg

The final option is to upgrade or repair your current PC or laptop. This can save money in some instances. Generally, upgrading the RAM (memory) will have the greatest effect on performance at the least cost. To find the right memory for your machine, use the tool at Memory Suppliers.

If you have any questions about the above or about any computing topic, do not hesitate to contact Grundig Consulting by phone: 925-528-9081 or email: tom@tomscomputerservice.com. You can also post a comment here and I will reply accordingly or someone else may respond, too, with a post of their own.

Many of us are considering the most effective technology investments that we can make to keep our systems happy and ensure optimal productivity in 2009. In previous post, I mentioned some free or nearly free items which have tremendous value.

Proper security on a PC or network begins with a firewall. Firewalls are designed to keep unauthorized or harmful network traffic outside a network or computer system. A good online port scanner, ShieldsUP!, which can be used to test for potentially dangerous ports (openings) on a computer system, can be found here. To use the scanner, first click the ‘Proceed’ button, then select to scan for ‘File Sharing’ or ‘Common Ports’. Result for individual ports indicating Stealth or Closed are generally good, while Open ports may warrant further attention. Please reply to this post or contact Grundig Consulting if you have any questions about deciphering the results. If there is a router installed between your cable or DSL modem and your computer, very few open ports should be available, as the router is probably acting as a firewall. Additional firewall locations are within an installed security software suite or in Windows Firewall.

Proper virus scanning software is important. For home users, an excellent, free anti-virus application, AVG Free Edition, can be downloaded and installed from download.com. Installation and configuration is pretty straightforward. Business users should download and install the pay version of AVG anti-virus. Licenses can be purchased and discounts are available for 5-user, 10-user or larger quantities. Again with any questions, please reply to this post or contact Grundig Consulting or your IT specialist.

For combatting adware, spyware and popups, recommended utilities include Adaware and Spybot.

Backup of all important files should be made daily or at least weekly to a using a remote backup service or to an external hard drive, or both. Free backup service from Mozy.com is available. Unlimited backup is available for $4.95 / month. The free backup from Mozy allows up to 2GB free to be backed up from your workstation to a secure offsite location (2 gb is about the same size as a single, large Outlook email file.) Therefore, it’s best for backing up your email (Outlook or other) and financial data (Quickbooks, Quicken or other) in one fell swoop. Additional data files, such as Word Documents, Excel spreadsheets or similar can be added to the backup if there is space, which is often the case. Images and video take up lots of drive space, by comparison, and I recommend to backup these files locally to an external hard drive or similar device or if the $4.95, unlimited backup version of Mozy online backup is used.

As the holiday season approaches, more and more people are asking for my advice on which computer system to purchase this year? This pertains to home users as well as those in a business environment. In my opinion, there are two major choices which must be made: PC or Mac? Desktop or laptop?

PC or Mac? There are a lot of great systems available right now are very good prices, especially on the PC side, made by manufacturers such as Dell and and other. I recommend purchasing one of the midrange systems when shopping for a PC, whether a desktop or laptop. More installed memory, as always, improves performance. However, the extremely versatile lineup of Macintosh computers from Apple always begs inspection. The iMac, Macbook and Macbook Pro models which are available are suitable for most home or small business users. Keep in mind that by using Bootcamp, which is built into the newest version of the Mac operating systems, you can run Windows XP or Vista on a Mac without sacrificing any performance.

Desktop or laptop? These days, the price difference between laptops and desktops has narrowed, while laptops are are also nearing desktop systems in performance. Laptops can be used at home, at work or on the road. As a result, more laptops are now being sold worldwide than desktops. I recommend that you seriously consider a laptop in any debate between a laptop and desktop system. Port replicators, external monitors, keyboards and mice can be attached to a laptop systems to give it a more ergonomic feel which being used in the laptop or at home. The easy portability of a laptop is usually worth the extra cost.

What do you think are the best computer systems available this holiday season? We’d love to hear your input or answer any questions that you have.

Best wishes for a happy and productive holiday season.

Today’s slower economy is leading many people to consider free alternatives to services that they currently pay for.

Consider benefiting from the following applications, all of which I highly recommend. Please bear in mind that some or all of these products have licensing limitations which may restrict their use or prohibit it in a business environment.

• 2 gb of free, secure offsite backup from Mozy
• Free web hosting and email accounts from DotEasy
• Free remote access to your workstation from LogMeIn

The key to benefiting from these free applications is to understand their capabilities while keeping aware of the limitations imposed on the free version of these products. All of these products can be upgraded to obtain the full storage and feature set of their pay-version counterparts.

The free backup from Mozy allows up to 2GB free to be backed up on your workstation (which is about the same size as a single, large Outlook email file.) Therefore, it’s best for backing up your email (Outlook or other) and financial data (Quickbooks, Quicken or other) in one fell swoop.

Web hosting from DotEasy allows you to host simple webpages as well as providing for several email accounts. Email storage on the DotEasy server is limited, so it’s best to download email into an email program on a workstation, such as Microsoft Outlook or the (also free) Mozilla Thunderbird.

The remote access service from LogMeIn relatively easy to install and is a godsend for those who want quick access to their remote workstation, whether it’s at home or at work. Note that the free version of this product does not allow for File Transfer between the host and remote workstation.

For question or concerns about any of the above, please reply to this post, not directly to me. That way, your question and any answers that I provide will be available in the comments for everyone else to see.

Until next time, happy computing!

Tom Grundig

Windows Small Business Server 2008 will be released on November 12, 2008, at the same time as the release of the new Windows Essential Business Server 2008, a multi-server solution intended for midsize businesses. The release of this new Small Business Server is very significant, considering that it offer several advantages and improvements over Small Business Server 2003. Small Business Server 2003 has been an extremely successful product and has stong following among IT people and small businesses alike.

Like Small Business Server 2003, Windows Small Business Server 2008 will be offered in two version, Standard and Premium. Unlike Small Business Server 2003, the premium product will be implemented on a second, standalone server.

Grundig Consulting, having realized the power of Microsoft Small Business server and adopted it as a standard platform within its consulting enterprises, is hard at work preparing to take the required test to achieve Microsoft Small Business Specialist certification on the 2003 platform and hopes to achieve the updated certification soon.

What do you think of Microsoft Small Business Server? Please keep all the question in the comments so that others may see them and reply.