The Little Geeni

Even though many computer users understand the importance of online data back up services, there are many others who still don’t! It’s better to opt for the upcoming methods rather than using traditional data backup systems.

Many people are finding online data backup companies to be a better solution. Online file storage solutions offer automated backups, file storage and the flexibility to set parameters. But with so many online backup companies advertising on the web, it can be a challenge to choose the right one. Prices and features can vary greatly with each online data storage company, so it is important to have an understanding of your needs before making decisions.

Online data back up companies seem attractive to most consumers as there are numerous benefits of availing their online computer services.

Business Size

Online file storage programs are designed differently depending on the size of the business. A small business may only need basic online backup functions, the ability to access and share files online, and a low monthly fee. In contrast, a larger company may require more complex features such as live databases, historical backup and tighter encryption. Knowing these needs and requirements can help determine which online file storage company will be the best fit.

Security

For many business owners, the thought of sending all of their company files over the Internet to an online file storage company is enough to send chills down their spine! In fact, security is one of the main concerns business owners have when choosing a company to handle their online backup needs.

The good news is that because of these concerns, most online file storage companies have excellent provisions in place to ensure files are not only safe during transfer, but also while in storage. When questioning potential online file storage companies, make sure they use a 128-bit encryption because this is the standard for transferring files. It is also important to ensure that they have policies in place for what employees can and cannot access regarding files already in storage.

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While many online casinos and poker rooms are beginning to make their software compatible with Macintosh operating systems, Linux compatible programs are still definitely in the minority and a little more difficult to find.

Linux is often forgotten in the world of online casinos but there are a few casinos online that are opening the doors for Linux users.

CasinoRoom (http://www.casinoroom.com), 888.com (http://www.888.com) and Online-Casino.com (http://www.online-casino.com) now offer software that is compatible with Windows, Macintosh and Linux operating systems.

Until recently, it was easier to play casino games on a mobile phone than on a Linux computer but no longer. Players won’t feel like they’re getting second rate quality, either, all of these versions are identical to the software available to the Windows users.

The trend is starting and this definitely won’t be the end.

CasinoRoom and 888.com even offer Linux compatible poker rooms with PokerRoom.com and PacificPoker.com.

Online-Casino offers two different types of Linux compatible software; a completely free flash games version and the standard program in which players can choose real money or practice money play.

Linux is a free source operating system. Unlike Windows and Macintosh, Linux software is free and available to anyone who wants to use, or modify, the code.

The market for Linux is steadily increasing and expected to continue its rapid upward growth. Conventionally, Linux users were technically oriented programmers. Today, though, the availability and cost of the software is leading it into mainstream markets. Many corporations have begun to convert their companies to Linux-based operating system computers.

Online casinos are seeing the growth and Linux-compatible software is also growing with the market. Casino analysts, like Mary Hughes, believe that Linux users will have no problem finding an online casino that is compatible in a few years.

“Now, Linux users don’t have much of a choice, although the options they do have are very high-quality and nice. In a few years, all of the casinos will have Linux-compatible programs, I guarantee it,” Hughes said.

Many online casino flash versions are currently compatible with Linux although they are for fun, and not real money play.

Like Linux, a few years ago there were no online casinos that were compatible with Macintosh operating systems. The market share and popularity of macintosh began to increase and the casino industry jumped on the bandwagon. Mac compatible online casinos are growing daily. Experts believe that Linux is the next frontier in the online gambling industry.

Linux Casinos, Linux, Online, Players

Computer data back-up is an important part of your day to day’s computing activity. They are much necessary because of the possibility of computer failure or damage. Even a minor technical error such as a virus attack or any other malware can spoil the functionality of your system thereby destroying all your data. Therefore, it is good to have a data backup before losing all the data in computer error.

If your system is the only place where you data reside, you should think about other way outs, of course other than the traditional back up methods. Online data backup can be an excellent source for this especially if your business is generating large amounts of new data daily. There are several methods of transferring your backup files to another media, but some data backup systems are more reliable than others.

With online data backup resources, you can recover your data from any media storage device. We can recover lost, deleted and formatted data from hard drives, floppy disks, basic and dynamic volumes, hardware or software raid’s. Technicians there are capable enough to recover your compressed, encrypted and fragmented files. Besides just hard disk drives and floppy disks, you can also recover data from removable devices like ZIP drives, USB Hard drives, and much more.

Indeed, online data back-up can save your music (audios and videos) as well as photos from disaster. Online backup services are secure, automated and easy to use. Moreover, they are professionally managed, mirrored and come along ensuring round the clock availability of your files whenever you require them. A large multitude of customers ranging from individuals to small businesses as well as corporate have chosen backup solutions to guard their precious computer data.

There are a number of computer support resources offering online backup services, but you must look after some essential factors before handling over your confidential data to them. Firstly, opt for reliable technical support companies like iYogi Technical Services Pvt. Ltd. Secondly, always compare the service prices. Shop around and see which one best fits your business as well as individual needs. This will help you to narrow down on the best resource.

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Today, even the average computer user can find a reason to have an online data backup service. The college student’s research files and class notes, the grandmother’s collection of treasured photos, the crafter’s favorite patterns, and the hobbyist’s videos-in-progress are all very important to them. Many people today have small home-based businesses or trade collectibles with other enthusiasts. The loss of such data is devastating. Smaller files can be backup on DVD’s and stored. But for many, the lower price of today’s online data backup service is just the ticket.

Today and Tomorrow

The big companies store massive quantities of data in extremely secure conditions that is copied from offices all over the country. Today’s computer user has data that is just as important to him, and only needs a fraction of the storage copied from a single site on a less than daily basis. Some of the features of the online data backup service even enhance the computer use. Many small storage companies offer a communal account or public folders. Both features allow the user to access his information from multiple locations or share it with others. This helps a small business with several sites share information, enables a user to access data from home, school or a library, and allows members of organizations to keep up with the latest committee decisions.

The basic features of the usual online data backup service include software with an application that uploads and downloads files without the use of a browser. They typically offer file compression, encryption and security. An online data backup service might offer a choice between monthly or yearly pricing. Long-term storage is less expensive, of course. The biggest difference between one online data backup service and another is usually in the areas of price, capacity, ease of use and the degree of online management of your files that is possible. Once a user determines the extent of his storage needs and the features he prefers, he can choose among the plans offered by each online data backup service. When considering price, the user can compare the cost of other storage devices like DVD’s or USB devices as well as the cost of losing his data entirely. For the small business owner, the online data backup service is much less expensive than installing dedicated servers and hiring technicians to perform backups and service the servers. The costs of maintaining such technology is all supported by the online data backup service.

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Whether you own a Desktop or a Laptop, you must have noticed how fast technology has changed and progressed. For the non-technical person, it is almost impossible to stay in step with all the changes that are out there. For most of us, a multitude of computer support and online computer repair resources are available to help our systems get back to life.

With increasing craze of searching everything online, there is a sharp rise in online computer support vendors. It has become a popular service offering among computer enthusiasts looking for things like setting up computer, PC troubleshooting or optimization or fixing email errors, virus and spyware removal, and other critical issues such as the blue screen of death error. Online personal computer repair works for most issues.

Online computer support is the simplest, cheapest yet the most self sufficient service for tech savvy and small business that cannot afford a full-fledged IT helpdesk to handle their daily needs. These techs take care of everything remotely over a secure Internet connection. It offers the users to control actions taken on their system; tech support enhances the user\’s computer knowledge.

Services such as online computer troubleshooting, computer set-up/installation, computer repair are available to all; whereas other services such as server support and network monitoring and reporting re especially designed for small businesses. These service plans are made considering specific needs of businesses.

How to differentiate among tech support companies? Good technical support companies first diagnose the things comprehensively whereas an under experienced or bad computer support company will try to rush the support session.

Online computer repair is most helpful at the time of troubleshooting software problems. Starting out with simple issues such as those of installation of any software programs simple to critical, you can contact these techs for anything related to your PC.

By working with a support resource that offers a combination of computer technician services and online PC Repair, small businesses can receive the IT support they need without the heavy price tag associated with it. Another advantage of availing these tech services is their 24×7 availability.

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Today more than ever, data backup is crucial. As we become more dependent on our computers, our data gets larger and as a result backing up becomes a necessity. Years ago, backup equipment was expensive, slow and not economical for the average home user. But all that has changed thanks to the Information Super Highway.

 Within the last few years, more and more online backup companies have emerged and with them came a new approach at doing backups…online backups. However, due to disk space and bandwidth restrictions, online backups were only available to companies or wealthy home users. But today just about anyone can get setup with online backups.

Why are backups important? I can’t tell you how many times a client will come to me to help recover his/her data, when I ask if they have done a backup, the answer is almost always No ( or yes but they didn’t do one correctly.) If I’m unable to recover the client’s data, the customer is left heartbroken. The amount of time it takes for the client to replace the lost data doesn’t compare to the amount of money it will cost them to replace it. This is why backup’s are so important, especially when you can get online backup for as little as $5 per year, or even FREE.

Most online backup software are painless to install and easy to configure. Once installed you generally add a folder to “watch” and the backup software will upload the contents of that folder to the company’s server on the internet over a secure connection. Any time files or folders are added, they are backed up (or uploaded if you will) to the company’s server. Should you have a disaster happen and need your data restored, you generally log into a website and restore the data you need. With Operating Systems like Windows Vista, where most of your data is stored in a centralized folder (C:usersusername), setting up a backup is rather easy.  So hopefully you have learned that online backups are Inexpensive, Necessary and easy to do. If you need assistance with installing, setting up or restoring the backup, visit http://fastsupportonline.com

Online Backup Companies and Price (as of this writing):
Carbonite
Price: $49.95 per computer /Year
Amount of Storage: Unlimited
Website: http://carbonite.com
Mozy:
Price: from Free – $6.95 per computer +$0.50 per GB /Month
Amount of Storage: from 2GB – Unlimited
Website: http://mozy.com
IDrive:
Price: from Free – $499 /Year
Amount of Storage: from 2GB – 500GB
Website: http://www.idrive.com/

Backup Backups, Data, Online

With a high proliferation of online computer support services available 24x7x365, tech savvy consumers no more look worried about their PCs and its issues.

Majority of tech support companies offer remote support which let users control actions taken on their computers. Vendors providing online computer support boast to fix computer errors belonging to any level of difficulty. Such a commitment to the quality as well as affordable computer support services has eased most PC related tensions of users.

Since it is remote computer support assistance, the PC owners or users and first quickly gain the knowledge of the concerned issues and solutions whether related to software or hardware. Once armed with the knowledge, the users can take up the repairing task themselves if confront with the same computer error again in future. It not only saves on future repair costs but enhance your understanding about computers.

No matter which part of your computer is ill, you can now troubleshoot it quickly with online computer support services. With more and more upcoming computer support providers, the end user has a bunch of options to choose from according to budget and personal requirements.

If some of the computer support companies are charging per incident, there are the others who ready to offer a fixed price annual support plan. So, unlimited options are concurrently open for tech savvy’s. Other benefits of buying online computer repair services is their round the clock availability. Now, people are not required to haul their computer to a repair shop and wait for weeks to get it back.

Computer or tech support companies are not only a boon for home PC users but also for people running small businesses or home offices. These companies extend extensive computer support for all their networking and PC troubleshooting needs. These companies have computer specialists (mostly Microsoft certified experts) to work for them.

Also known as troubleshooters, the computer support technicians diagnose PC issues using their step by step approach followed by offering the required technical support. The group generally has both technical support specialists and help-desk technicians to take care of everything whether big or small.

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Do you backup your data? I know many of you probably do, as you should. Data loss can ruin your business, and cause untold heartache when losing precious photos and personal information. How do I know this? A few years ago, (late 1990′s) I suffered a complete, unrecoverable, hard drive failure on one of my primary computers. Luckily, I wasn’t nearly as “digital’ back then, and had most of my important data “backed up” in hard copy.

The data loss I suffered from that hard drive failure was still very inconvenient. I spent weeks trying to replace everything I had lost, but still ended up missing quite a few very important items that I simply could not reproduce. I had several digital recordings of friends, and family members, pictures, documents, licenses, software etc. that were gone forever. After piecing my life back together over the course of those next several weeks and months, I vowed to myself that I would never endure such a thing again.

My data backup routine has undergone several revisions over the years, to the point that I felt very comfortable with my current situation. I have had data loss issues that this system has saved me from, but with the amount of data I have these days, both business and personal, any data loss would be disastrous. I currently have in place, three redundant backup systems, including dedicated file servers, and very large external drive systems in a complicated array, fire-walled, locked down, and automatic, which provides a nice feeling of security.

That sense of security has helped me sleep well at night for several years. I didn’t know of anyone, this side of a major corporation, which had a better backup system in place. I have been in and around IT industry for years, and it would scare you to see how some fairly large businesses treat their backup systems.

I have seen more than one go out of business due to data loss. As a matter of fact, statistically, one in two businesses fail, following a catastrophic data loss. The costs of reproducing/recovering data are so high, (basic recovery starts around $3000 and increases exponentially with the amount of data to be restored) if it’s even possible, that most simply can’t afford it. Aside from that, without your data you are effectively out of business until that data is replaced.

So, what am I leading up to? Did I suffer a recent catastrophic data loss? Thankfully, the answer to that question is no. But, even with my overkill backup plan I still hadn’t accounted for one thing, and a very large thing indeed. All of my data was still stored on-site! What finally shook me from my false sense of security?

The weather! That’s right, the weather. The weather has been incredibly crazy lately, with tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods. You name it. I read a story recently about a Dentist whose office was hit by a tornado. His hard-copy files and X-Rays, were found as far as 150 miles away. His electronic records are gone forever. He’s one of the unfortunate one’s whose business is gone with it. He didn’t have a data backup plan, and everything he worked for was wiped out in an instant. Aside from the weather, my next greatest concern is fire. Even with my system, it is unlikely that any data would be recoverable in the event of fire. Would yours?

My sense of security has been false, my data not nearly as safe as I would like to have believed. Anything can happen, human error, software failure, theft, sabotage, fire, and flood. It does happen. It is not a matter of if, it’s when. Statistically, on average at least once in 3 years, you will undergo an event which results in some from of data loss. Hardware failure ranks very high in that scenario as well. I decided I won’t let it happen to me. That’s why I recently decided that along with my on-site backups, I will also be performing off-site backups as well using an online backup service.

If you would like to learn more about online data backup, and receive a tremendous 30 day trial of an online backup service, completely free of charge, please visit Remote Data Backups.

Backup Backup, Data, Online

In today’s fast moving commercial environment, we all know how reliant we are on computer systems, and more importantly the information contained within them. It is hard to think of the old days, no mobile phones, fax machines, or internet. Manual paper based systems have long since been replaced and the format changed to digital.  With these changes, in real terms hardware costs have reduced dramatically, data storage costs have came down massively – all fuelling the additional use and reliance on our IT systems.

Whilst it is true that a computer system is only as good as the data held within it, most modern systems on the whole are very reliable, but every now and then problems can occur. Data on a computer system is held on a hard drive. This device is a mechanical magnetic device with platters spinning at thousands of revolutions per minute. A mechanical read/write head moves over the platters to retrieve and store information. As the hard drive becomes older, the possibility of failure increases.  What procedures do you have in place in the event of this happening?  Hopefully something other than keeping your fingers crossed!
 
A peer to peer network consists of a number of computers networked together, each working as part of a group, each with their own hard drives containing their own programs and information, but sharing resources and information throughout the group. If one individual computer on the network fails, it may not be a disaster, but it certainly could be an inconvenience if data contained within it is lost.
 
A client server network has a central file server containing the most important programs and data, with clients or workstations requesting information from the central server. Due to the nature of this network structure, backup considerations are paramount. If data failure occurs on this network file server, then all users stop working. In real terms, this type of operation and its reliance is similar to a company that runs on a standalone computer, obviously in bigger terms. If the main computer or server goes down, the computing resource goes down.
 
There are many different options for data backup available. Choosing the correct backup system can make a massive difference in determining what happens should a data problem occur. If you choose the wrong type of backup system, or choose something that is inadequate, then at some point in time headaches and problems are going to occur.
 
3.5″ Floppy Disk Drive
Pretty much a thing of the past, although computers that have been in operation for a number of years may occasionally still use this format for data backup. These disks are pretty much inadequate nowadays, they only store 1.44MB of data and are slow and quite unreliable.
 
CD-RW Disk Drive
Probably the entry level format for data backup. CD’s are very cheap, easily available and can store up to 700MB of data on-board. Handy for backing up a section of data, but due to the size limitation of 700MB, it is unlikely that anyone would ever attempt a full system backup using this format, or even make this their primary backup format.
 
DVD-RW Disk Drive
Very similar to CD-RW and also very cheap, but using DVD’s instead, giving much increased capacity, with standard DVD’s coping with 4.7GB of data. Double layer disks store up to 8.5GB and again are a cheap option.
 
USB Data Key
Simple small key drives which fit into USB ports to give a temporary extra drive; these are very handy and portable with sizes up to 32GB available now.
 
Tape Drive
Travan drives, Micro-DV Tape and DAT are the most common. Travan drives are slower with less storage capability. DAT tapes come in a couple of sizes - 4mm and 8mm tapes which store up to 40GB. On the whole, DAT drives are reliable, but care must be taken to rotate backup tapes and keep the drive clean. With this format being mechanical in nature, along with other storage devices, they can fail as they become older or through extensive use. Because they tend only to be installed on the central file server, care must be taken across the rest of the network to make sure any locally stored data on workstations is additionally backed up if necessary.

Online Secure Backup  With the introduction of high-speed internet technology, it has become increasingly popular for companies to store data remotely. A piece of software is added to the system which is configured by the administrator to backup certain files. These files are securely encrypted and the online backup system then sends the data over the internet to secure remote data centres. Instead of expensive drives and multiple tapes needing to be added to a system, and an operator being responsible for changing daily tapes and organising a routine, the online backup system automatically sends the information at pre-determined times. This eliminates the chance of operator error and sends logs confirming successful operation, or if any errors have occurred. Costs are normally charged on a backup size basis, and tend to be very competitive. Because the system is software driven as opposed to hardware, it is very easy to integrate multiple systems, and can include laptops, remote workers, and external hard drives. Physical security issues, operator mistakes, and device failures are greatly reduced with this method, there are no tapes to remove off site, and restoration of data is fast and easy – whether a single file or a complete system recovery. If you are considering updating computer systems, or looking at your overall data disaster recovery plan, then online backup should certainly be a consideration.

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So you’ve heard the news: a new technology is around that lets you make phone calls, even long-distance phone calls, for free! You’d like to try it, but it sounds rather complicated. What is this VoIP, anyway? Here’s a quick question-and-answer guide to VoIP and how you can make free online calls without reading tons of technical jargon.

What is VoIP?
VoIP means Voice over Internet Protocol. In plain English, it means that in exactly the same way you use the Internet to send letters through email, you can now send your voice through VoIP, to make free phone calls to anywhere in the world.

How does it work?
1. You talk through your computer microphone or your VoIP phone.
2. Your voice is turned into computer data.
3. It is sent through the Internet (like email) to your VoIP service provider.
4. They send it to the phone number you are calling so your friend can receive your call.
5. When your friend talks on his phone, his voice reaches you the same way, but in reverse: from his phone, to your service provider, to your Internet, to your phone or computer.

How is the sound quality different from a regular phone?
With good Internet connection, your friend won’t know the difference. If your connection is slow, you will sound like you are calling from a cellphone with bad signal. Most companies will not install VoIP for dial-up connections.

What is a VoIP service provider?
A VoIP service provider is like a phone company that connects your VoIP phone to your friend’s landline.

What is a VoIP phone?
It looks like a regular phone, but it has a software and modem installed so you can connect to the Internet and make VoIP calls without having to turn on your computer. You dial it like a regular phone, and if somebody calls your VoIP number, it rings like a regular phone.

Are the phone calls really free?
Yes, if you download and install on your computer a VoIP software, like Skype. This will let you make free calls to anyone in the world who has the same software loaded in his or her computer.

You can also use Skype or other VoIP service providers to call a local or long-distance landline number or mobile phone. There will be a small charge, but it is still much cheaper than if you use a regular phone to make your call. In addition, pay features on regular phones-like call waiting, call forwarding, call barring, conference calls, caller ID and voice mail-are usually free on VoIP.

Rates and features vary with different service providers so be sure to ask your company what they offer.

Can I call my friends even if they don’t have VoIP?
Yes.

And can my friends call me?
Yes. Your friends can call your VoIP number in the same way they call a regular landline. You won’t be charged for incoming calls. Your friends will be charged for their call in the same way that they will be charged for calling a regular landline.

Can I keep my old phone number?
Yes, depending on your VoIP service provider. Sometimes, you can even bring your VoIP phone-along with your phone number – to anywhere that has a high-speed Internet connection.

Some providers also allow you to get a phone number with a different area code. You could be in California but have a New York area code so that your business clients in New York can call you without long-distance charges. (However, if your next-door neighbor calls you, it will be long-distance for her.)

Can I get rid of my regular phone line?
Usually, yes. Again, it depends on your VoIP service provider.

An important note, though: 911 calls made through VoIP are unreliable. Also, they will not be able to track your location automatically, as when you are using a regular phone. If you get rid of your phone line, consider using your cellphone instead of your VoIP to call 911.

So, what do I need to use VoIP?

A high-speed Internet connection. This means DSL or cable, NOT dial-up.
A regular phone with VoIP adaptor OR a VoIP phone OR a computer with a microphone and earpiece.
A VoIP service provider.

Can I use VoIP without an Internet connection?
No.

Can I use my computer while talking on the VoIP phone?
Absolutely, although using the Internet for other purposes while using VoIP may affect the quality of your call.

Can I use VoIP without a computer?
Yes, if you have a VoIP phone and your Internet is active.

Can I use VoIP without a VoIP phone line?
Yes, if you have a computer with a VoIP program, a microphone and earpiece.

Will it work in a power outage?
Unfortunately, no.

How do I know if VoIP is for me?
VoIP is a great money-saving option for people who are always on the Internet, and VoIP is a great money-saving option for people who have a high-speed connection.

VoIP is a great money-saving option for people who often make calls to long-distance, international, or mobile numbers.

VoIP is a great money-saving option for people who move around the country, and VoIP is a great money-saving option for people who would like to take their landline number with them wherever they go.

VoIP is a great money-saving option for people who need to have an area code in another locality.

How do I find a VoIP service provider?
For VoIP calls using your computer, you can simply download a VoIP program like Skype or Vonage from the Internet.

To find a service provider for VoIP phones, simply type “VoIP” and the name of your country in the search bar of your favorite Internet search engine.

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