DIGITAL DAN
(monthly column)
THE CLOUD
ISSUE 853
by Dan Hamilton
of Monument Computers
What is the cloud? How does it work? My data has to exist somewhere. Is my data safe? What happens when the cloud stops working? Where is the cloud? How do I use a cloud?
All these questions have been asked at the PC shop and they are very valid questions for people to have, especially if you aren’t surrounded 24/7 by tech and tech conversation. Today we will break down some of the basics to give a better general idea about what “a cloud’ is and what it can do.
The cloud, or a cloud, is a term referring to either data storage or processing power where the physical location is irrelevant but the user can access it most anywhere. Most cloud systems are spread among multiple physical locations and spread out amongst multiple hard drives geographically separated to ensure that natural disasters or regional emergencies cannot disrupt the service. The concept of the cloud relies entirely on the internet; a vast information and communication interconnecting the world at speeds the human brain can hardly comprehend.
Google Drive is an example of a cloud storage system. When you upload your files to Google Drive, they are duplicated and spread across the globe ensuring your data is safe. Amazon Web Services has data storage as an option, but another option they provide is computing power as a service. Customers can pay them relatively small amounts of money to have computer systems running on their cloud. The iCloud, from Apple, is another example of cloud storage (although it actually runs on Google’s systems).
Could you make your own cloud? Absolutely! Some companies, such as Seagate, have products they advertise as being a personal cloud. Devices like these typically won’t have the redundancy of a true cloud, but they can give you the ability to access your files from anywhere you have internet access.
You are already using the cloud - do you have a smartphone? Pretty much every app on that device uses the cloud in one form or another. Do you have an email account? Chances are the servers the emails go through are cloud based. Facebook? It’s a cloud. Think about how it fits the descriptions above.
The cloud is secure. All data that travels to/from the big cloud systems are encrypted at a level that would take a modern supercomputer approximately 1 billion years to crack. Once the data arrives at the facility, it is stored in an encrypted format and spread across several drives to be sure that, even if they had a billion years to crack the codes, they would need to have the right drives to get the data. Finally, there is physical security (fences, walls, guards) at these locations. The Cloud is a much safer place for your data than on your computer, a flash drive, or external hard drive in your house.
There are many more services that would qualify as cloud based services, far too many to discuss in this small article. If you have questions about cloud services or would like more clarification, please feel free to contact us at Monument Computers and we would be happy to go further into the subject.
(monthly column)
THE CLOUD
ISSUE 853
by Dan Hamilton
of Monument Computers
What is the cloud? How does it work? My data has to exist somewhere. Is my data safe? What happens when the cloud stops working? Where is the cloud? How do I use a cloud?
All these questions have been asked at the PC shop and they are very valid questions for people to have, especially if you aren’t surrounded 24/7 by tech and tech conversation. Today we will break down some of the basics to give a better general idea about what “a cloud’ is and what it can do.
The cloud, or a cloud, is a term referring to either data storage or processing power where the physical location is irrelevant but the user can access it most anywhere. Most cloud systems are spread among multiple physical locations and spread out amongst multiple hard drives geographically separated to ensure that natural disasters or regional emergencies cannot disrupt the service. The concept of the cloud relies entirely on the internet; a vast information and communication interconnecting the world at speeds the human brain can hardly comprehend.
Google Drive is an example of a cloud storage system. When you upload your files to Google Drive, they are duplicated and spread across the globe ensuring your data is safe. Amazon Web Services has data storage as an option, but another option they provide is computing power as a service. Customers can pay them relatively small amounts of money to have computer systems running on their cloud. The iCloud, from Apple, is another example of cloud storage (although it actually runs on Google’s systems).
Could you make your own cloud? Absolutely! Some companies, such as Seagate, have products they advertise as being a personal cloud. Devices like these typically won’t have the redundancy of a true cloud, but they can give you the ability to access your files from anywhere you have internet access.
You are already using the cloud - do you have a smartphone? Pretty much every app on that device uses the cloud in one form or another. Do you have an email account? Chances are the servers the emails go through are cloud based. Facebook? It’s a cloud. Think about how it fits the descriptions above.
The cloud is secure. All data that travels to/from the big cloud systems are encrypted at a level that would take a modern supercomputer approximately 1 billion years to crack. Once the data arrives at the facility, it is stored in an encrypted format and spread across several drives to be sure that, even if they had a billion years to crack the codes, they would need to have the right drives to get the data. Finally, there is physical security (fences, walls, guards) at these locations. The Cloud is a much safer place for your data than on your computer, a flash drive, or external hard drive in your house.
There are many more services that would qualify as cloud based services, far too many to discuss in this small article. If you have questions about cloud services or would like more clarification, please feel free to contact us at Monument Computers and we would be happy to go further into the subject.
Issue 731
11/2/15
PLEASED TO MEET YOU!
Hello Monument! I am Dan Hamilton and I’m thrilled to be taking over Monument Computers, the local PC shop downtown. Every other week you’ll find some Snippetz of tech info here from me (in around 350 words) that I hope will help you make a wise tech decision or second guess something that could put you in peril.
A little about myself; I just moved to town about a month ago from Wisconsin with my lovely wife Christine and two wonderful children, Pierce (almost 3) and Roman (6 months). Along with the PC shop, I’m a Captain in the Colorado Army National Guard and fly a Medevac Blackhawk up in Aurora. I’ve been in the Army for about 10 years and look forward to many more.
Computers have been my passion since I was a child. I’ve always loved playing on them and with them; I was always tinkering here and there when I could and then finally I was able to buy my own stuff with the money from my first job (KFC).
Regardless of what I’ve been doing in life, I’ve always maintained a high knowledge base in the field and continue to do so today. If you have a broken or slow PC, Mac, Laptop, iPhone, iPad, Android phone/tablet, or anything else tech related, please bring it by for a free diagnostic (diagnostic are always free).
Even if you don’t need something new or fixed, stop on by to say hi and we can have some nice tech talk, or we can talk about why the Broncos will be my #2 team behind the Packers. I’m a very friendly, outgoing guy AND I plan to have cookies (the yummy kind, not the ones clogging up your system) whenever you visit.
The location has moved up the street a few blocks to 325 2nd Street, Suite R, right at the intersections of 2nd street and the Santa Fe trail. I hope to see you soon!
11/2/15
PLEASED TO MEET YOU!
Hello Monument! I am Dan Hamilton and I’m thrilled to be taking over Monument Computers, the local PC shop downtown. Every other week you’ll find some Snippetz of tech info here from me (in around 350 words) that I hope will help you make a wise tech decision or second guess something that could put you in peril.
A little about myself; I just moved to town about a month ago from Wisconsin with my lovely wife Christine and two wonderful children, Pierce (almost 3) and Roman (6 months). Along with the PC shop, I’m a Captain in the Colorado Army National Guard and fly a Medevac Blackhawk up in Aurora. I’ve been in the Army for about 10 years and look forward to many more.
Computers have been my passion since I was a child. I’ve always loved playing on them and with them; I was always tinkering here and there when I could and then finally I was able to buy my own stuff with the money from my first job (KFC).
Regardless of what I’ve been doing in life, I’ve always maintained a high knowledge base in the field and continue to do so today. If you have a broken or slow PC, Mac, Laptop, iPhone, iPad, Android phone/tablet, or anything else tech related, please bring it by for a free diagnostic (diagnostic are always free).
Even if you don’t need something new or fixed, stop on by to say hi and we can have some nice tech talk, or we can talk about why the Broncos will be my #2 team behind the Packers. I’m a very friendly, outgoing guy AND I plan to have cookies (the yummy kind, not the ones clogging up your system) whenever you visit.
The location has moved up the street a few blocks to 325 2nd Street, Suite R, right at the intersections of 2nd street and the Santa Fe trail. I hope to see you soon!
Issue 733
11/16/15
TIME TO UPGRADE TO WINDOWS 10?
It’s November 2015 and Windows 10 has been out since the end of July. You’ve heard people talk about it, read all about it online, and seen the little Windows icon in the bottom right corner of your screen asking you to upgrade to Windows 10. But, you haven’t done it yet. Past experiences with Windows have made you timid about new products as they come out and why would Windows 10 be any different? The reasons why Windows 10 is different from previous versions, and why you should upgrade now are below.
Windows 10 is Newer and Supported
Windows XP ceased receiving updates of any kind in April 2015. That means even if they find a giant security hole that will easily allow anyone to take complete control of your computer, they won’t be fixing it. Windows Vista mainstream support (what most of us consider “updates”) ended in 2012, and Windows 7 ended in January 2015. While Vista gets security updates for another 1.5 years and Windows 7 another 5, no glitches, features, or issues will be fixed. Windows 8 will be supported until 2018, but there are other reasons to upgrade to 10.
Right now it is free, and easy
That’s right. Everything you’ve seen about Windows 10 being “free” is actually true. No trial period and no features to purchase later. This is also the last version of Windows they plan to have; updates from now on.
When you upgrade, it automatically transfers all documents and programs. Everything should work just fine. If, for some reason you want to downgrade back, the tool is included in Windows 10. Before you do that, stop by Monument Computers and learn about how running a Virtual Windows XP or 7 inside Windows 10 can keep your old programs/devices functional while benefiting from the fastest and most secure version of Windows.
Thinner, lighter, faster = better
Windows 10 takes between 9 and 11 GB of storage on your drive. Windows 7 and 8 take anywhere from 13 to 23 GB, depending on your specific version. Being this much lighter makes your small Solid State Drive go a lot further. It ships with DirectX 12 which provides great performance improvements in games and graphically intense programs.
Features
You can’t come out with a new product that does nothing more than the old one. Windows 10 has multiple virtual desktops, easy snapping to edges and corners, voice activated assistant Cortana, Xbox game streaming (while someone watches TV, someone else can play on the PC), an easier to use start menu, faster and easier control panel, better driver support, and much, much more.
Still Timid?
If you still aren’t sure about upgrading to Windows 10 or aren’t sure you want to do it yourself, bring your computer(s) to Monument Computers and we’d be happy to help you through the process. While most upgrades go through no problem, by using our services you can be guaranteed your systems will emerge fully functional without issues.
11/16/15
TIME TO UPGRADE TO WINDOWS 10?
It’s November 2015 and Windows 10 has been out since the end of July. You’ve heard people talk about it, read all about it online, and seen the little Windows icon in the bottom right corner of your screen asking you to upgrade to Windows 10. But, you haven’t done it yet. Past experiences with Windows have made you timid about new products as they come out and why would Windows 10 be any different? The reasons why Windows 10 is different from previous versions, and why you should upgrade now are below.
Windows 10 is Newer and Supported
Windows XP ceased receiving updates of any kind in April 2015. That means even if they find a giant security hole that will easily allow anyone to take complete control of your computer, they won’t be fixing it. Windows Vista mainstream support (what most of us consider “updates”) ended in 2012, and Windows 7 ended in January 2015. While Vista gets security updates for another 1.5 years and Windows 7 another 5, no glitches, features, or issues will be fixed. Windows 8 will be supported until 2018, but there are other reasons to upgrade to 10.
Right now it is free, and easy
That’s right. Everything you’ve seen about Windows 10 being “free” is actually true. No trial period and no features to purchase later. This is also the last version of Windows they plan to have; updates from now on.
When you upgrade, it automatically transfers all documents and programs. Everything should work just fine. If, for some reason you want to downgrade back, the tool is included in Windows 10. Before you do that, stop by Monument Computers and learn about how running a Virtual Windows XP or 7 inside Windows 10 can keep your old programs/devices functional while benefiting from the fastest and most secure version of Windows.
Thinner, lighter, faster = better
Windows 10 takes between 9 and 11 GB of storage on your drive. Windows 7 and 8 take anywhere from 13 to 23 GB, depending on your specific version. Being this much lighter makes your small Solid State Drive go a lot further. It ships with DirectX 12 which provides great performance improvements in games and graphically intense programs.
Features
You can’t come out with a new product that does nothing more than the old one. Windows 10 has multiple virtual desktops, easy snapping to edges and corners, voice activated assistant Cortana, Xbox game streaming (while someone watches TV, someone else can play on the PC), an easier to use start menu, faster and easier control panel, better driver support, and much, much more.
Still Timid?
If you still aren’t sure about upgrading to Windows 10 or aren’t sure you want to do it yourself, bring your computer(s) to Monument Computers and we’d be happy to help you through the process. While most upgrades go through no problem, by using our services you can be guaranteed your systems will emerge fully functional without issues.
Issue 735
11/30/15
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE CLOUD
One of the questions that comes up a lot at the PC shop is “what is the cloud?” Well, that’s a simple question with a very complicated answer. To start, I’ll say that if you use the internet in nearly any capacity these days, you are using “the cloud.”
What is “the cloud?”
Technically, “the cloud” is not a real physical thing, and there are many, many clouds already on the internet. “The cloud” is a general term describing the use of servers and databases on the internet to perform specific tasks, or many tasks. Google email (Gmail) is “cloud based” as are many of their services such as Youtube, Google Docs, Google Drive, and even the Google search engine. Microsoft has their own clouds, including One Drive and Office 365, and Apple has the iCloud. Amazon has developed their own cloud systems including music, movies, and online storage. Facebook and Instagram are clouds. Even SETI and UC Berkeley have a system that turns your home PC into a server on their cloud to help process the massive amounts of data they receive from space. As you can see, the cloud is not limited to one specific task, but can be any task that can be done on a computer.
Why should I care, and why should I try to use it?
There are many benefits to using cloud based systems and very few reasons not to use them. One of the primary reasons businesses are better off using cloud systems is that they can save a lot of money. Equipment is expensive, degrades over time and becomes outdated. By using cloud based subscription services for storage and processing, companies can save a lot of money through buying Terminals (basically, lower end PCs that are used specifically to access cloud systems) and paying subscription services instead of having to foot the bill for everything on their own.
Another benefit of using cloud based systems is security. If all your files are backed up from your PC to something like Google Drive, it won’t matter what happens to your computer; your files will be safe. Because the data is duplicated and spread across multiple servers in multiple datacenters across the globe, it is very unlikely that a catastrophic event at any particular site will cause any loss of data. Most big cloud based services also use encryption to prevent hackers and other various agencies from getting at your data. It would take a modern supercomputer approximately 1 billion years to crack a 128-bit AES encryption, which is a very commonly used security key on these cloud systems. The biggest threat to your data is actually the stuff you keep on your hard drive; unless you have taken extra precautions to encrypt this data, someone could get at all of it in less than 5 minutes.
The biggest downfall to switching to the cloud is that is requires an internet connection, and sometimes a pretty good one. While in many places, such as Monument, it is relatively affordable to get a connection of 50 Mb down / 10 Mb up (this would be a decently fast home internet connection), there are many parts of the United States that still still rely on dial-up modems. The cloud systems available these days rely on your ability to quickly download and upload data, which is very difficult with a dial-up modem. Mobile devices and mobile internet have changed the way people function day to day, but in our area, driving to the other side of a hill can drop your cell data speeds from fast enough to steam a 4k video all the way down to barely able to maintain a phone call.
Cloud based services are fantastic tools for large companies, small businesses, and individuals alike. At Monument Computers we use cloud based email, documents, and data backup as well as offering cloud based antivirus/antimalware and remote support to customers. If you’d like to know more about what services are out there, or specifically what services Monument Computers can provide to save you money, feel free to call us or come by.
11/30/15
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE CLOUD
One of the questions that comes up a lot at the PC shop is “what is the cloud?” Well, that’s a simple question with a very complicated answer. To start, I’ll say that if you use the internet in nearly any capacity these days, you are using “the cloud.”
What is “the cloud?”
Technically, “the cloud” is not a real physical thing, and there are many, many clouds already on the internet. “The cloud” is a general term describing the use of servers and databases on the internet to perform specific tasks, or many tasks. Google email (Gmail) is “cloud based” as are many of their services such as Youtube, Google Docs, Google Drive, and even the Google search engine. Microsoft has their own clouds, including One Drive and Office 365, and Apple has the iCloud. Amazon has developed their own cloud systems including music, movies, and online storage. Facebook and Instagram are clouds. Even SETI and UC Berkeley have a system that turns your home PC into a server on their cloud to help process the massive amounts of data they receive from space. As you can see, the cloud is not limited to one specific task, but can be any task that can be done on a computer.
Why should I care, and why should I try to use it?
There are many benefits to using cloud based systems and very few reasons not to use them. One of the primary reasons businesses are better off using cloud systems is that they can save a lot of money. Equipment is expensive, degrades over time and becomes outdated. By using cloud based subscription services for storage and processing, companies can save a lot of money through buying Terminals (basically, lower end PCs that are used specifically to access cloud systems) and paying subscription services instead of having to foot the bill for everything on their own.
Another benefit of using cloud based systems is security. If all your files are backed up from your PC to something like Google Drive, it won’t matter what happens to your computer; your files will be safe. Because the data is duplicated and spread across multiple servers in multiple datacenters across the globe, it is very unlikely that a catastrophic event at any particular site will cause any loss of data. Most big cloud based services also use encryption to prevent hackers and other various agencies from getting at your data. It would take a modern supercomputer approximately 1 billion years to crack a 128-bit AES encryption, which is a very commonly used security key on these cloud systems. The biggest threat to your data is actually the stuff you keep on your hard drive; unless you have taken extra precautions to encrypt this data, someone could get at all of it in less than 5 minutes.
The biggest downfall to switching to the cloud is that is requires an internet connection, and sometimes a pretty good one. While in many places, such as Monument, it is relatively affordable to get a connection of 50 Mb down / 10 Mb up (this would be a decently fast home internet connection), there are many parts of the United States that still still rely on dial-up modems. The cloud systems available these days rely on your ability to quickly download and upload data, which is very difficult with a dial-up modem. Mobile devices and mobile internet have changed the way people function day to day, but in our area, driving to the other side of a hill can drop your cell data speeds from fast enough to steam a 4k video all the way down to barely able to maintain a phone call.
Cloud based services are fantastic tools for large companies, small businesses, and individuals alike. At Monument Computers we use cloud based email, documents, and data backup as well as offering cloud based antivirus/antimalware and remote support to customers. If you’d like to know more about what services are out there, or specifically what services Monument Computers can provide to save you money, feel free to call us or come by.
Issue 737
12/14/15
DO I NEED A COMPUTER ANYMORE?
This is a question that has come up frequently in recent history; “Do I need a computer anymore?” With all the laptops, hybrid laptops, tablets, chromebooks, and cell phones, it’s easy to see how some would wonder if a full desktop or laptop is even necessary anymore. The answer to this question changes from person to person and it depends on what your specific needs will be.
If your primary focus for such a device is business, you can almost certainly count on needing a Windows system. Quickbooks, Photoshop, PDF writers, and many other inventory, financial, and product management applications require Windows. Occasionally, one could use a Mac laptop or desktop for similar functions, but many of these are not available on OSX.
Gamers - unless you only wish to play mobile games, you will definitely need a Windows machine, and a desktop format if you want to turn the graphics all the way up. Even compared to consoles, PC games run faster, smoother, and with sharper detail. Youtube has some great comparison videos to show the differences there.
If you require frequent access to US government systems, such as DoD email or websites, you will need a Windows system AND set it to work with technology from about 10 years ago. For the most part, the federal systems have lagged behind the business world in using the latest technology and many sites require an old version of Internet Explorer running in compatibility mode.
The last category here would be the casual user. Many people can get away with just a smartphone or tablet and don’t need a laptop or desktop. These touch based devices have full access to web browsing, shopping online, social media access, filling out forms, short to medium sized emails, video chats, games, banking, decent cameras built in, and can even be used to pay for items at a store or, in a pinch, to write actual Word documents. They are easy for viewing content, but can be difficult to use when trying to make lots of content, like writing papers or making presentations.
Finally, Chromebooks should be mentioned. A Chromebook looks like a laptop, but doesn’t run Windows or OSX. It runs a variation of Google Chrome called Chrome OS. Basically, the device runs only Chrome, but inside of Chrome are thousands and thousands of apps. Other than Quickbooks and a few other programs (including most games), a Chromebook is able to function almost completely like a laptop, but with half the price tag. They come with very little storage built in, but are designed specifically to be used online and many of the machines come with free online storage. I have one at home and we use it a lot. There are no viruses, updates are silent and automatic, and everything loads pretty quickly.
Back to the question, “Do I need a computer anymore?” Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. If you are a person who creates a lot of content, whether it be word docs or photoshopped files, you’re probably still going to want the computer. If you are someone who shops online, likes to check your Facebook and Twitter, and browse conveniently while watching TV, sticking with just the phone or tablet will be the best way to go.
12/14/15
DO I NEED A COMPUTER ANYMORE?
This is a question that has come up frequently in recent history; “Do I need a computer anymore?” With all the laptops, hybrid laptops, tablets, chromebooks, and cell phones, it’s easy to see how some would wonder if a full desktop or laptop is even necessary anymore. The answer to this question changes from person to person and it depends on what your specific needs will be.
If your primary focus for such a device is business, you can almost certainly count on needing a Windows system. Quickbooks, Photoshop, PDF writers, and many other inventory, financial, and product management applications require Windows. Occasionally, one could use a Mac laptop or desktop for similar functions, but many of these are not available on OSX.
Gamers - unless you only wish to play mobile games, you will definitely need a Windows machine, and a desktop format if you want to turn the graphics all the way up. Even compared to consoles, PC games run faster, smoother, and with sharper detail. Youtube has some great comparison videos to show the differences there.
If you require frequent access to US government systems, such as DoD email or websites, you will need a Windows system AND set it to work with technology from about 10 years ago. For the most part, the federal systems have lagged behind the business world in using the latest technology and many sites require an old version of Internet Explorer running in compatibility mode.
The last category here would be the casual user. Many people can get away with just a smartphone or tablet and don’t need a laptop or desktop. These touch based devices have full access to web browsing, shopping online, social media access, filling out forms, short to medium sized emails, video chats, games, banking, decent cameras built in, and can even be used to pay for items at a store or, in a pinch, to write actual Word documents. They are easy for viewing content, but can be difficult to use when trying to make lots of content, like writing papers or making presentations.
Finally, Chromebooks should be mentioned. A Chromebook looks like a laptop, but doesn’t run Windows or OSX. It runs a variation of Google Chrome called Chrome OS. Basically, the device runs only Chrome, but inside of Chrome are thousands and thousands of apps. Other than Quickbooks and a few other programs (including most games), a Chromebook is able to function almost completely like a laptop, but with half the price tag. They come with very little storage built in, but are designed specifically to be used online and many of the machines come with free online storage. I have one at home and we use it a lot. There are no viruses, updates are silent and automatic, and everything loads pretty quickly.
Back to the question, “Do I need a computer anymore?” Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. If you are a person who creates a lot of content, whether it be word docs or photoshopped files, you’re probably still going to want the computer. If you are someone who shops online, likes to check your Facebook and Twitter, and browse conveniently while watching TV, sticking with just the phone or tablet will be the best way to go.
Issue 739
12/28/15
BROWSER WARS
Everyone has their favorite browser. Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, and the new heavyweight, Edge. Which one is the best for you? We’ll explore the differences among the most popular browsers and then you can decide which you prefer.
Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer has been around for a long, long time. Compared to the modern competitors, IE is slower to load, has more security vulnerabilities, and has a more difficult time loading newer technologies like HTML5. The newest version, IE11, is better than its predecessors but still struggles in today’s world. The only people who should be using Internet Explorer these days are those who visit a lot of really old web sites. Many government sites, especially those run by the military, still require Internet Explorer and some even require it to be run in Compatibility mode for IE7 which came out back in 2006.
Chrome
If you aren’t sure which web browser you should be using, it is probably Google Chrome. As the current dominating browser across the globe (check out “browser wars” on Wikipedia, or just search “what is the most popular web browser” for proof) is Google Chrome. It is one of the fastest browsers in terms of loading time, allows synchronization of history and bookmarks across computers and cell phones/tablets, has very few security concerns, loads HTML5 very nicely, has its own store similar to the Apple App store or Google Play store, and is even its own operating system. There is a reason half of all web traffic goes through Google Chrome. Up until about a month ago, it had been by far my favorite web browser.
Mozilla Firefox
FireFox, by Mozilla, has been a very popular browser and is currently the second most popular PC based browser behind Google Chrome. The Mozilla project was started in 1998 by the Netscape Navigator community before AOL purchased Netscape later that year. Firefox has many of the same features of Google Chrome including bookmark and history synching, easy to manage tab interface, support for modern software technologies, and an entire app store of extensions that run well within the browser itself. While faster than Internet explorer, Firefox has consistently tested towards the bottom of speed rankings and over the years has had a few security concerns due to it’s developer-friendly architecture. While there has been an android version of the browser for quite awhile, just last month did an iPhone version appear.
Edge
My new favorite browser is Edge, by Microsoft (Available on Windows 10 only). Along with no longer supporting Windows XP, Vista, or 7, Microsoft has pulled the plug on their archaic web browser Internet Explorer and have replaced it with an entirely new, and much improved piece of programming. Microsoft Edge is quickly gaining popularity with those who have upgraded to Windows 10 due to it’s lightning fast speeds and rich new features. Edge is the only browser to beat Chrome in speed tests, and it does so in about half of the standard tests that are done. While it doesn’t have bookmark and history syncing (yet), the share button has become very handy. Another useful feature is the “Web Note” feature. This allows someone to draw, highlight, and white-out web-pages to then share across the web to friends also using Edge. As someone who makes and edits websites, this has been an awesome new tool on my belt. Edge, on laptops at least, appears to be more smooth when scrolling, have crisper text, and a cleaner overall look versus any other browser I tested. Finally, the main reason I’ve switched to Edge, is the battery life. I’m not exactly sure how, but I can get over 2 MORE hours of battery life out of my Surface Pro 4 laptop when using Edge than I can with Google Chrome. In side-by-side comparisons, Chrome used a lot more cpu power, sometimes over 90% more.
Conclusion
So, which browser should you use? As long as you can get to the content you require, it doesn’t really matter which you choose. We listed some of the differences among them and hopefully
12/28/15
BROWSER WARS
Everyone has their favorite browser. Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, and the new heavyweight, Edge. Which one is the best for you? We’ll explore the differences among the most popular browsers and then you can decide which you prefer.
Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer has been around for a long, long time. Compared to the modern competitors, IE is slower to load, has more security vulnerabilities, and has a more difficult time loading newer technologies like HTML5. The newest version, IE11, is better than its predecessors but still struggles in today’s world. The only people who should be using Internet Explorer these days are those who visit a lot of really old web sites. Many government sites, especially those run by the military, still require Internet Explorer and some even require it to be run in Compatibility mode for IE7 which came out back in 2006.
Chrome
If you aren’t sure which web browser you should be using, it is probably Google Chrome. As the current dominating browser across the globe (check out “browser wars” on Wikipedia, or just search “what is the most popular web browser” for proof) is Google Chrome. It is one of the fastest browsers in terms of loading time, allows synchronization of history and bookmarks across computers and cell phones/tablets, has very few security concerns, loads HTML5 very nicely, has its own store similar to the Apple App store or Google Play store, and is even its own operating system. There is a reason half of all web traffic goes through Google Chrome. Up until about a month ago, it had been by far my favorite web browser.
Mozilla Firefox
FireFox, by Mozilla, has been a very popular browser and is currently the second most popular PC based browser behind Google Chrome. The Mozilla project was started in 1998 by the Netscape Navigator community before AOL purchased Netscape later that year. Firefox has many of the same features of Google Chrome including bookmark and history synching, easy to manage tab interface, support for modern software technologies, and an entire app store of extensions that run well within the browser itself. While faster than Internet explorer, Firefox has consistently tested towards the bottom of speed rankings and over the years has had a few security concerns due to it’s developer-friendly architecture. While there has been an android version of the browser for quite awhile, just last month did an iPhone version appear.
Edge
My new favorite browser is Edge, by Microsoft (Available on Windows 10 only). Along with no longer supporting Windows XP, Vista, or 7, Microsoft has pulled the plug on their archaic web browser Internet Explorer and have replaced it with an entirely new, and much improved piece of programming. Microsoft Edge is quickly gaining popularity with those who have upgraded to Windows 10 due to it’s lightning fast speeds and rich new features. Edge is the only browser to beat Chrome in speed tests, and it does so in about half of the standard tests that are done. While it doesn’t have bookmark and history syncing (yet), the share button has become very handy. Another useful feature is the “Web Note” feature. This allows someone to draw, highlight, and white-out web-pages to then share across the web to friends also using Edge. As someone who makes and edits websites, this has been an awesome new tool on my belt. Edge, on laptops at least, appears to be more smooth when scrolling, have crisper text, and a cleaner overall look versus any other browser I tested. Finally, the main reason I’ve switched to Edge, is the battery life. I’m not exactly sure how, but I can get over 2 MORE hours of battery life out of my Surface Pro 4 laptop when using Edge than I can with Google Chrome. In side-by-side comparisons, Chrome used a lot more cpu power, sometimes over 90% more.
Conclusion
So, which browser should you use? As long as you can get to the content you require, it doesn’t really matter which you choose. We listed some of the differences among them and hopefully
Issue 741
1/11/16
VIRTUAL REALITY 2016
Imagine being in your living room, then in the Louvre, then in the hot desert checking out the Great Pyramids, then scuba diving at the Titanic, all within a half hour. Well, it took until 2016, but that technology is here. Kinda.
Virtual reality, estimated to be a $150 billion industry by 2020, has existed in one form or another for over forty years, but it’s really been the last two years or so that it has taken off. At the end of 2015, there were already several versions available, and going into 2016 many more companies announced they were producing virtual reality headsets of their own.
Virtual reality is an immersive, replicated environment that simulates a physical presence, either in a real location or an imaginary world, and allows the user to interact with that world. These devices are able to artificially create sensory experiences including sight, sound, and even sometimes touch and smell.
At Monument Computers we have two systems that can run virtual reality, Google Cardboard (from Google) and Gear VR (from Samsung). Both systems rely on a smartphone, though the Gear VR version requires very specific Samsung phones. They are both incredible. Paired with a decent pair of headphones, it almost does feel like you are traveling thousands of miles within seconds. And this is just the beginning. While modern tools (well, mostly toys at this point) have some flaws to keep them from perfect, it seems the hard problems have already been solved. When you turn your head right, the phone responds perfectly to your motions. When the Star Wars hoverbike is coming straight at you and misses by maybe a foot, the hairs on your spine stand up. When you hear the woman yelling for your attention to your far right and you look over, she is right there.
While they are good, they aren’t quite perfect. Many people still get “VR sickness” and if you’re one to get car sick, maybe wait a couple years. The displays right now are still pixelated and it feels like you are looking through a screen, despite having twice the number of pixels as a 65” HDTV. The lenses get dirty easily and the edges are still a little blurry.
The next generation, already in development by companies like Google, Magic Leap, Oculus Rift, and Samsung, promise to bring the virtual world much closer to reality. They are developing displays so sharp they look real, textures so clean it’s hard to know if it was a photo or a computer image, and so immersive reality itself can be forgotten momentarily.
Are you too excited to wait a few more years for the next generation? The Samsung VR system requires a Galaxy S6, Edge, Edge+, or Note 5 ($500-$800) plus the $100 headset. Upcoming systems, such as the Oculus Rift VR cost $600 and require a very high end desktop computer costing an estimated $1000-1500. Sony’s PlayStationVR will cost $350 and require a PlayStation 4. Steam and HTC have teamed up to develop a system that actually tracks your movement (most systems require a hand held remote control) with great detail and will likely cost around the $600 range when released. If these don’t fit into your budget, Google Cardboard, one of the first systems to come out a couple years ago, can cost anywhere from $100 to… nothing. You can download the instructions to make your own for free from Google and literally make it out of cardboard. While being the cheapest, Google Cardboard is surprisingly good and can give a user an excellent idea of what is ahead.
1/11/16
VIRTUAL REALITY 2016
Imagine being in your living room, then in the Louvre, then in the hot desert checking out the Great Pyramids, then scuba diving at the Titanic, all within a half hour. Well, it took until 2016, but that technology is here. Kinda.
Virtual reality, estimated to be a $150 billion industry by 2020, has existed in one form or another for over forty years, but it’s really been the last two years or so that it has taken off. At the end of 2015, there were already several versions available, and going into 2016 many more companies announced they were producing virtual reality headsets of their own.
Virtual reality is an immersive, replicated environment that simulates a physical presence, either in a real location or an imaginary world, and allows the user to interact with that world. These devices are able to artificially create sensory experiences including sight, sound, and even sometimes touch and smell.
At Monument Computers we have two systems that can run virtual reality, Google Cardboard (from Google) and Gear VR (from Samsung). Both systems rely on a smartphone, though the Gear VR version requires very specific Samsung phones. They are both incredible. Paired with a decent pair of headphones, it almost does feel like you are traveling thousands of miles within seconds. And this is just the beginning. While modern tools (well, mostly toys at this point) have some flaws to keep them from perfect, it seems the hard problems have already been solved. When you turn your head right, the phone responds perfectly to your motions. When the Star Wars hoverbike is coming straight at you and misses by maybe a foot, the hairs on your spine stand up. When you hear the woman yelling for your attention to your far right and you look over, she is right there.
While they are good, they aren’t quite perfect. Many people still get “VR sickness” and if you’re one to get car sick, maybe wait a couple years. The displays right now are still pixelated and it feels like you are looking through a screen, despite having twice the number of pixels as a 65” HDTV. The lenses get dirty easily and the edges are still a little blurry.
The next generation, already in development by companies like Google, Magic Leap, Oculus Rift, and Samsung, promise to bring the virtual world much closer to reality. They are developing displays so sharp they look real, textures so clean it’s hard to know if it was a photo or a computer image, and so immersive reality itself can be forgotten momentarily.
Are you too excited to wait a few more years for the next generation? The Samsung VR system requires a Galaxy S6, Edge, Edge+, or Note 5 ($500-$800) plus the $100 headset. Upcoming systems, such as the Oculus Rift VR cost $600 and require a very high end desktop computer costing an estimated $1000-1500. Sony’s PlayStationVR will cost $350 and require a PlayStation 4. Steam and HTC have teamed up to develop a system that actually tracks your movement (most systems require a hand held remote control) with great detail and will likely cost around the $600 range when released. If these don’t fit into your budget, Google Cardboard, one of the first systems to come out a couple years ago, can cost anywhere from $100 to… nothing. You can download the instructions to make your own for free from Google and literally make it out of cardboard. While being the cheapest, Google Cardboard is surprisingly good and can give a user an excellent idea of what is ahead.
Issue 743
1/25/16
THE FUTURE OF RADIO
Last article was about some emerging technology, virtual reality. VR promises to replace television and deliver an entirely new experience, just like how television promised to replace radio. But tv failed… we still have radio, and will continue to have it for the foreseeable future. This article is about the radio and how it has completely changed in just a few years and how this trend will continue.
How has radio evolved? You’re probably using this evolution today, maybe even right now. Ever used Pandora, Spotify, Iheart Radio? That’s the evolution. Colorado Public Radio on your phone? Part of the evolution. It’s called “Internet Radio.”
How about some stats: Over 70% of all radio listeners are now using some sort of internet based system. Of those surveyed under the age of 40, 80% of them are using these systems on a regular basis. Ages 40-60 drops down to about a 50/50 mix. Above the age of 60 and this number drops to around 25%.
There are multiple reasons for the recent increase in internet based radio usage. On the consumer side, your content is available where you want it, when you want it, and on whatever device you have that has the internet. You can listen to Colorado Public Radio in Monument, or over in London and it’ll sound perfectly clear here or 4,500 miles away.
For the broadcaster there are also plenty of reasons to switch to, or at lead add, internet based broadcasting. The cost for an FCC license, tall towers, and all the electricity required can get high. Internet based systems don’t even require a particularly good internet connection, just quality content. Programming can be changed quickly and it’s easier to get people the content they want when they want it.
For the local business, advertisements can be much cheaper and result in a far better audience. The borders of the ad can literally be the borders of Monument. These ads can also return a lot more details about which customers interact with them and help business make their ads more relevant to the consumer. Instead of paying for an ad in the Springs and paying for coverage of a half million people, your ad can target the 5,500 people in Monument, the 33,000 within 5 miles of the center of downtown, or just the 1,000 people in that area who are into knitting. These reasons are perfect for a small, local radio station.
Did you know Monument is on the leading edge of the radio renaissance? After 50 years of not having its own radio station, Monument now has its very own radio station. Complete with LOCAL news, LOCAL sports, and even some LOCAL music, Tri-Lakes Radio is our little area’s only radio station. Started by Michael Bailey in late 2015, Tri-Lakes radio is adding new content weekly and has exellent music lineups throughout the day. For more information, stop by Monument Computers where we stream it most of the time, or go to www.trilakesradio.com.
1/25/16
THE FUTURE OF RADIO
Last article was about some emerging technology, virtual reality. VR promises to replace television and deliver an entirely new experience, just like how television promised to replace radio. But tv failed… we still have radio, and will continue to have it for the foreseeable future. This article is about the radio and how it has completely changed in just a few years and how this trend will continue.
How has radio evolved? You’re probably using this evolution today, maybe even right now. Ever used Pandora, Spotify, Iheart Radio? That’s the evolution. Colorado Public Radio on your phone? Part of the evolution. It’s called “Internet Radio.”
How about some stats: Over 70% of all radio listeners are now using some sort of internet based system. Of those surveyed under the age of 40, 80% of them are using these systems on a regular basis. Ages 40-60 drops down to about a 50/50 mix. Above the age of 60 and this number drops to around 25%.
There are multiple reasons for the recent increase in internet based radio usage. On the consumer side, your content is available where you want it, when you want it, and on whatever device you have that has the internet. You can listen to Colorado Public Radio in Monument, or over in London and it’ll sound perfectly clear here or 4,500 miles away.
For the broadcaster there are also plenty of reasons to switch to, or at lead add, internet based broadcasting. The cost for an FCC license, tall towers, and all the electricity required can get high. Internet based systems don’t even require a particularly good internet connection, just quality content. Programming can be changed quickly and it’s easier to get people the content they want when they want it.
For the local business, advertisements can be much cheaper and result in a far better audience. The borders of the ad can literally be the borders of Monument. These ads can also return a lot more details about which customers interact with them and help business make their ads more relevant to the consumer. Instead of paying for an ad in the Springs and paying for coverage of a half million people, your ad can target the 5,500 people in Monument, the 33,000 within 5 miles of the center of downtown, or just the 1,000 people in that area who are into knitting. These reasons are perfect for a small, local radio station.
Did you know Monument is on the leading edge of the radio renaissance? After 50 years of not having its own radio station, Monument now has its very own radio station. Complete with LOCAL news, LOCAL sports, and even some LOCAL music, Tri-Lakes Radio is our little area’s only radio station. Started by Michael Bailey in late 2015, Tri-Lakes radio is adding new content weekly and has exellent music lineups throughout the day. For more information, stop by Monument Computers where we stream it most of the time, or go to www.trilakesradio.com.
Issue 745
2/8/16
DOES YOUR BUSINESS NEED A WEBSITE?
As like everything else in life, it depends on a lot of factors. These are the questions you need to ask when deciding on getting a website or updating an old one:
Do I already have more customers than I can handle?
Are my competitors easier to find online?
Do I show up on a Google search?
How do new customers find me?
Is my contact information and location easy to find?
Do I have a good presence online and have good reviews?
These days, the most people search EVERYTHING on their smart phone. Directions, reviews, contact information, and most anything else. If you don’t exist online, you don’t exist to some people. When I search “Buffalo Wings” on Google maps, the closest place that pops up is Pizza hut even though I KNOW Back East Bar & Grill and O’Mally’s Steak Pub have good wings. Are there other places in Monument that have buffalo wings too? I don’t know, because they either don’t have a website, or haven’t properly setup their online presence.
“But Dan, my company has a Facebook page, why would I still need a website?” Facebook is a fantastic way to contact your current and recruit new customers. Most people use it, it is fast, easy, and their advertising is cheap. Monument Computers uses it all the time, but the reason you still need a website is because Google doesn’t use your facebook page to help you list high on their search list. Google’s algorithms are too smart these days to be fooled by websites that have a lot of keywords at the bottom. When you get a website, it needs to professional looking and have logical flow of text.
A website should do the following:
Explain who you are and how you started.
Show what your business has to offer customers, both in product photos and rich description.
Give your location and contact information (phone number, email address, built-in chat).
Promote specials offers and upcoming discounts or new products.
Websites can cost anywhere from FREE to many thousands of dollars. The costs associated with a website are hosting/domain ownership ($20/yr for domain, $5-$30/mo hosting), development (free to thousands of dollars), and routine maintenance (starting at around $5/month). A website can be a little expensive on the front end with the development, but after that the only costs are low. If your competitors are crushing you online, it’s costing you money to NOT have one. In fact, once you have a website, it opens a whole new aveneue of advertising. Google Adwords, Youtube ads, claiming an official Yelp page, and Bing Ads all require that you have an actual website. These ads can be extremely effective and cheap.
At Monument Computers we are a one-stop shop for everything involving your website from development to hosting and even managing online marketing. For one company I work with, their Google Adwords cost them $1497.99 last year. That $1000 of advertising got them 2,391,604 ads appearing on search engines online and 9,542 people actually clicked on their link. That’s a cost of 15 cents per click, cheaper than a business card; can your company afford that? Without the website, they wouldn’t have been able to capitalize on the modern advertising, the potential 2.3 million customers, or the 9,500 likely customers.
Does your company need a website? If you can’t handle more customers than you already have, then no, you do not. If you would like more customers, make it easier for people to find your business and information about your business, and establish easier communication with customers, then you absolutely need a website.
2/8/16
DOES YOUR BUSINESS NEED A WEBSITE?
As like everything else in life, it depends on a lot of factors. These are the questions you need to ask when deciding on getting a website or updating an old one:
Do I already have more customers than I can handle?
Are my competitors easier to find online?
Do I show up on a Google search?
How do new customers find me?
Is my contact information and location easy to find?
Do I have a good presence online and have good reviews?
These days, the most people search EVERYTHING on their smart phone. Directions, reviews, contact information, and most anything else. If you don’t exist online, you don’t exist to some people. When I search “Buffalo Wings” on Google maps, the closest place that pops up is Pizza hut even though I KNOW Back East Bar & Grill and O’Mally’s Steak Pub have good wings. Are there other places in Monument that have buffalo wings too? I don’t know, because they either don’t have a website, or haven’t properly setup their online presence.
“But Dan, my company has a Facebook page, why would I still need a website?” Facebook is a fantastic way to contact your current and recruit new customers. Most people use it, it is fast, easy, and their advertising is cheap. Monument Computers uses it all the time, but the reason you still need a website is because Google doesn’t use your facebook page to help you list high on their search list. Google’s algorithms are too smart these days to be fooled by websites that have a lot of keywords at the bottom. When you get a website, it needs to professional looking and have logical flow of text.
A website should do the following:
Explain who you are and how you started.
Show what your business has to offer customers, both in product photos and rich description.
Give your location and contact information (phone number, email address, built-in chat).
Promote specials offers and upcoming discounts or new products.
Websites can cost anywhere from FREE to many thousands of dollars. The costs associated with a website are hosting/domain ownership ($20/yr for domain, $5-$30/mo hosting), development (free to thousands of dollars), and routine maintenance (starting at around $5/month). A website can be a little expensive on the front end with the development, but after that the only costs are low. If your competitors are crushing you online, it’s costing you money to NOT have one. In fact, once you have a website, it opens a whole new aveneue of advertising. Google Adwords, Youtube ads, claiming an official Yelp page, and Bing Ads all require that you have an actual website. These ads can be extremely effective and cheap.
At Monument Computers we are a one-stop shop for everything involving your website from development to hosting and even managing online marketing. For one company I work with, their Google Adwords cost them $1497.99 last year. That $1000 of advertising got them 2,391,604 ads appearing on search engines online and 9,542 people actually clicked on their link. That’s a cost of 15 cents per click, cheaper than a business card; can your company afford that? Without the website, they wouldn’t have been able to capitalize on the modern advertising, the potential 2.3 million customers, or the 9,500 likely customers.
Does your company need a website? If you can’t handle more customers than you already have, then no, you do not. If you would like more customers, make it easier for people to find your business and information about your business, and establish easier communication with customers, then you absolutely need a website.
Issue 747
2/22/16
STAYING SAFE ONLINE
The theft of personal data is huge business. In the last two years, hackers and thieves online stole more than $1.2 billion through malware, viruses, ransomware, phishing scams and phone calls; these methods will only get more advanced and numerous in 2016. This week we are going to go over a few things that you can do to protect yourself online and while you use your technology.
Shopping Online
While shopping online, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS make sure the websites you are using are using a Secure Socket Layer (SSL). The way to ensure this is to look at the domain before you type in any personal information and make sure it starts with HTTPS. For example, http://www.amazon.com is BAD and has a good chance of stealing your information, but https://www.amazon.com is secure and safe.
Don’t use a debit card online. While modern debit cards typically have a certain amount of fraud protection and will eventually get your money back when a victim of fraud, it can take a long time to get that money back in your account. If you use a system like Paypal or a credit card, the fraud coverage is immediately covered by the financial institution and your bank account is secure.
Browsing/Checking emails
We all get spam. A lot of it. Last I looked, there were over 1,400 spam emails in my junk folder. Modern email providers have exceptional spam filters that keep most of it out of our inboxes, but sometimes some leak through. There is no Nigerian Prince who is going to give you $20 million or a secret stock analyst who can turn your $200 into $20,000 in a week. When you get an email from an unknown person and it is asking for money, delete it. Don’t click on any links and definitely don’t open any attachments. Send it right to the trash. On that note, if you receive an email from a known user/friend, but it seems weird and asks you to do something online that makes you uncomfortable, call them and ask if they actually sent that email. It is very easy to steal email addresses and pretend to be someone else, even to fake the email address.
While browsing online, try to avoid clicking from link to link. The links at the bottom of web pages with catchy titles and interesting photos are designed to catch your attention and get you to click on them. Best case, they will show you a semi-interesting article and install a few tracking cookies to watch what other websites you go to. Worst case, they will try to install software on your computer and steal everything you do online.
Don’t Use Windows XP
Don’t use Windows XP. Mainstream support ended for Windows XP years ago, and in April 2015 Microsoft stopped releasing security updates. What this means is that there are now known exploits in the system that will allow hackers to easily gain access to your computer and track every site you visit and every password you type in. If you have a program you absolutely must use and it only works on Windows XP, at Monument Computers we can help you install a virtual version of Windows XP on a Windows 10 system therefore giving you both the security of Windows 10 and the functionality of your Windows XP program.
Phone Calls
Microsoft will NEVER, NEVER call you. Sorry, but we just aren’t on Bill Gates’ radar. They are not so nice that they will help you monitor for viruses and give you a courtesy call offering to remotely fix your computer. These scammers will remote in and temporarily ‘fix the issues’ by deleting a few harmless files for a relatively reasonable fee, but in the background they are also actively installing programs that will slow down your computer and possibly encrypt every file you have, then will call a few weeks later and demand upwards of $600 to release your files.
There are legitimate services that have remote capabilities (such as Monument Computers), but unless you have previously signed up for their services, they will not call you out of the blue requesting remote access. Always verify with a trusted local computer service before sending large sums of money online. Monument Computers has completely free diagnostics and are more than happy to take any phone call asking about your computer’s security.
2/22/16
STAYING SAFE ONLINE
The theft of personal data is huge business. In the last two years, hackers and thieves online stole more than $1.2 billion through malware, viruses, ransomware, phishing scams and phone calls; these methods will only get more advanced and numerous in 2016. This week we are going to go over a few things that you can do to protect yourself online and while you use your technology.
Shopping Online
While shopping online, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS make sure the websites you are using are using a Secure Socket Layer (SSL). The way to ensure this is to look at the domain before you type in any personal information and make sure it starts with HTTPS. For example, http://www.amazon.com is BAD and has a good chance of stealing your information, but https://www.amazon.com is secure and safe.
Don’t use a debit card online. While modern debit cards typically have a certain amount of fraud protection and will eventually get your money back when a victim of fraud, it can take a long time to get that money back in your account. If you use a system like Paypal or a credit card, the fraud coverage is immediately covered by the financial institution and your bank account is secure.
Browsing/Checking emails
We all get spam. A lot of it. Last I looked, there were over 1,400 spam emails in my junk folder. Modern email providers have exceptional spam filters that keep most of it out of our inboxes, but sometimes some leak through. There is no Nigerian Prince who is going to give you $20 million or a secret stock analyst who can turn your $200 into $20,000 in a week. When you get an email from an unknown person and it is asking for money, delete it. Don’t click on any links and definitely don’t open any attachments. Send it right to the trash. On that note, if you receive an email from a known user/friend, but it seems weird and asks you to do something online that makes you uncomfortable, call them and ask if they actually sent that email. It is very easy to steal email addresses and pretend to be someone else, even to fake the email address.
While browsing online, try to avoid clicking from link to link. The links at the bottom of web pages with catchy titles and interesting photos are designed to catch your attention and get you to click on them. Best case, they will show you a semi-interesting article and install a few tracking cookies to watch what other websites you go to. Worst case, they will try to install software on your computer and steal everything you do online.
Don’t Use Windows XP
Don’t use Windows XP. Mainstream support ended for Windows XP years ago, and in April 2015 Microsoft stopped releasing security updates. What this means is that there are now known exploits in the system that will allow hackers to easily gain access to your computer and track every site you visit and every password you type in. If you have a program you absolutely must use and it only works on Windows XP, at Monument Computers we can help you install a virtual version of Windows XP on a Windows 10 system therefore giving you both the security of Windows 10 and the functionality of your Windows XP program.
Phone Calls
Microsoft will NEVER, NEVER call you. Sorry, but we just aren’t on Bill Gates’ radar. They are not so nice that they will help you monitor for viruses and give you a courtesy call offering to remotely fix your computer. These scammers will remote in and temporarily ‘fix the issues’ by deleting a few harmless files for a relatively reasonable fee, but in the background they are also actively installing programs that will slow down your computer and possibly encrypt every file you have, then will call a few weeks later and demand upwards of $600 to release your files.
There are legitimate services that have remote capabilities (such as Monument Computers), but unless you have previously signed up for their services, they will not call you out of the blue requesting remote access. Always verify with a trusted local computer service before sending large sums of money online. Monument Computers has completely free diagnostics and are more than happy to take any phone call asking about your computer’s security.
Issue 749
3/7/16
HARD DISC DRIVE (HDD) OR
A SOLID STATE DRIVE (SSD)
The most common question I get asked at Monument Computers is “what does this mean?” as someone points to a specification on a box for a monitor or PC. Computers are made up of a plethora of components that all have their own vocabulary and variations, making some brands better than others or various versions better one way or another.
To cover every part of the computer would easily fill this entire Snippetz and likely the next two. Over the next few months we will look at one piece at a time and, in plain English, try to explain what a GTX 980 Ti 6GB GDDR5 at 1019 Mhz base 1230 Mhz boost means and why you would care.
This week we will start with something many people already have a general idea about - storage space. Inside a computer, you need to have data stored for the operating system, your programs, and your files.
Inside the computer, there is either a Hard Disc Drive (HDD) or a Solid State Drive (SSD). The former has been around for nearly 30 years while Solid State Drives have only been popular in the consumer market for less than 10.
HDDs consist of spinning discs, similar in principle to a DVD. Compared to an SSD, hard drives are around 10 times cheaper and right now can achieve higher overall data capacity, but are far inferior when it comes to speed. SSDs range from 5 to 200 times faster than hard drives, depending on the specific task being completed.
Data storage is measured in bytes. Modern times, people will often refer to drive sizes as Gigabytes (GB) or Terabytes (TB). A GB is a billion bytes while a TB is a trillion bytes. To put in perspective, a normal Word document is around 20 Kilobytes (20,000 bytes), an iTunes music file is typically around 5 MB, and a Blu-ray movie is around 25 GB. So, on a 1 Terabyte hard drive, you could fit 50 million word docs, 200,000 songs, or 40 Blu-ray movies. While a 1 Terabyte hard drive can be as low as $80-$100, a 1 Terabyte SSD starts at $400 and goes up from there.
At Monument Computers, we have been selling a lot of 120 Gigabyte SSDs that start at only $75. The reason for this is that most people these days don’t need a lot of space on their local computers. Most people will use a computer for browsing the web, Facebook, checking their email, and maybe some office programs like Microsoft Word or Excel. Web, Facebook, and email are all internet based and require almost no space on your actual computer. Word and Excel files tend to be relatively small (20 KB about 2 paragraphs ago) so you would need to have 100,000 word and excel files to fill just 20 GB out of that 120 total. That’s a lot of files.
I hope this article has helped explain the basic differences between hard drives and solid state drives. If you would like to know more about the differences, or our recommendation for your specific needs, please stop by or call Monument Computers.
3/7/16
HARD DISC DRIVE (HDD) OR
A SOLID STATE DRIVE (SSD)
The most common question I get asked at Monument Computers is “what does this mean?” as someone points to a specification on a box for a monitor or PC. Computers are made up of a plethora of components that all have their own vocabulary and variations, making some brands better than others or various versions better one way or another.
To cover every part of the computer would easily fill this entire Snippetz and likely the next two. Over the next few months we will look at one piece at a time and, in plain English, try to explain what a GTX 980 Ti 6GB GDDR5 at 1019 Mhz base 1230 Mhz boost means and why you would care.
This week we will start with something many people already have a general idea about - storage space. Inside a computer, you need to have data stored for the operating system, your programs, and your files.
Inside the computer, there is either a Hard Disc Drive (HDD) or a Solid State Drive (SSD). The former has been around for nearly 30 years while Solid State Drives have only been popular in the consumer market for less than 10.
HDDs consist of spinning discs, similar in principle to a DVD. Compared to an SSD, hard drives are around 10 times cheaper and right now can achieve higher overall data capacity, but are far inferior when it comes to speed. SSDs range from 5 to 200 times faster than hard drives, depending on the specific task being completed.
Data storage is measured in bytes. Modern times, people will often refer to drive sizes as Gigabytes (GB) or Terabytes (TB). A GB is a billion bytes while a TB is a trillion bytes. To put in perspective, a normal Word document is around 20 Kilobytes (20,000 bytes), an iTunes music file is typically around 5 MB, and a Blu-ray movie is around 25 GB. So, on a 1 Terabyte hard drive, you could fit 50 million word docs, 200,000 songs, or 40 Blu-ray movies. While a 1 Terabyte hard drive can be as low as $80-$100, a 1 Terabyte SSD starts at $400 and goes up from there.
At Monument Computers, we have been selling a lot of 120 Gigabyte SSDs that start at only $75. The reason for this is that most people these days don’t need a lot of space on their local computers. Most people will use a computer for browsing the web, Facebook, checking their email, and maybe some office programs like Microsoft Word or Excel. Web, Facebook, and email are all internet based and require almost no space on your actual computer. Word and Excel files tend to be relatively small (20 KB about 2 paragraphs ago) so you would need to have 100,000 word and excel files to fill just 20 GB out of that 120 total. That’s a lot of files.
I hope this article has helped explain the basic differences between hard drives and solid state drives. If you would like to know more about the differences, or our recommendation for your specific needs, please stop by or call Monument Computers.
Issue 751
3/21/16
RAM AND CPU
This week we’ll go over RAM and the CPU, giving a brief description of what their names mean, what they do, and how they do it.
Let’s start with the RAM. RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Hard drives (and even solid state drives) are slow, way too slow to keep up with the speed of a microprocessor. RAM acts as an intermediary between the hard drive and the CPU by offering really fast read speeds for the processor to access without needing to try and see everything from the relatively slow hard drive. RAM can only store information when power is applied, so when you shutdown the computer, it loses all data (and this is why it's only used for temporary storage). Whenever shopping for a PC you’ll see this listed as a number usually around 4 or 8 but sometimes as low as 1 or as high as 128. It will usually say something like “8 GB DDR3L 1600 MHz.” For the majority of people, the only part of that you should care about is that first number. Four (4) Gigabytes (GB) is enough for the vast majority of tasks done on a PC.
While 4 is enough for a large percentage of stuff people do on a computer, at Monument Computers we try to only sell computers with 8GB or more. This ensures a top quality experience for the nearly all computer programs and uses except high end video games. For gaming systems, at least 16GB is recommended.
As far as processors go, every year there are several dozen options for both desktops and laptops to choose from. All processors you’ll find in modern computers come from either Intel or Amd, the only two companies that still make consumer microprocessors. While most of the RAM in computers these days is generally the same, choosing the correct processor is a much harder task.
Modern microprocessors will be advertised as dual core, quad core, or up to octo core and with frequencies ranging from 1 Ghz all the way up to 5 Ghz. Unfortunately, you cannot just go off these numbers as an octo-core, 4 Ghz processor can be slower than a quad core, 3 Ghz processor. While shopping for a computer, some safe bets are most anything that use an Intel i3, i5, or i7 processor, though they tend to have an extra premium on their price. While you can count on these processors to fit your needs, there are a lot of other processors out there that would be able to suit you and save a few dollars too. If you are looking for a laptop or desktop and thinking about trying to save a little bit of money, stop by Monument Computers and we’ll be happy to advise your computer purchase.
3/21/16
RAM AND CPU
This week we’ll go over RAM and the CPU, giving a brief description of what their names mean, what they do, and how they do it.
Let’s start with the RAM. RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Hard drives (and even solid state drives) are slow, way too slow to keep up with the speed of a microprocessor. RAM acts as an intermediary between the hard drive and the CPU by offering really fast read speeds for the processor to access without needing to try and see everything from the relatively slow hard drive. RAM can only store information when power is applied, so when you shutdown the computer, it loses all data (and this is why it's only used for temporary storage). Whenever shopping for a PC you’ll see this listed as a number usually around 4 or 8 but sometimes as low as 1 or as high as 128. It will usually say something like “8 GB DDR3L 1600 MHz.” For the majority of people, the only part of that you should care about is that first number. Four (4) Gigabytes (GB) is enough for the vast majority of tasks done on a PC.
While 4 is enough for a large percentage of stuff people do on a computer, at Monument Computers we try to only sell computers with 8GB or more. This ensures a top quality experience for the nearly all computer programs and uses except high end video games. For gaming systems, at least 16GB is recommended.
As far as processors go, every year there are several dozen options for both desktops and laptops to choose from. All processors you’ll find in modern computers come from either Intel or Amd, the only two companies that still make consumer microprocessors. While most of the RAM in computers these days is generally the same, choosing the correct processor is a much harder task.
Modern microprocessors will be advertised as dual core, quad core, or up to octo core and with frequencies ranging from 1 Ghz all the way up to 5 Ghz. Unfortunately, you cannot just go off these numbers as an octo-core, 4 Ghz processor can be slower than a quad core, 3 Ghz processor. While shopping for a computer, some safe bets are most anything that use an Intel i3, i5, or i7 processor, though they tend to have an extra premium on their price. While you can count on these processors to fit your needs, there are a lot of other processors out there that would be able to suit you and save a few dollars too. If you are looking for a laptop or desktop and thinking about trying to save a little bit of money, stop by Monument Computers and we’ll be happy to advise your computer purchase.
Issue 753
4/4/16
ALL ABOUT DISPLAYS
This week we’ll go over RAM and the CPU, giving a brief description of what their names mean, what they do, and how they do it.
Let’s start with the RAM. RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Hard drives (and even solid state drives) are slow, way too slow to keep up with the speed of a microprocessor. RAM acts as an intermediary between the hard drive and the CPU by offering really fast read speeds for the processor to access without needing to try and see everything from the relatively slow hard drive. RAM can only store information when power is applied, so when you shutdown the computer, it loses all data (and this is why it's only used for temporary storage). Whenever shopping for a PC you’ll see this listed as a number usually around 4 or 8 but sometimes as low as 1 or as high as 128. It will usually say something like “8 GB DDR3L 1600 MHz.” For the majority of people, the only part of that you should care about is that first number. Four (4) Gigabytes (GB) is enough for the vast majority of tasks done on a PC.
While 4 is enough for a large percentage of stuff people do on a computer, at Monument Computers we try to only sell computers with 8GB or more. This ensures a top quality experience for the nearly all computer programs and uses except high end video games. For gaming systems, at least 16GB is recommended.
As far as processors go, every year there are several dozen options for both desktops and laptops to choose from. All processors you’ll find in modern computers come from either Intel or Amd, the only two companies that still make consumer microprocessors. While most of the RAM in computers these days is generally the same, choosing the correct processor is a much harder task.
Modern microprocessors will be advertised as dual core, quad core, or up to octo core and with frequencies ranging from 1 Ghz all the way up to 5 Ghz. Unfortunately, you cannot just go off these numbers as an octo-core, 4 Ghz processor can be slower than a quad core, 3 Ghz processor. While shopping for a computer, some safe bets are most anything that use an Intel i3, i5, or i7 processor, though they tend to have an extra premium on their price. While you can count on these processors to fit your needs, there are a lot of other processors out there that would be able to suit you and save a few dollars too. If you are looking for a laptop or desktop and thinking about trying to save a little bit of money, stop by Monument Computers and we’ll be happy to advise your computer purchase.
4/4/16
ALL ABOUT DISPLAYS
This week we’ll go over RAM and the CPU, giving a brief description of what their names mean, what they do, and how they do it.
Let’s start with the RAM. RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Hard drives (and even solid state drives) are slow, way too slow to keep up with the speed of a microprocessor. RAM acts as an intermediary between the hard drive and the CPU by offering really fast read speeds for the processor to access without needing to try and see everything from the relatively slow hard drive. RAM can only store information when power is applied, so when you shutdown the computer, it loses all data (and this is why it's only used for temporary storage). Whenever shopping for a PC you’ll see this listed as a number usually around 4 or 8 but sometimes as low as 1 or as high as 128. It will usually say something like “8 GB DDR3L 1600 MHz.” For the majority of people, the only part of that you should care about is that first number. Four (4) Gigabytes (GB) is enough for the vast majority of tasks done on a PC.
While 4 is enough for a large percentage of stuff people do on a computer, at Monument Computers we try to only sell computers with 8GB or more. This ensures a top quality experience for the nearly all computer programs and uses except high end video games. For gaming systems, at least 16GB is recommended.
As far as processors go, every year there are several dozen options for both desktops and laptops to choose from. All processors you’ll find in modern computers come from either Intel or Amd, the only two companies that still make consumer microprocessors. While most of the RAM in computers these days is generally the same, choosing the correct processor is a much harder task.
Modern microprocessors will be advertised as dual core, quad core, or up to octo core and with frequencies ranging from 1 Ghz all the way up to 5 Ghz. Unfortunately, you cannot just go off these numbers as an octo-core, 4 Ghz processor can be slower than a quad core, 3 Ghz processor. While shopping for a computer, some safe bets are most anything that use an Intel i3, i5, or i7 processor, though they tend to have an extra premium on their price. While you can count on these processors to fit your needs, there are a lot of other processors out there that would be able to suit you and save a few dollars too. If you are looking for a laptop or desktop and thinking about trying to save a little bit of money, stop by Monument Computers and we’ll be happy to advise your computer purchase.
Issue 755
4/18/16
3D PRINTING
You may have heard of 3d printing, but have you ever seen an item that was made on a 3d printer? Or have you seen an actual printer? At Monument Computers we built a 3d printer and have spent the past several months fine tuning it, testing it, and calibrating it so we could help bring 3d printing to Monument. The time has come and we are now ready to offer 3d printed products and services to the Tri Lakes Area.
What exactly is 3d printing? If you haven’t seen it online or in person yet, it’s exactly as it sounds. Instead of printing a 2 dimension picture onto a piece of paper, 3d printers allow a user to literally print objects, typically out of plastic, that are 3 dimensional and sometimes fully practical. These printers can print a wide variety of items from small figurines all the way up to entire houses made out of concrete. At the computer shop, we have printed toys for kids, computer components for inside desktops, 3d printer components to make our 3d printer even better, and some useful things like pen holders, USB holders, chip clips, and even an orange peeler.
While there are technically somewhere around a half dozen different types of 3d printing, the most common type is called Extrusion Deposition. It’s the cheapest style and the most common. This works by having a long strand of plastic or other material that is slowly fed into a hot tip and deposited onto a surface, layer by layer. While these printers typically have lines in the products they make, their speed, diversity of materials, and ease of access makes them popular. These are the types of printers at Monument Computers. With these printers, products can be made that are flexible, any color, water soluble or completely insoluble to most chemicals, wood infused, metal infused, conductive, or even parts out of nylon and carbon fiber that are stronger than aluminum. These systems can also print with multiple materials at once to either add multiple colors to materials or properties, like a Storm Trooper with all white body and black accents.
Because the printer makes the product one layer at a time, the layers are usually visible. Finishing can be applied to these materials to remove those lines and make them shiny or matte, or even add colors. The wood style materials can be sanded and stained, just like real wood. The typical plastic materials can be smoothed out by placing them in a vapor chamber (upside down metal paint can with acetone inside) and all the lines quickly dissipate.
To get something made on a 3d printer, it must already be a 3d model. If the 3d model already exists, the item can be made within a day. If it’s an idea, picture, or a physical object, it will have to be created within a 3d modeling program so the printer knows what to do. There are free programs available online, and many paid services where people will create the 3d model for you. If you’re interested in getting into 3d printing, or just getting something small made for you, stop by Monument Computers and we would be happy to provide more information.
4/18/16
3D PRINTING
You may have heard of 3d printing, but have you ever seen an item that was made on a 3d printer? Or have you seen an actual printer? At Monument Computers we built a 3d printer and have spent the past several months fine tuning it, testing it, and calibrating it so we could help bring 3d printing to Monument. The time has come and we are now ready to offer 3d printed products and services to the Tri Lakes Area.
What exactly is 3d printing? If you haven’t seen it online or in person yet, it’s exactly as it sounds. Instead of printing a 2 dimension picture onto a piece of paper, 3d printers allow a user to literally print objects, typically out of plastic, that are 3 dimensional and sometimes fully practical. These printers can print a wide variety of items from small figurines all the way up to entire houses made out of concrete. At the computer shop, we have printed toys for kids, computer components for inside desktops, 3d printer components to make our 3d printer even better, and some useful things like pen holders, USB holders, chip clips, and even an orange peeler.
While there are technically somewhere around a half dozen different types of 3d printing, the most common type is called Extrusion Deposition. It’s the cheapest style and the most common. This works by having a long strand of plastic or other material that is slowly fed into a hot tip and deposited onto a surface, layer by layer. While these printers typically have lines in the products they make, their speed, diversity of materials, and ease of access makes them popular. These are the types of printers at Monument Computers. With these printers, products can be made that are flexible, any color, water soluble or completely insoluble to most chemicals, wood infused, metal infused, conductive, or even parts out of nylon and carbon fiber that are stronger than aluminum. These systems can also print with multiple materials at once to either add multiple colors to materials or properties, like a Storm Trooper with all white body and black accents.
Because the printer makes the product one layer at a time, the layers are usually visible. Finishing can be applied to these materials to remove those lines and make them shiny or matte, or even add colors. The wood style materials can be sanded and stained, just like real wood. The typical plastic materials can be smoothed out by placing them in a vapor chamber (upside down metal paint can with acetone inside) and all the lines quickly dissipate.
To get something made on a 3d printer, it must already be a 3d model. If the 3d model already exists, the item can be made within a day. If it’s an idea, picture, or a physical object, it will have to be created within a 3d modeling program so the printer knows what to do. There are free programs available online, and many paid services where people will create the 3d model for you. If you’re interested in getting into 3d printing, or just getting something small made for you, stop by Monument Computers and we would be happy to provide more information.