Untitled

Acronis® True Image Home 2009 *****

This is one of the best backup programs available, and at $49.95 it is very hard to beat pricewise.

This backup/drive imaging software runs on Windows XP and Vista (it does NOT run on Windows 98 or 2000).

I have used previous versions of this software for several years and I absolutely love it. I can run scheduled or manual backups that make a complete image of my hard drive. From this backup image I can completely restore my drive's contents or pick and choose individual files or folders for recovery. I can also make specific backups of my email information or my documents directories. This new version also allows you to "Try and Decide" (try new software or browse the Web with the ability to quickly restore your system to it's previous settings). I have done many drive restorations without fail. Before working on a computer I run a backup (via a creatable boot disk) to one of my portable USB drives which gives me the wonderful feeling of knowing I can restore the system back to its original settings if I mess things up. What a relief. Great program worth double (or triple) the asking price. You can get it at Acronis.com

posted 11/18/08

OpenOffice for Windows 3.0 ****

Tired of paying high prices for Microsoft Office when you only wanted Word and Excel? Here is a NO COST OPTION. OpenOffice is an opensource product developed by a bunch of libertarians at OpenOffice.org. It looks and acts a lot like Microsoft Office and includes a word processor, a spreadsheet program, a presentation manager, and a drawing program. Best yet, it supports the new Office 2007 file formats (which Office 2003 does not), so moving files to Word or Excel users is easy. Did I mention it is FREE? You simply have to download it from OpenOffice.org or from cNet.com. Try it and I think you will like it.

posted 11/18/08

Skype 3.x *****

Here is a novel way to cut your bills. Throw away your telephone. That's right. Get rid of your POT (Plain Old Telephone) and try the fastest growing VOIP (Voice Over IP or Internet). If you have a good internet connection (DLS or better) and a headphone with a microphone (or just a microphone, although I highly recommend a headset), then you are ready for Skype. First of all you can talk (and videoconference if you both have web cameras) with any other Skype user for FREE. You can also call anywhere in the United States or Canada for 2 cents a minute. You can also purchase inexpensive subscriptions (SkypeIn) and your Skype line acts just like a telephone. To top that off you can even get more than one SkypeIn line (for a while I had a Tulare number so my family could call me just like a local call). But the bucks may not stop there. I have added a Skype phone (a Linksys CIT400 for around $100) that allows me to receive POT calls and Skype calls anywhere in my house (or on my porch) from one wireless handset. Great. If you have called me in the last year then you know what it sounds like. And I don't even have to have my computer running. The Skype phone works as long as I have an internet connection. With all of my do-dads and extras I pay about $100 a year for ALL of my phone calls, (local or long distance, incoming or out-going) and that includes an answering system. For more info goto Skype.com.

posted 11/22/08

Christmas PCs - Values for Under $500

Is Santa receiving email for a new home computer? With the economy in retreat, you may not be thinking about another home system at this time, but you may reconsider when you see some of the great deals being offered.

Dell is offering the Inspiron E2200 as its "under $500" offering. This is a fairly well rounded system with an Intel Pentium Dual-Core processor, 4GB of RAM, 320GB Sata hard drive, a decent Intel 3100 graphics board and a DVD+/-RW DL optical drive. This system will certainly be OK for mid-level media work, Internet browsing and email, and document production. And you won't have to go "on-line" to buy this one. You can find it at several of the "bog box" stores such as Best Buy and others.

Another selection is the HP Pavillion a6600f Desktop PC. Shipping with the same CPU as the Dell E2200, this one comes with 3GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, the NVidia GeForce 7100 graphics card, and a Lightscribe capable DVD burner. Like the Dell, it ships with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit edition. You can pick this one up at Best Buy, Circuit City and others.

Notes on "Economy Systems":

These systems offer great value for the bucks, but they have limitations.
Most systems I have seen in this price range have limited expansion capabilities.
These systems may disappoint "gamers". Video is low peformer.
None of these systems come with monitors.

Notes on Purchasing:

You want systems with a minimum of 3GB of RAM (4 is better).
You want a drive with 300GB or better.
Check the warranty. Do not get a system with a 90 day warranty.
See my article on Backups in my SPECIAL FEATURES section and consider these with your purchase
Don't get to caught up in the packaged software. Most of it is time limited. Consider some of the options on my SECURITY page to satisfy your user needs in software.