Ho, Ho, Ho, There Macintosh User!
If you are getting this email you have sometime been a client of mine — thank you for your past custom!
Have a Very Happy Christmas and a Productive New Year!
I am away on holiday for the first 3 weeks in January.
1. My Annual Christmas Request — Look After Your Data: Backup, backup, backup. Although there are said to be only two types of people using computers — those who have lost data and those who will loose data — many of you are still not backing up. Hey, its Christmas, so buy a backup solution if you don’t do any other computer spending this season. If your hard drive dies your data usually dies with it, all those pictures that we don’t have in hard copy any more are important and irreplaceable. An external hard drive is only about $100-$200, you plug it in and if you have Leopard 10.5, Snow Leopard 10.6, Lion 10.7 or Mountain Lion 10.8, the current operating system, then it begins backing up immediately and does it automatically from then on as long as you leave the backup drive plugged in. Essential.
2. My Annual Christmas Request — Look After Your Computer: Mains power in this area is awful. It surges and fluctuates regularly and even disappears completely. This plays havoc on the electronics of your sensitive computer. An Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) is the best thing you can buy your computer. It keeps the power even and has a battery so that if the mains cuts out the computer stays working and warns you that it is time to shut down. Costing about $150 – $200 depending on the model, it will serve you for years as they don’t really wear out. You plug a power board into the output and hang all your peripherals off it. Highly recommended.
3. My Annual Christmas Request — Scan Your Data Regularly for Viruses and Other Nasties: No there are still no actual viruses on the Apple Mac platform. But there are some Trojans, Spyware and other nasties like Phishing emails that can cause security issues. Its always worth doing a monthly virus check using Clam XAV the free, Open Source Mac virus checker. I generally install this on al computers I work on so look in Applications to see if it’s there, open it and run the check. If its not there or you want more info on running a virus check go to this page which explains how to do it: http://www.mrmacintosh.com.au/how-to-/48-bits-and-pieces-of-useful-information/91-chercking-for-viruses.html
4. A Reminder of My Rates: I charge $88 per hour including GST. No call-out fee or travel charge in the Byron Shire. Half-hour minimum. Telephone support costs the same in 15 minute increments.
Email support is still free! Please include plenty of detail in your email inquiries. Serving the Byron Shire Apple Macintosh community for over 12 years. Until next time, Have a relaxing break and may the coming year be good to you and yours.
Tommi ;>)
Mr Macintosh Tom Hain PO Box 1040 Byron Bay NSW 2481 6685 5504 041 840 8869