Media Conversion

I just finished a major media conversion project. I copied about 40 cassette tapes to CD. These were priceless one-of-a-kind recordings and the customer was very happy to have them preserved. Also, they can now be shared with friends and family very easily.

If you need help converting any media please contact me. Prices are very reasonable and quality is guaranteed. Media formats include:

Cassette to CD

Hi8 or Super8 to DVD

VHS or VHS-C to DVD

I can also duplicate CDs or DVDs for you.

Let me know if I can help.

Dudley Harris

256.366.4201

dudley.m.harris@gmail.com

Free (Almost) Software

Whether you have a Mac or PC you need software apps to be productive. The perennial favorite of most is Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.). Unfortunately, this comes with a pretty nice price tag, depending on the level you purchase (Home, Student, Professional, etc.).

There are equivalent packages available for both Mac and PC that are basically free: OpenOffice for PC and NeoOffice for Mac. The document types are interchangeable so it makes sharing things very easy. The last time I upgraded NeoOffice I had to make a one-time "contribution" but it's worth it. Check them out to see if they will work for you.

If you need any help getting these downloaded and installed on your computer give me a call. I'd be glad to help.

Kurios Consulting
Dudley Harris
256.366.4201
dudley.m.harris@gmail.com

Windows On a Mac

There are still a few applications that will not run on a Mac. If you are a Mac owner but need to run, for instance, Quick Books, you are not without hope. There are a couple of ways to run Windows on a Mac. The first is through BootCamp, which comes with the Apple OS. Another way, and my preference, is using VMWare.

With BootCamp you can run your computer as a Mac or Windows machine, but not both at the same time. With VMWare you can run Windows and still use your Mac without having to reboot each time you swap from one to the other.

I helped a client set this up on an iMac tonight. It is very quick and easy to do. If you have Windows applications that you need to run, but like Mac computers, give me a call and I'll get you set up.

Happy computing!

Dudley Harris
Kurios Consulting
256.366.4201
dudley.m.harris@gmail.com

Security Issue with QuickTime for Windows

I received this from a friend today. Thought some of you might want to know about it.

Personally, I believe they are painting a worst-case-scenario, but nonetheless, the threat is real. You can read more HERE if you like.

The bottom line is this: Apple no longer supports QuickTime for Windows. Because of this, security vulnerabilities could develop over time that would allow uninvited access to your PC computers. Macs are not an issue because QuickTime, an Apple product, is still being supported on their own computers.

The resolution is simple. Uninstall QuickTime from your PC. There are many other PC alternatives to QuickTime. If you need any help with this feel free to contact me.

Until next time ... safe computing!

Dudley Harris
256.366.4201
dudley.m.harris@gmail.com

How Much Memory Is Enough?

How Much Memory Is Enough?

Since the days of Windows XP and Mac Mountain Lion, operating systems have expanded at a nearly exponential pace. This is good in the sense of being more robust and feature-rich, but it has taken it's toll on many machines, forcing folks into upgrading before the usefulness of the machine had been maximized. That may be part of the plan, but I'll refrain from conspiracy theories at the moment.

Another factor in the need for more internal memory, or RAM, is moving from 32-bit to 64-bit processors. This was necessary to handle the ever-increasing storage capacity. It is common now to see 1 TB (terabyte - that's 1,000,000,000,000 bytes of data) disks as part of the standard configuration. We used to think 1 GB (gigabyte - that's 1,000,000,000 bytes of data) was huge.

At any rate, bigger has become better and the need for more internal memory is greater than ever. Unfortunately, to keep the "base system price" low, the computer manufacturers continue to load the "minimum requirement" of RAM on the systems they sell. This has settled in at about 4 GB. Unfortunately, this is really not even enough for the casual user. Because of the added stress of the larger operating systems and larger processors, I recommend a minimum of 8 GB.

My rule of thumb when asked the question, "How much is enough?", my reply is the same. "Buy as much as you can afford."

The one redeeming factor in this issue is RAM is relatively cheap. A 4 GB stick of RAM is around $20 - 30 for most machines. If you are not sure how much memory your computer has, there are several ways to find out. Because the method varies so greatly I won't try to tell you here. You can Google the method for your particular device, or you can go to www.crucial.com and use their tool to scan your system. It will tell you how much you have, and how much your machine can hold. If it is user-replaceable, it will even give you pricing on purchasing additional memory.

If you have any questions about this process, or if you would like assistance upgrading your computer, let me know. I'll be glad to help.

Dudley Harris
256.366.4201
dudley.m.harris@gmail.com

Tip of the Day: Pre-loaded Software

Tip of the Day: Pre-loaded Software

When you purchase a PC from any of the major vendors, Dell, Toshiba, HP, etc., it comes with pre-loaded software. Much pre-loaded software!

Because today’s PCs come with such large hard drives this is usually not a problem. However, many of these programs are also set to load at system start-up and can have a major impact on the processing speed of your system.

Vendors have greatly increased the amount of software that is pre-loaded because they are trying to “help” you. Much of it can be helpful … if you know how to use it! Most, if not all, of it is superfluous for 99.9% of PC users. You can uninstall this software through the Control Panel\Uninstall Programs feature.

Be careful. You can also uninstall some really important stuff there as well. If you computer is not running as fast as you expect it to, let me help. It doesn’t take long to do this and is not expensive, but can get you additional life out of the machine, which will delay having to replace it.

When you purchase a new printer this can also occur. Printer companies add so much unnecessary software when all you need are the drivers. This can occupy valuable disk space, but can also cause slower response times. Most of this can also be uninstalled, or never installed in the first place. Again, I can help.

Reach out if either of these situations sound familiar.

Dudley Harris

256.366.4201

dudley.m.harris@gmail.com

No Job Too Big or Too Small

I have been helping folks with computers for quite a while. If you have need of anything computer related, I'm your man. I can't do everything, but I can certainly do a lot. And, I know folks that can do the really hard stuff. However, most of it is not really hard, and I can save you a lot of money in the process.

This past week I helped upgrade memory on 3 laptops which greatly improved their performance. I also did some optimization on them to keep them safe and running at peak efficiency. I can do the same for your machine.

Also, I am very capable of writing, or proofing, technical documents for your business. I can help with process evaluation and optimization within your operation. I would welcome the opportunity to help you.

I can also train on the Microsoft Office Suite of products: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. I can also show you some free software that will do all of this and save you lots of money!

If I can assist in any of these areas please contact me.

Regards!

Dudley Harris
dudley.m.harris@gmail.com
256.366.4201