Backups: are you?
Backing up your computers' data has become easier and harder with recent
technology developments and revelations.
Good development: external firewire hard drives are getting more capacious
and less expensive. These drives make backing up tens or hundreds of gigabytes
of data faster, more convenient and often less expensive than tape drives.
Flash drives ("thumb drives") are another bright note in backup
technology. These tiny USB devices are as convenient as the old floppy
disks but with hundreds of times the capacity. Convenience is a key part
of a successful backup strategy: if it's easy to do, you'll do it. Use
these little guys to take important documents home or on the road. Having
a copy of your data off site is a key but oft-neglected element of a complete
backup strategy.
Bad developments: Studies show that optical media--CD's & DVD's--isn't
as long-lived as early projections suggested. You may only want to rely
on files archived to these discs for 2 to 5 years, not the 20 to 30 years
once thought. And this is for high quality discs stored properly. Bargain
basement no-name brands may only last months.
Another recent trend--anecdotal, but based on considerable experience--is
that hard drives seem to be failing earlier in their life cycles. Even
some of the new drives with long warranties are not immune. Another disappointing
development is the continued decline in the reliability and usability
of the premiere backup software for the Mac: Retrospect. There are other
options for backing up one computer at a time, but none we know of that
can back up a mixed (osX/os9/Windows) network in a wide variety of ways.
Are you backing up your company's or organization's data frequently? Are
your backups set up to weather a total computer failure, or theft, fire
or flood? How long will it take you to get back up and working after such
an incident? Feel free to call or email us with any questions you may
have about backing up your data.
Fonts: a Plague of Options
Are you plagued with hundreds of unneeded fonts, rendering your font menus
a mile long? Does Quark flash error messages every time you print or open
a document? Do you have too many copies of some fonts, or are you unable
to find fonts you know you've installed multiple times? Effective font
management in osX has become a critical issue for many. OS X supports
new font formats, and has many new locations to store them in. Should
you use Apple's free Font Book to manage them, or a commercial font management
program? Apple has a document to help sort things out (see links below).
Extensis, the maker of the Suitcase font manager, has also put together
an informative guide. We at Modern Mac can also help wrangle your fonts.
Extensis
Suitcase product support page
Apple support manuals
area (do search on "fonts")
Link
to .pdf outlining advanced typography issues in OS X
Security: Don't Let Your Guard Down
How safe is your data from prying eyes? Does your new high speed internet
connection and/or wireless network leave your data more vulnerable to
marauders? And what about viruses, spyware, malware, adware--is the Macintosh
still immune from these PC maladies?
The Macintosh, both os9 and osX, are still thankfully immune from the
viruses, spyware and adware that plague Windows PC's. Is it because Macs
only comprise 5% of the hundreds of millions of computers in the world
(the "Below the Radar" argument), or is it because the Macintosh
operating systems are inherently more secure, providing fewer easily-exploitable
flaws? Both theories are probably true.
Nonetheless, an improperly configured workstation, wireless network or
router can leave your otherwise secure Mac open to malicious intruders.
At the very least, make sure your wireless network requires a password
for entry, that only the necessary "sharing" services are enabled
on your Mac and server, and absolutely have a "secure" account
password.
Making
good password choices, OS X (article #106521)
Call Modern Mac Repair for more advice, or to set up a security audit
of your system.
Here's a great (legitimate) deal on some useful software: Microsoft Office 2004 for the Mac. This is the Student/Teacher version which has the same programs as the standard version (Word, Excel, Powerpoint & Entourage), but allows you to install it on three computers, not just one. If you follow the link below you get a special price of $129, which is a nice discount off the regular Student/Teacher price of $150, and an awesome discount off the $350 price of the Standard version. You are required to be a student or teacher, or have one in your household. No proof of this is required.
Modern Mac Repair news:
We are now accepting Visa and Mastercard!
Don't put off those needed repairs, upgrades, backup or security systems.
Modern-ize today, pay tomorrow.
In our next newsletter we'll discuss the implications of Apple's future
move to Intel processors. Should you wait to buy a new Mac until after
the transition? Stayed tuned for Modern answers to your Macintosh computer
questions.
As always, we encourage email and phone inquiries on any Mac-related topic.
The Crew at Modern Mac Repair
Modern Mac Repair Inc.
PO Box 563
Belmont, MA 02478
(617) 484-9185
(617) 507-6644 (fax)
Email: brian@modernmacrepair.com