Categories
My Site updates

Why choose us instead of yellow page companies?

Yellow page companies (such Hibu or Dex) offer web sites and web listings, but we can do better.
What they do: offer an expensive package deal which gives you a basic web site which isn’t much more than what a business card or brochure would show. They also waste a lot of paper and fuel delivering the package deal.
What we do?

  • We offer comprehensive web design, web listing, and hosting services.
  • The domain is registered in your name, not theirs.
  • You choose the level you want, you can do all or part of the web site yourself, or we can do the web design for you.
  • Your web site, is customizable, and can be updated any time by you, or us.
  • It isn’t just a brochure(unless you want it to be). You can have your own custom videos, blog/news posts, event listings, sales ads, links, and shopping cart.
  • Most of our paid hosting packages allow you to have unlimited pages.
  • Customers make an informed decision before they call you, eliminating some nuisance calls.
  • You’re not bound to the business categories found in the Yellow pages. You’re not stuck with your phone number. You aren’t stuck with a typo. Web sites can be changed much quicker.
  • We offer free business listings and paid advertising on:
  • Brainerd Update
  • Onamia Area Website
  • Milaca Area Website
  • TwinCitiesMN.com
  • Although they may find you through your web site, or our listings. We don’t sell your information to other advertisers. Phone book companies do.

 

Categories
My Site updates

Available Online

We will continue to be available online.  We will also go to local businesses on a limited basis in the city limits of Brainerd/Baxter.
Many services are available online.
If you have any questions please email us.

Categories
My Site updates

Happy New Year!

Hope everyone has a healthy, prosperous, and happy new year.
We are continuing to work on our own web sites and emphasize on web development, computer tutoring, remote help with computer software issues problems, and training. We will also continue with our business services and preventative and cloud services.
Remember many computer problems are either software or network problems. Many computer hardware problems can be avoided by preventative maintenance such as avoiding and cleaning dust, unplugging router if having network issues, and doing automatic backups. Also, many computers have at least a 1 year warranty.
We can help with a lot of software and training remotely.  We will also be able to continue help  online. We do remote help,  web design and online. We will also go out to local businesses in the city limits of Brainerd/Baxter on a limited basis.
In the past year we have made some major updates to our web sites
New online invoice system for Nate’s Computer Services
New shopping cart for Nate’s Computer Services
Added Free business listings, Free event calendars, blogs, discussion boards, and Free classified ads to:
Brainerd Update
Onamia Area Website
Milaca Area Website
TwinCitiesMN.com
Did I mention those business listings, event listings, discussion were free?
Why free?
Many competitors (such as Google places, and Craigslist) offer free listings so to keep our site competitive ours will too.
We continue offer paid advertising with our featured business listings.
 
Striving to make your technology experience better.

Categories
computer learning My Site updates

Bookkeeping software I chose

I chose to use Godaddy Bookkeeping as my new bookkeeping software.
Quickbooks (my old program) keeps taking features away so I decided  to look for a new program. Also, I wanted the software to be cloud based and record transactions automatically.
Godaddy bookkeeping does that.  First, before testing providers I waited for MidMinnesota Federal Credit Union to upgrade online banking software first. (the new online banking has added basic bookkeeping of its own such as putting transactions in categories)
I just import the the qfx file that I download from the online banking. Some Banks  and other online accounts can show up automatically with go Daddy bookkeeping.
The software also allows adding images such as receipts or invoices to a transaction and Will put items into their proper accounts matched with their tax category.
The software does not file taxes or do payroll.
It can send out invoices and give customers an option to pay online.
I have been a customer with Godaddy for over 10 years and I am an affiliate and reseller
See Godaddy (my affiliate link)

Categories
computer learning

Hour of code

Try an “Hour of Code” http://hourofcode.com/us

Categories
computer learning computer tips energy efficiency Going Green photo video

On this cyber Monday

I am celebrating 2 1/2 years of boycotting gasoline and having a car. Only got rides a few times other than carpooling or taking the bus. The main reason is for my health. The second reason is to save money on things like car insurance, repairs, and drive time. Among many other reasons.
ebook  now available on iBooks, Amazon (Kindle) and Nook
Preview of my ebook
some of my latest videos:


Energy Saving devices list from ASE.org
Why do tablets use less energy than older desktop and laptop computers?
They have no moving parts such as fans, or spinning discs (other than the user moving the entire device). Everything is closer together. They have fewer parts.
They use small energy efficient displays
They also create less heat.
If you continue to use a desktop or laptop computer you can plug the tablet or smart phone into a USB port to trickle charge after you have done the 1st full charge with your charger.
If you remember to unplug the charger, it uses dramatically less energy. The charger since it is converting AC power to DC power, if left plugged in takes more power than the tablet, or smart phone it powers.
 
Motion sensor power strip:
Motion sensor power allows device to turn off when you aren’t in the room.
It has some outlets that stay on all the time (you would probably plug your desktop tower and router/modem into these ports)
It has some that are on only when someone is in the room: you would plug your monitor, lamps, speakers,  TVs, and chargers (for phones, laptops, and tablets) into these ports.
oLED TVs/monitors
use less electricity and heat
read about other devices at
 
 

Categories
computer tips

That was easy

After I was told, after trying to find it for hours:
Some computers have a physical button to turn wifi on and off or keyboard button.
Some computers have a function button on the keyboard that turns that track pad on and off. There is also a setting in the Windows control panel that can enable or disable.
Common home network troubleshooting step. Unplug modem, router then wait. then plug in modem, then wait until lights are flashing, then plug in router.
If possible get the modem/router in one device.  with many DSL providers you only need the one router can also have WIFi wireless network . check with your Internet Service Provider.
Full Screen mode:
To exit full screen mode it is now different with some programs. Sometimes it is ESC key or F10 or F11 and with Macintosh you may have to go to the top menu bar. To close a window in Windows use F4. To Quit a program in Macintosh use CMD Q
 
Sometimes restarting the computer can solve problems.

Categories
computer tips energy efficiency Going Green

Some new computer hardware I have been using

solar keyboard
solar keyboard

1. Solar Keyboard from Logitech.

  • I have been using the Windows version of the solar Logitech keyboard. I kept using wired keyboards because I didn’t like changing batteries.  This solves that problem, and removes some cable clutter.
  • I now also have the mac version for my Macintosh.

 
2. Wireless touchpad from Logitech

  • It is rechargeable by USB cable, and otherwise wireless and uses the same wireless adapter as my keyboard.
  • Removes cable clutter.  A little bit less hard on my wrist and gets rid of the laser.
  • There is both a Mac version and a Windows version with multitouch (it has basic functions in Linux and basic functions if you used the Windows for mac or vice versa).

3. Solid State Drive

  • A solid state drive can increase the speed of computer
    SATA Solid State Drive
    SATA Solid State Drive

    dramatically.
  • I have installed SSDs on 3 my computers and a customer’s computer.
  • It also increases energy efficiency and reduces heat
  • They come from multiple manufacturers. Typically from companies that make memory and flash drives.
  • I had to clean up unneeded program files and duplicate files before installing.
  • I used disc duplication /imaging software that came with one of the drives.
  • Also, I was able to mount it to the desktop computers since it came with an adapter mount even though they were both made for laptops.
  • For my Macintosh computers I used Time Machine (Apple Macintosh’s automatic local backup program to external drive) to do the restore to the new drive.
  • A 480 GB drive is the same as a 512 GB drive. (the 512 GB drive uses a different definition of GB)

 
 

Categories
computer tips Going Green

What is out for 2014

Sometimes the biggest changes in technology aren’t necessarily the new things, but the old things that are no longer needed.

  1. Spinning hard disc drives. Any moveable part is a point of failure. Since Solid state drives and flash memory has come down in price and expanded capacity, and cloud storage is available, I no longer can recommend buying a new (or used) spinning magnetic hard drive.
  2. Fax machines.  Secure web along with other methods have replaced fax machines.
  3. Outside copper telephone and cable lines.  Any outside communication line should be fiber optic, to prevent spread of lightning strikes. Fiber optics allow for distance and for speed.
  4. Phone books, paper newspapers.  With the web, and most numbers now unlisted phone books have become mostly useless. Newspapers (the actual paper version) have become obsolete. The content is old by the time it is published, and due to lost revenue and cuts the content itself has become more unreliable.
  5. VHS, CDS, DVDs, blue laser DVDs, floppy drives, thumb (portable flash)  drives. All of these sneaker net devices are rarely needed because of networking and cloud services.
  6. Florescent lighting, incandescent lighting. Replaced by LED and natural lighting.
  7. Big Paper (and CD media) manuals. Since most people don’t take the time to read big multipage paper manuals they have been replaced by: Online and web based manuals, manuals and tutorials within the product itself (such as in a computer or phone, or on a cars display/navigation system).  Also instructions are sometimes put on the products packaging itself.

I made an ebook. It’s called Datacommuting.  on iBooks, Amazon (Kindle) and Nook
Related: last years list
Fiberoptics

Categories
tech culture

today in nanocomputing

Apple introduces new iPhone, with larger megapixel display, and new 64 bit nano processor.
Apple also announced new payment system.
Apple Watch announced. Automatically has accurate time.  Fitness device. Uses “digital crown.” Tactile feedback, heart rate monitor. Jewelry and sports options. Having an iPhone is currently required for the watch.
I won’t be getting the watch, because my phone replaced all the watches I would constantly loose years before what we call smart phones now. And I don’t want to restrict my blood flow by wearing a watch, and I don’t wear a watch due to safety while running or biking.
There are of course already android and other “smart watches”

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