Categories
computer learning computer tips

Do computers make mistakes?

Computers are sometimes used to eliminate human error. The biggest example is calculations. Whether you see it in a calculator user interface or not, calculation is a core function of a computer.  If the formulas are input correctly, the computer will get it right. Some other things do have the possibility of mistakes.
How can computers make mistakes?

  1. When someone inputs something incorrectly.  This can be done by either the programmer or end user. Example: someone posting a fake story on social media. Example 2: making a typo or inputing a number wrong or in the wrong order.
  2. When a computer’s hardware is failing or using hardware beyond it’s compacity. This can happen over time, or very quickly if the hardware is not taken care of.  Example: dust getting built up. Example 2: battery failing.
  3. When programs or hardware are incompatible with other programs or hardware.
  4. Similar to compatibility and bad programming/input: malware can cause errors and mistakes.
  5. Artificial intelligence: Computers have been programmed very well to play a game of chess, but other artificial intelligence are not quite as well developed such as voice recognition, facial recognition, and optical character recognition even though significant improvements are being made.  Some of the trouble with voice and optical character recognition is there are many variables (much more than a game of chess) that can make it difficult. For example with optical character recognition: how high a quality scan is taken by the scanner or camera and how high quality the paper is(not wrinkled) how well the actual type is printed.
Categories
computer tips

Severe Weather awareness week

Have a plan for disaster to keep yourself and the people around you safe.
Read more at https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/hsem/weather-awareness-preparedness/Pages/severe-weather-awareness-week-program.aspx
What about your computers and data?

  • Always have your computer backed up offsite or online in case of natural disaster of fire. We offer online storage.
  • Don’t smoke by computer(and to be even safer not in the house, especially not by a bed and not on deck/balcony). Keep it out of dust. Keep pets and small children away from computer
  • Use proper electrical equipment such as a surge protector and grounded. Don’t use any frayed chords nor extension chords.
  • Critical servers and network equipment should use battery backup also called uninterruptible power supply.
  • When possible use fiberoptics to minimize impact of lightning strike.
  • Don’t use computers or phones outside in a storm or extreme weather.
  • You may want to consider turning off items during a strong storm and not use appliances nor chorded telephone.
  • Have your equipment in a sturdy structure (not out in a garage)
Categories
computer learning

How often are you using computers without knowing it

parked cars

Computers come in many different shapes, sizes, and uses
If you drive, the car you use most likely has a computer to help with fuel efficiency. The stoplight is controlled by a computer. Your driver’s license is in a database on a server. State Id and voter registration is in databases as well. And this isn’t even mentioning smart cars or the smart phone that you have.
Most people recognize that smart phones, smart TVs, and tablets are a form of a computer. Even if your cell phone isn’t featured or a “smart phone” a computer is still used to determine which tower your phone should use, route, and track your phone call. Computerized switches, routers, and tracking of course are used with land line phones as well.
Go shopping? chances are every purchase you make is stored on a computer. Even if you pay cash. It for sure is if you pay by credit card, or use a rewards card. It is stored for a variety of reasons from accounting, to inventory and marketing. Of course modern point of sale systems are a form of networked computer.
Use electricity? Instant meter reading and electrical efficiency depends on computers.
Watch a movie? Most likely it was edited with a microcomputer. Before computers were used to edit movies it would take a room full of editors to edit a featured motion picture. With a computer it can be done with as little as one editor.
Listen to the radio? watch TV? even if you hear someone live on the air, the programming is computerized. At times a single person may control several radio stations. Some small TV and radio stations are fully programmed for the entire night with only people on call.
Have a bank account? I seen on TV many years ago the last bank in the United States to not use computers. Chances are you don’t bank there.
Read the newspaper the old fashioned paper kind? It was edited on a computer.
Use the mail? Yes some mail is still sorted by hand, but it is assisted by computers with optical character recognition and bar codes.
This list could keep going, so I will stop here.

Categories
computer tips

What I recommend for antivirus

I don’ t recommend a specific brand of anti-virus since no software is fool-proof.
For Windows computer I recommend having security /antivirus software but don’t recommend a specific brand.
For Macintosh and chrome, and currently smart phones I have no recommendation, since sometimes it can actually slow down performance more than a security concern is worth. For those, I say if you want it on there, and it works well, then that’s ok.
Another thing is to remember avoid browser plug ins, toolbars and extensions unless you know what they are for. Avoid downloading programs that you don’t know if you can trust and be careful installing so you don’t add more than you want.
Be very careful about browsing. Avoid free video and music download sites unless you know they are legitimate. Avoid bit torrent and peer sharing apps. Avoid pornographic sites.  Also legitimate sites that are not well maintained can be a problem as well in the comment and discussion boards.
Another thing to remember is most computer problems aren’t viruses. So you may want to use  builtin programs like disk cleanup, and also go to control panel to  uninstall unwanted programs.
Other problems aren’t software and are actually hardware. Your computer may need to physically be cleaned out of dust or better maintained physically. It may need hardware upgrade such as more memory or a solid state drive, or if it is real old a replacement which may be another computer or a tablet.

Categories
beware of scams

The latest in scam emails that I've received

Hopefully most of these go straight to your junk or bulk email so you don’t have to look at these.
Some phishing scams I’ve seen:
US Solar department. There isn’t a US Solar department. There is US department of energy. There are sometimes government incentives federal state, and local. (In Minnesota the commerce department sometimes handles these)  But the emails that say US Solar department is a scam and there are also similar scams.
We need to update your security information right away. Saying it’s From an email provider, bank, government agency, or other place. It is highly unlikely that this from your actual email provider, bank, or government agency. It is someone trying to get your information.  All of these places have a different method of contacting you.
A friend or relative ends up in foreign country and needs money right away. If they didn’t tell you they were going there, this is a scam. Their  account may have been stolen, or the email may have been spoofed.
Too good to be true scams: “You’ve won a $1000 gift card, that you never entered a contest to be in”.” You won a foreign lottery. “” I’m a person from another country need you to take care of my millions of dollars.” “unsecured business loans” All of these are scams and if you get involved could loose a lot of money or even end up in a prison if you fall for them (especially if you try to go to another country to get the money back).  Also in the lines of too good to be true A brand new product, new model (not a clearance, refurbished, or used item or loss leader), for significantly less that other places
 
Prescription drug and medical devices advertisements in emails not only may it be a scam that will cost you money or get you in legal trouble, the product you get may be dangerous.  If it’s the right product, it still could be the wrong dose or size. Or simply not the one for you. Some of the medications or devices may make your problem worse or cause injury or death. Always check with your doctor for anything like this even if you are getting it from your local pharmacy or medical supply store.
It is a good idea just to delete these emails or mark them as junk/spam. And remember that these scams are not limited to emails, they can also happen with phone calls, social media, mail, and paid tv and radio programming so be careful.
 

Categories
Uncategorized

Using Web Ex

I use Cisco Web Ex meetings for one of my online meeting tools.
 
I recommend that people connect to audio using call using computer. (not calling the number on the screen)
How To Videos: http://www.webex.com/how-to/index.html

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)

Content ©1999 - Nathan Steffenson, Nate's Computer Services - All rights reserved. - Be Green! save money and energy. Please do not print this web page.