Wishing you and yours a very happy and healthy Happy New Year.  Here’s wishing that your desktops, laptops, servers, and network equipment last long and prosper.  May your computer hardware crashes only happen within the hardware warranty.  May your blue screens and slow processing be at an absolute minimum.  And may your computers help foster your business needs and personal entertainment. 

We appreciate your continued business and attention, and will look to further support your computer needs with our full dedication and support in 2008.  A special thanks to those who read and support our blog, and for making it one of the top computer blogs in 2007.

New Year’s is around the corner.  How will you get ready for the holiday?  There are several computer sites you should check out that can easily prepare you for the day.  Here are some helpful links courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens:

• Drinks & Food Recipes - Perfect for hosting New Year’s
• Crafts - Create great party favors
• Decorating - Learn how to dress up your place from the holiday
• Toasts - Check out these toasts for a little inspiration
• Resolution - These tips might help you create your own resolution for 2008

It might seem like a daunting task to mix your Mac in a Windows server environment.  But, it’s not too difficult.  There are a few steps to take to connect to a Windows server with a mac running Mac OS 10.  This will allow you to access files on a Windows server.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Go to the Finder->Go and choose Connect to Server
2. Type in smb://server_name/share_name
3. Enter the workgroup/domain where the server is
4. Enter your username and password for the server
5. Your server share will appear in the Computer area in the Finder Window.  You may select is as a preference so it appears on your desktop.

Apple is really starting to reap the benefits of its products lines now.  But, it hasn’t always been so successful.  The success is now because mainly because of Apple’s heavy TV advertising.  But, it is also because of the products themselves.  Apple’s all-in-one Mac is perfect for today’s convenient, sleek, compartmentalized culture.  Today, consumers are looking for one piece of equipment that does it all.  The all-in-one Mac allows computer users to work on their computers with a beautiful monitor and also feel as if they are in front of an entertainment system with the fashion-forward, stark imagery.  We also feel that the macs would not be where they are now if the iPods haven’t differentiated them away from PCs. 

Windows, especially Dell computers, have been the front runner for a while since Macs just simply did not differentiate.  Having the Mac operating system was not good enough to sway consumers in making the switch.  The iPod; however, is the reason many have made the switch.  Knowing that the iPod works seamlessly with Macs, and that Apple is the same solid manufacturer of both products is one of the strongest reasons why consumers have been compelled to buy Macs.  The more products that Apple puts out, such as new iPods and the new iPhone, the stronger consumers will feel to buy Macs.  These new Apple products are what further differentiates Apple and its computers, and what allows consumers to see why the Apple brand is so special.

Did you know Windows has its own built-in alarm clock and scheduling reminder?  Not many people know this hidden secret.  You can find it by going to:

Start->All Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Scheduled Tasks

Click “Add Scheduled Task” and click on browse.  Then, select a song from your itunes or other folder.  Then, select when you’d like the song to play.  This can act as your musical alarm clock.

New York Computer Help wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas.  Here’s hoping that all of you technology treats you well and that your new computer works fast and well.  It’s not fun when your Christmas computer gift acts up so we recommend to take it right away to the store you bought it from before your in-store warranty lapses.  If you need help setting up your new tech gadgets, call the tech experts.

A quick tech tip for Christmas is to make sure you add new surge protectors to handle all of your new technology’s power consumption.  Or you might consider replacing old power strips.  This will help not only protect against surges put also provide enough power for your new and old equipment.

You’re looking to buy a laptop or desktop for Christmas.  Their a few easy tips to follow in order to make sure you are getting the best overall deal.  Here’s what you need to do:

1. Go to the stores.  If you are still shopping at this late stage in the game, the stores, not online, will have the best deals since they’re avidly trying to get rid of the inventory so they can showcase their 2008 lines.
2. Shop around.  On a daily basis around holiday time, stores are slashing their prices to compete with local stores.  Go to the local computer stores, jot down their rates, and show the lowest rate to the competitors since they’ll most likely price-match.
3. Get an in-store warranty.  Most computers come with a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty.  However, ensure the store gives you at least a week warranty so that you can return the computer, if defective, to the store.  It is a nightmare to have to deal with the manufacturers.  Let the stores take responsibility for this.
4. Scale for the future.  Computers typically become obsolete after 3-4 years.  Make sure you buy enough RAM (2GB recommended) to handle Windows Vista, Leopard, and subsequent operating systems.

These 4 tips will allow you to shop smart for Christmas.

When we think of tech gadgets, we usually think of computers, equipment, or guy things.  But, what can we get for the wife or mother while keeping the gift still aesthetically appealing?  How about turning a handbag into a tech experience.  Bubble Gear’s multimedia handbag, made in Rome, has a 7-inch LCD screen that broadcasts digital photos and DVDs.  It can even play MP3’s.  You can listen to the music discreetly with headphones and a remote control. 

You can power it up wherever you are since it includes a rechargeable battery, car and home chargers.  This pink tech-fused bag is a revolutionary concept that may take off with other competitors next year.  Be one of the first to buy this unique gift!

Yes, the airport metal detector can deplete your laptop battery.  If it once was at 2 hours or 4 hours time, it could soon be at 0 minutes.  How can this happen?  If the metal detector has a strong enough electromagnetic ray, and if this signal is directly in contact with your laptop, the battery can be affected.  Your battery is more prone to being affected if your laptop is on or in standby mode. 

How do you protect your laptop from battery damage at the airport?

1. Turn your laptop off
2. Request that airport security scan your laptop through an x-ray machine or hand-inspect it.
3. Remove any peripherals (i.e. mouse, camera) from laptop’s USB ports

Of course, some airport security might not like to be told how to inspect equipment.  So, if contested, you might want to request that you just remove the laptop battery while they scan the laptop.  We hope you do not become a “random search” candidate as of the result of this tip, as we don’t take responsibility for any negative consequences.

Your hard drive is the most important part of your computer?  Why?  It holds all of your documents, pictures, music, and e-mails.  If you hard drive fails, the only way to recover files is by data recovery measures. 

You may follow the following steps to see if your hard drive is failing:

1. Listen: Listen for any grinding, clicking, or whirling noises.  Whirling or grinding noises sometimes come from fans so make sure you can locate where your hard drive is located and listen for any noises and intermittent “stop and go” power sounds.  75% of failing hard drives are usually initially diagnosed by simply listening.
2. Diagnose: Look for hard drive errors  Go to Start->Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Event Viewer  Then, click on “System” on the left side and then scroll the list on the right for red error messages listing IDE, ATAPI, or hard drive related errors.  These errors usually mean that the hard drive is starting to fail and you should back up your files ASAP.
3. Observe:  If you don’t hear weird sounds or see any errors, observe the overall environment.  Has general software or Internet surfing gotten slower?  Have files taken longer than normal to open?  This could also be a sign of a failing hard drive.

These 3 steps usually help diagnose many hard drive failures.  We recommend backing up your files and replace your hard drive right away if you have a failing hard drive.  If you are not comfortable with this computer support, you may call a certified technical support company for further assistance.  Also, if it’s too late, and your hard drive has failed, there is usually still a chance to recover your important files by enlisting a good data recovery company.