lesson from katrina - does your business have an adequate desaster recovery plan ?

The Hurricane Katrina Disaster has lessons for all business owners. Now is a Good time to look over your Disaster recovery plan and see if it would survive a Hurricane Katrina Type Disaster. You may be surprised how easy and cheap it is to have a Disaster Recovery Plan that will protect your business from all types of Disasters from simple theft to a Hurricane Katrina Like Disaster.

As a small business paying for 3 backup data centers might be more like taking a Ferrari to a bicycle race. For many small businesses the key is to have critical data ready and available as soon after a disaster strikes as possible. If you run your business off a computer or even a server then an offsite back-up of key customer and vendor data is a minimal requirement for a good Disaster Recovery Plan.

Most of your Major Fortune 1000 Companies have extensive off site back up plans. A company based in St Louis for example may contract with 2 or 3 companies around the country to provide essential computer services in case a Disaster occurs in St. Louis that makes it impossible for their Data Centers to continue to function in St Louis.

Major Companies in St Louis may have backups in 2 or 3 remote sites like Chicago, New Jersey and Arizona. These Sites are located in different directions and distances from St Louis. Once a year this company may send key Data Center employees to these location to test the back up plan.

As a small business paying for 3 backup data centers and running annual test might be more like taking a Ferrari to a bicycle race. For many small businesses the key is to have critical data ready and available as soon after a disaster strikes as possible. If you run your business off a computer or even a server then an offsite back-up of key customer and vendor data is a minimal requirement for a good Disaster Recovery Plan.

At one time My own personal Disaster Recovery Plan consisted of placing a tape back-up weekly in a safe deposit box in a bank a few miles from my home based business location. If the Area of my home had suffered a Hurricane Katrina like Disaster even if the bank and the contents of that safe deposit box survived the Disaster that backup may not be available to me for weeks or months. Clearly a delay of weeks or months could mean the end of my business.

Keeping Data in an Off Site Local location is still a good idea so you can have fast access to your data and recover from small disasters like fire or theft that only effect your location. Clearly in light of what we learned from Katrina you may want to mail a DVD backup to a trusted friend or relative in another part of the country. A 2nd solution you may want to consider is a service that backs up your computer daily via the Internet. Clearly you would want to make sure the provider you choose for this service is not lo acted across town.

A lesson to learn from Hurricane Katrina is that 1 or even 2 back-up plans may not be enough. You need to judge how valuable your business is to you and possibly mail a DVD to one or more trusted associates in remote off site lo actions and still maintain a local and Internet back ups as well.

While you may not be able to fly cross country for a week to test your back up plan, you could test your back-ups by trying load them on a 'clean' computer.

About the Author
Mike Makler Offers Financial Services (Mortgages,Life Insurance, Annuity) in Florissant Missouri which is in North St. Louis County Missouri Just Across the Bridge from St. Charles Missouri.

by: mike makler.
http://www.cleanarticles.com/articles/

How To Use Spyware Elimination Software

Author: Philippa Smith

Spyware elimination software is designed to detect and eliminate spyware. A large number of spyware elimination software products are available. Some of them are available as freeware and some as shareware. Shareware can be used for a specified period, usually 30 days.

One must evaluate and compare the features of different spyware elimination software products before selecting one. Some of the features of an effective spyware elimination software product are:

* It should give a list of detected spyware, to enable users to allow them to decide, about which ones they want to delete.

* Auto update ensures that the software automatically downloads the latest spyware definition file.

* Auto scheduling means that the system is scanned for spyware at defined intervals automatically.

* The "undo" facility allows the user to remedy accidental deletion of useful files.

* The product should provide real-time protection. It should prevent installation of spyware, instead of just deleting it when it is detected.

* The software should be effective in detecting and deleting, the different types of spyware.

* The product should be easy to download, install, navigate and use.

* Product support ensures that there is someone you can call or e-mail, whenever you have a problem.

* The right spyware elimination software will ensure your privacy and keep your computer free of advertisements.

Some of the most popular spyware elimination software products are: Spyware Eliminator, Spyware Doctor, MS AntiSpyware, McAfee, Pest Patrol, Spy Sweeper, Counterspy, Ad-Aware, Spybot Search & Destroy etc.

The most popular personal firewalls include McAfee Firewall, Norman Firewall, Windows Firewall, Surf Secret, Sygate Firewall, Zone Alarm, Outpost Pro, and Norton Firewall etc.

Spyware Eliminator

Spyware Eliminator is one of the most popular spyware elimination software products. It also provides you with anti-virus and anti-Spam capability and prevents malicious software from entering your PC.

It gives users specific threat recommendations and its consumer ware facility identifies legitimate ad ware companies and their software. The user then has the option to delete this software or to keep it. Spyware Eliminator is particularly effective in dealing with cleverly concealed, self re-generating spyware and adware.

Click to find a daily updated blog of articles and news about spyware ! Get advice and information about how to protect your computer from attack, and disinfect it.. Click http://www.spyware-101.com/

BY PHILIPPA SMITH.

how address label software revolutionizes the office

Labelling items is something people have to do regularly to keep sane! If not for this practice, files and other important things may get lost or be taken someone else by mistake. The person can get a pen and write one's name, use a label gun or try something more efficient such as address labelling software.What is so different about address labeling software? For starters, the person can use different fonts, sizing and graphics to make the object look unique. This is great to also keep records of clients while these are stored in the filing cabinet making it easy to locate them when needed.Address labeling software can cost about $20 to $30 in the market. Those who are not sure if this is worth the price can usually download software from the Internet and then enjoy this for free for 30 days before deciding to buy the software.There are some though that can be downloaded for free. The user can use this first and then probably buy a real program later on when their skills improve. The individual can even browse through these first and then check which one is the best to get.Some software programs are only compatible with one kind of operating system. People will be happy to know that majority of these are compatible regardless whether your PC is Macintosh, Linux or Windows. There will usually be a short period of familiarization and from them on you'll be labelling things left right and centre, so easy is some of the software available to use.Some companies are a bit slow adapting to new technology. This is the reason that there are employees who are still be using excel or word then getting the finished product on the printer. There is nothing wrong with that but using address-labeling software will save time to do other tasks. In fact, with the different selections, the task that probably took an hour can be done in 30 minutes. The person can even have time to spare in getting a cup of coffee then waiting for everything to be finished then sticking it to the folder, CD or envelope. Since the software can be used for almost everything in the office, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that the same application can be done for bar codes. This is because the only difference is the numbers instead of just letters that the scanner will read to tell the price of the item.As more people are getting better with using the computer, it won't be long before other software programs will be introduced into the market. This may cost the customer a few dollars in the beginning but as the market demands, eventually a lot of this kind of software will start to appear in free or trial versions. Address labelling software can be a godsend for many people, it helps you keep organised and provides a simple and efficient method for producing labels. Learn to label documents, forms and even objects (if you wish) in your office and never be confused again!

author: mattyos
Source: Free Articles

Selecting AnI nk Jet Printer - with low operating cost

Printer technology has made tremendous advances in the past five years. Speeds are up and print quality is great. Meanwhile, printer costs have declined. What has not improved is the cost of ink. Printer manufacturers expected to make their profit on replacement cartridges, and they do. But in charging high prices they created another industry that they have to compete with. Now there are generic or compatible replacements; you can buy refilled cartridges and refill kits so you can refill them yourself. Worst of all there are counterfeits. And there’s a big market for all of them due to the sky-high price of OEM cartridges. The manufacturers are full of tricks. Some of them use tiny cartridges that don’t hold much ink. Most of the standard cartridges are half full of ink. They sell high capacity cartridges at premium prices that are full of ink. They run promotions on printers that have sample cartridges that barely have enough ink to try out the new printer. These are all factors you have to consider when you buy a printer. There are makers who have addressed the problem in another way. All printers have a separate black cartridge for obvious reasons, but a few use a separate cartridge for each color. If one of the colors runs out you can replace it individually. This way you aren’t throwing away good ink. One maker gives you the choice of a double size black unit that is more economical than two singles. Most printers use a cartridge with a built- in print head, but at least one has the print head built into the machine. The cartridges are only ink containers, consequently very inexpensive and easy to refill. The downside of this arrangement is that the print head is a wear item and it’s quite expensive to replace. The point is that these two style printers are more economical to operate than the conventional type. There are some printers that will operate with only the black cartridge installed, and this is a good choice for students and others that only print text. If you don’t need a fancy printing job, often you can set your printer on “draft” which saves a lot of ink. Be careful when you are buying a printer especially, but not exclusively at auctions; they’re selling them without ink. A diligent shopper can sometimes find printers with and without rebates that are below the cost of the ink. This is a good way to go. For more information about shopping visit my web site: http://www.caveatemptorus.com. I’ve tried refilling and using refurbished units with mixed success. Refilling is risky business. Maker's claim that it voids your warranty, this is debatable, but there is some validity to their concerns. There are different kinds of ink and using the wrong or an inferior ink can do damage. Many refurbs are poor quality so you end up returning them for replacement. At the moment my choice is a printer with print heads in the cartridges and I buy good quality generics. Keep in mind this creates warranty problems. If you have a problem printing, you can’t get technical service unless you buy a set of OEMs.

By: George W. Cannata Owner and publisher of the web site:http://www.caveatemptorus.com

how do i boost my star-up speed ?

The most effective way is to upgrade your PC or buy a newer, faster machine. However not everyone can afford this option, therefore we suggest the following alternatives:1) Increase your RAM. For Windows XP we recommend a minimum of 256MB of RAM, and 128MB for Windows 98/ME users. It is suggested that your PC have a minimum of 256MB RAM to support newer applications.Upgrading to more memory than that will provide a minimum performance gain in terms of startup, because each operating system when booting occupies a certain size in the memory; when this requirement is met, an increase does not make a difference.2) Use faster RAM. Memory modules measure their speed in MHz. Using a faster module will increase daily usage performance in opening applications or performing I/O operations. SDRAM comes in speeds of 100/133 MHz, while faster DDR SDRAM comes in speeds of 200/266/333 and 400 MHz. They are also denoted as PC1600, PC2100, PC2700 and PC3200 respectively. The PC number shows the maximum bandwidth in MB/s of the memory module.For example the latest Pentium 4 machines have a 800 MHz Front Side Bus (the speed at which the processor communicates with all other devices); it is a common practice with Pakistani vendors to pair such systems with the slower 266 MHz DDR RAM to lower costs. You can therefore upgrade to DDR 400 and for the most lethal combination, use them as a pair (two modules of the same size), which is known as Dual-DDR support. Dual-DDR lets you read and write to both the memory modules simultaneously in the same clock cycle. Only newer motherboards support this feature.For all possible RAM speed upgrades check your motherboard and processor documentation or contact your PC vendor for more details.3) Disable Startup Items. In most cases some startup items are useful but others may just be eating up system resources. To check what loads on startup, type “msconfig” in the Start->Run dialog box in any version of Windows. You will see that in the General tab, the Startup selection will be set to normal by default. Click on the Startup tab and it will display a list of checked startup items and their paths. Uncheck the program you do not want to load and apply the changes. The computer will ask to restart to effect the changes placed.Caution: Only disable items you are sure of. You can always come back and restore the changes. DO NOT try editing the items in the remaining tabs. (Use StartupMechanic - Ed.)4) Use tweaking tools. Microsoft developed a tool called BootVis that arrange the files on your hard disk for faster startup. The tool is no longer available on their site but can be hunted down on the Web.When I used BootVis, it slashed a whooping 30 seconds of boot time on my laptop running Windows XP. There are lots of other shareware tools on the net for such purposes and Norton System Works has a set of optimizing tools.5) Another way to boost your startup speed is to periodically defragment your hard disk so that all your files are set as contiguous blocks for faster access. Boot performance also depends on which file system you use; FAT32 gives a faster boot time compared to NTFS but fragments easily over time while the reverse holds true for NTFS.

Hi! I am Muhammad Wasiq Ansari, a student of B.E(Electronics). I am running different sites Ariese - Funny SMS.
Article Source: http://www.articles-heaven.com/articles/?Q%2E-How-do-I-boost-my-startup-speed-&articleid=646

by muhammad wasiq ansari.

EASY,HONEST & SIMPLE WAY TO MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA

My teenage nephew found this system and makes almost $200 a week working very part-time.17 Sep 2005
If you enjoy photography and would like to learn how to make money taking pictures for others, this system could be perfect for you. The system is completely honest, there is no porn or nudity involved, it is not dangerous and you don't need high-level professional photography skills.
What you will need is at least a 2.1 megapixel digital camera (About $200 new) with a flash and zoom lens, a tripod and a basic photo printer (like an Epson for $125) so you can print out the photos. This is not portrait photography and most people can find all the work they want within 1 or 2 miles of your home if you live in a city or within 10 miles of your home if you live in the suburbs.
My 18-year old nephew, discovered this last year and was making money taking photos within a week. He usually makes about $200 a week during the school year working just 3 to 5 hours during the week and a couple of hours on Saturday. During the summer, he worked full-time for three weeks before going off to work as a camp counselor. He average over $700 a week for the three weeks, and he still wasn't really working full-time.
Click Here to read about the course and to see real testimonials from real people. The cost is very reasonable and the author offers a money-back guarantee.
Here is what you will need to start this business:
Decent digital camera you can buy for under $200. Make sure it has a zoom lens and a flash. An exposure compensation setting would be helpful, but is not absolutely necessary
Some of the shots will require a sturdy tripod. I see them at garage sales and thrift shops all the time for under $10, or you can buy a good-quality new one for about $40.
You will need a way to print photos. Epson sells a nice photo-quality printer for about $125. If you don't have one, don't worry. You can get your prints made at Wal-Mart or rite Aid until you can afford one.
Lastly you need a way to get around: Car, motorcycle or bike.
CLICK HERE to read about this fascinating money-making opportunity. This is not a business where you can make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year --but you can make $40,000 to $60,000 if you work it full time or just use it to make a few hundred extra bucks a month to help pay all those extra pesky bills. This is also a great business for a teenage son or daughter.Skip

McGrath

www.digitalworld.com

TOP-10 DIGITAL CAMERAS UNDER $300

Are you on a budget but still want to buy a good digital camera? Well, that's great because I've compiled a list of the top 10 digital cameras out there going at under $300. When choosing a value-for-money digital camera, remember that it should offer great features and excellent photo quality, all at a reasonable price. That said, let's have a look at that list of cameras. Here we go!

Nikon Coolpix 5200
The Nikon Coolpix 5200 has a 5.1 megapixel resolution and a 3x optical zoom. With its excellent picture quality, battery life and camera optics, this is one of the best-selling cameras out there. The body of the camera is also very well-designed - you'll find that it's very comfortable to hold it while shooting pictures.

Canon PowerShot A95
Another hot seller, the Canon PowerShot A95 is a 5 megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom. Photo quality is excellent, with sharp and vivid colors. Overall, this is one of the best point-and-shoot digital cameras you can buy. Highly recommended.

Fuji FinePix E550
The Fuji FinePix E550 is an interesting camera with 6.3 megapixels image resolution and a 4x optical zoom. There's a nice, big 2 inch LCD screen, though the camera body itself is slightly bulky. Still, a good value given its price.

Sony CyberShot DSC-W1
The Sony CyberShot DSC-W1 one of the most popular digital cameras at the moment. It is compact and looks very stylish. With a 5.1 megapixel resolution, 3x optical zoom and a very generous 2.5 inch LCD, you'll be hard pressed to find a better camera in its price range.

Canon PowerShot S500
I currently own one of these babies. The Canon PowerShot S500 is a wonderful point-and-shoot camera with a 5 megapixel resolution and 3x optical zoom. It's a great camera for traveling and snapping pictures on the fly. What's more, its one of the most stylish cameras too.

Pentax Optio S5i
The Pentax Optio S5i comes with a 5 megapixel resolution and 3x optical zoom. Its capable of taking very good pictures and there's a surprising number of features packed into its small, compact body.

Olympus C-765
The Olympus C-765 is a 4 megapixel camera with an amazing 10x optical zoom. There is a nice feature set, including a wealth of white balance settings. Very good camera to buy if you want to avoid the standard Canon or Sony models.



Kodak EasyShare DX7630
The Kodak EasyShare DX7630 is a great camera with a 6.1 megapixel resolution and 3x optical zoom. The small, yet feature-packed body allows you to take great pictures and video too. It also runs on rechargeable batteries, making it one of the best point-and-shoot cameras out there.

Casio Exilim EX-Z50
With a 5 megapixel resolution and 3x optical zoom, the Casio Exilim EX-Z50 is one of the smallest digital cameras out there. I found that it's got a pretty big LCD screen, fast response time and decent battery life, Recommended for those who want a very small, compact camera that takes good pictures.

Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z1
This is a 3.3 megapixel resolution camera with a 10x optical zoom. The powerful optical zoom is a big plus - it's tough to find a camera with a 10x zoom in this price range. It also runs on rechargeable batteries and shoots great looking pictures. I highly recommend it.
Conclusion
Ok, we've gone through many good-value digital cameras in the above list. Which one would I buy if I were in a camera shop? It'd be a tough choice between the Canon PowerShot S500, Kodak EasyShare DX7630 and Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z1. When you head out to buy your own camera, do bear in mind that digital camera prices are dropping everyday. So shop around, it should be easy to find a model that suits your needs and yet fits within your budget.
Gary Hendricks runs a web site for digital camera hobbyists at www.basic-digital-photography.com
Gary Hendricks

www.digitalworld.com

HOW TO BUY A DIGITAL CAMERA

Buying a digital camera need not be a difficult task. I'll highlight the key considerations you need to think through before making that purchase decision. Always, always remember to consider these factors when buying a digital camera:
Battery Life
Number of Megapixels
Zoom Lens
Exposure Control
User Controls
Battery Life
This has got to be one of the most overlooked features in digital cameras. I know many people who go for the latest and greatest digital cameras which are short in the battery life department. If you want to take good photos, your camera needs to powered for extended periods of time. I've found that cost and battery life don't go together - many cheap cameras have good battery life, while some high-end models drain your battery really fast. Make sure you choose a camera that has good battery life.
Number of Megapixels
The megapixel rating of a digital camera determines how much fine detail you can capture in your shots. Typically, the number of megapixels can range around from 2 megapixels to 8 megapixels. How do you decide how many megapixels you need? As a rule of thumb, if you're only interested in taking small snapshots to send via email or for posting on the Web, you won't need more than 2 megapixels. If you want large print outs of your gorgeous photographs, then you'll probably want to get 5 megapixel cameras and above. You may want to refer to this guide for more information.
Zoom Lens
You'll definitely want a camera with decent optical zoom. Now the keyword here is optical zoom (as opposed to digital zoom). Optical zoom physically moves the camera lenses to zoom in on a subject. Digital zoom, however, digitally averages and magnifies the image within the camera's microchip - resulting in poor picture quality. Many manufacturers' advertisements talk about digital zoom instead of optical zoom - so do be careful when choosing. I'd recommend getting at least 3x optical zoom in any camera you buy.
Exposure Control
The ability to control exposure settings such as shutter speed and lens opening is critical to professional photographers. Cheaper digital cameras only allow you to shoot photos in automatic mode - just press the shutter release and voila, your picture is taken. More advanced users prefer to tweak the shutter speed and aperture to capture fast moving objects or blur the image background. Choose a camera with good exposure control if you foresee yourself taking on photography as a serious hobby.
User Controls
If you are getting a point-and-shoot camera, make sure you find one that's easy to use. User controls to set resolution, macro mode, flash and exposure should be within easy reach. Of course, if you're a serious photography buff who wants to take the time to tweak all sorts of manual settings, then this many not be so critical. I prefer to try out the camera first in the store - play with the controls and get comfortable with them. Only then will you know whether it's comfortable enough for you.
Conclusion
Well, I do hope this article has helped you understand what factors to consider when buying a digital camera. A general piece of advice I can give is - if you're a total newbie, don't go for the latest digital SLR. It may be tempting to get that Nikon D70 right from the start, but I'd reckon its much better to start off with a cheaper camera first. Learn, experiment and build up your digital photography skills. Once you're more skilled, then proceed to upgrade to a better camera. Good luck and happy shopping!

Gary Hendricks
www.ezauctiontools.com/free-articles/html

www.digitalworld.com

FREE PHOTO EDITING SOFTWARE: TOP 5 FREE PHOTO EDITORS FOR WINDOWS

If you're really on a budget, you will be glad to know that there are many free photo editors out there ready for your download. These programs give you basic image editing features to perform standard photo enhancement tasks. I've compiled a list of 5 free photo editing programs for Windows which you may like to look at. Do take note, however, that some of these programs may be limited in features unless you buy an upgrade version.
The GIMP
The GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is an open-source program originally developed by two university students in 1996. It has now morphed into a powerful image editor with a huge user base. The latest version, the GIMP 2.0, has a revamped user interface that places it up threw with mainstream image editors.
Picasa
Picasa is a powerful and free software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. If you always had problems keeping track of your pictures, Picasa will help you do that by sorting them into visual albums. Moreover, if you want to quickly touch up your photos, Picasa offers many one-click fixes to do just that. What's more, the program allows you to easily share those photos through email, printing or CDs.
VCW VicMan's Photo Editor
VCW VicMan's Photo Editor has a host of features similar to Adobe Photoshop. With this program, you can easily zoom into and pan within your image and perform standard image editing. The color adjustment options are also very extensive. The program comes in a limited free version, as well as a commercial Pro version which sells for $30.
ImageForge
ImageForge is a freeware image editor gives you a great set of tools for painting and editing images and photos. Whether you want to touch up your photo shots, or add a creative effect to a boring photo, ImageForge can provide you with the tools to do it. You can even share your photos easily by creating photo albums and simple slide shows.
Paint.NET
Paint.NET is an on-going project at Washington State University, with features that match commercial applications, including support for layers. It is provided as freeware and is readily available for download. Besides standard image editing features, there's also a special Effects API for you to create your own special effects. The program also has a strong user forum that supports its progress and development.
Conclusion
I hope you'll learnt a thing or two about the best free photo editors for Windows. Using a free photo editor is a great way to save money, while satisfying all your photo manipulation needs. However, I do advise that for serious, long-term photo editing tasks, go for commercial grade software such as Ulead PhotoImpact 10 and Jasc Paint Shop Pro 9.

Gary Hendricks
http://www.ezauctiontools.com/free-articles.htm

www.digitalworld.com