It doesn’t matter if you are a lightweight, home computer user or the head of a large company. You need to safeguard that data on your computer(s) or, as the title says, “risk losing everything.” In the Information Age, of course, information is gold.
It could be family photos and correspondence, or marketing plans and accounting files, but if it has value and resides on your computer system – one PC, several or a whole company network – it needs to be backed up. Here is a solid introduction to backing up your computer that you can modify and customize to your particular needs.
Planning prevents poor performance
To clarify your plan, make it understandable to yourself and everyone else involved, and have a roadmap to follow now and in the future, you should develop a written backup plan. Whether it’s a one-person home office or a corporate hierarchy, a written plan will keep things under control.
You need to answer a few preliminary questions:
1. Exactly what needs to be backed up, from what computer(s) or device(s)?
2. Where will it be backed up to?
3. How often will backups occur?
4. Who's in charge of performing backups?
5. Who determines the success of these backups?
Before starting, remember that there are many things on your drives that do not need backing up. You do not have to back up the applications for which you have the installation discs, for example, and the same goes for your core OS (Operating System), whether Macintosh, Windows or Linux.
Some home and business users who use a “cloning” backup method (discussed below) do, in fact, backup applications and the OS. The advantage to this is that any special additions to the OS – application plug-ins, dictionaries, etc. – are saved right where they are. That is, they would not have to be restored from CDs or other installation files.
First things first
In business, of course, databases and accounting files are the most critical “data assets.” Since they should be backed up both before and after any sort of significant alteration or use, most companies are backing up these files every day. Databases should probably be backed up after any substantial data-entry session.
Both Mac OS X and the latest Windows OS’s create, by default, “Documents” folders, which are often the major (but not the only) location for important work. These should be backed up daily, as well as e-mails that are “mission critical.”
In addition to accessible on-site backups, businesses in particular should store a copy of its backups off-site. This will protect your critical data in the event of a fire, flood, theft or other such occurrence. You should consider storing backups in a safety-deposit box or a secure storage location, using the “2x2x2 rule” – two sets of backups stored by two different people or companies at two separate locations. If disaster does strike, this will not sound like a paranoid idea at all.
Don’t forget that there is data on your laptops and handheld devices that also contain valuable information. In your backup plan, you should specify how and when laptops and PDAs should be backed up, and whether those backups should be integrated into a particular computer’s backup schedule or just backed up independently.
Hardware overview
Any number of solutions can work for you, whether you are a simple home user or the IT manager of a large firm. The strategies are the same, but the scale is different. You need to figure out how much data you need to back up, from each individual computer as well as any networked, shared drives. Allow for “mission creep” and for the addition of new employees or systems through the upcoming year (or month, or quarter).
The backup device(s) you choose should have a storage capacity of double the amount of data you just calculated as needing to be backed up. This allows sufficient space for growth. Larger organizations find that tape drives are a good choice, bringing together reliability, reasonably fast read/write speeds and large capacities. In fact, in businesses with a solid IT infrastructure, tape drives have become the de facto standard for backups, and with definite, defined procedures in place they are both reliable and efficient.
Adding additional internal drives is a good solution for the home user and small businesses. All Macs and PCs have extra, built-in, internal drive connections, although there are now several standards. Older IDE drives have connections called PATA, for Parallel ATA, while the newer standard is SATA (Serial ATA). Make sure you determine compatibility when buying internal drives.
Ultra-wide SCSI is the fastest external standard, but it is expensive and not as popular now except for large firms that can afford it. Most external hard drives use the USB and IEEE 1394 (FireWire) connections, making them usable with all modern PCs, of all kinds. High-end server-class hardware, on the other hand, is outfitted with built-in SCSI or the newest standard SAS (Serial Attached SCSI).
Finally, there are CDs and DVDs, too. You can back up to these media, and store data for many years without any degradation. However, the storage capacities are low (650-700MB for CDs, 4.7-9BG for DVDs) unless you opt for the latest, more expensive BluRay technology. The BR discs hold 25-50GB of data, but the discs are still costly and the drives are, too. As prices come down, this option will be more viable for home offices and small businesses. However, the downside of disc storage is low volume (even 50GB is small compared to a low-cost 1TB hard drive) and the read/write times involved in backing up and restoring.
Backup software
Both Mac OS X and Windows (all modern flavors, particularly XP and Vista) have their own backup software. In Windows, you will find it under Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup, while the Mac OS has TimeMachine for automated use. These are more than adequate for individual users, and even small businesses.
There is also software that handles backups in an entirely different manner, by cloning (making a perfect, bit-by-bit copy of) your hard drive. The rationale for doing this is that it keeps a perfect, working copy of your current hard drive stored externally. The backups can even be used to boot up your computer if the current drive’s OS gets “scrambled” or you lose functionality for some physical reason (failed drive head or motor).
Finally, you can even perform backups with no software at all by simply copying your important files. Whatever approach you take, you need to be realistic and understand that, if you do not perform regular backups, you will regret it – maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday. Like buying insurance, backing up your data is not something you can wait to do until you need it.
Don’t let it be “too late” for you and your important data. Set up a good backup plan today, institute it now, follow the plan assiduously and allow yourself no excuses. With all of the help available, online and off, there is no reason you cannot get yourself properly set up. Now would be a good time to start.Media Recover is a leader in data recovery software and photo recovery. You don't have to lose that important file or treasured memory. Visit us online today for more information on our image recovery and data restoration services.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Is an Inkjet Printer Right For Your Home Office?
Your New Year’s resolution was to get your home office organized, updated and well, whipped into more of an office and less of a mess. Among the things you’ve decided to do is replace that old printer that eats more paper than it prints with a new, sleek model. With so many choices available, where do you start to look? How do you know which one is right for you? This article will discuss major issues, things that all inkjets, regardless of brand name, have in common. We’d rather educate the consumer to the pros and cons of owning an inkjet printer than to tout the superiority of a model that may be tomorrow’s dinosaur.
Let’s look at few things to take into consideration when making your decision, shall we?
*Quality – Inkjets are supposed to be far superior at printing graphics, and better able to handle different kinds of documents, than laser printers. Laser printers, on the other hand, are far superb at printing text. So, consider which kind of printing do you do most. If it’s mostly black and white text or spreadsheets and the like, you may want to rethink your decision to get an inkjet printer. Inkjets are better able to handle color printing than lasers, though. They produce a wider array of colors, making them ideal for printing graphics. Some models can produce almost lifelike, natural hues, especially important when printing photographs. Bottom line - If you’re looking for something that will handle your new resume’, Junior’s school report complete with photos and charts, and Mom’s recipe cards with the cute little spoon people on them, an inkjet may be exactly what you are looking for.
*Quantity – Consider your needs. If you only print every now and then, or print less than a dozen or so pages a day, an inkjet is a better choice than a laser. Toner cartridges can clog if left unused over long periods of time, making laser printers a poorer choice for the casual printer. Lasers, though, can handle more volume faster than inkjets are capable of producing. Some inkjets can handle large amounts of printing, but are usually much slower than their laser counterparts. If you produce a large amount of printed material every day, look for a model with a high yield capability. Speed may need to take a back seat to print quality, especially if you do print a great deal of color documents or graphics. Bottom line – how often you print and how much you print will determine which kind of printer you need.
*Price – What’s your budget? Inkjet printers tend to cost less than the typical laser printer. They tend to be more expensive to operate, though. They use more ink, or use it faster, than laser printers, requiring more replacement cartridges. Laser cartridges cost more upfront, but last longer and produce more printed pages. Some inkjet models are pricier than others, especially the “all-in-one” multifunction models. If you go with a multifunction model, consider the costs of the various paper supplies you will need – photo paper, brochure paper, cardstock, and whatnot. Do some price comparison of the ink cartridges your prospective model needs. Some models perform well with “generic” or store-brand cartridges, which tend to be less costly than the brand name. Other models are picky – only high-test brand name ink will do. (A note about multifunction models – Consider how often you really need to fax something, versus scanning to email. A fax model will require a phone line, dedicated or otherwise, which can lead to another possible expense. Some multifunction models come with card readers for digital camera memory cards, too. If you already have a card reader, or don’t yet own a digital camera, consider whether or not the other functions are worth the added price.) Bottom line - Don’t pay for features that you don’t need and won’t use! Do your homework to find the best model for your needs, as well as for your budget.
*Availability – Consider your location. Inkjet cartridges are more readily available than most laser toner cartridges. You can find many of them at your local super-retail-center along with the bread, milk and eggs, rather than going to the business supply specialty store. This may be very important for those of you who live in those less-than-rockin’-metropolitan areas. You can also order most inkjet refills inexpensively online nowadays. Shipping and handling charges are usually less for inkjet cartridges than laser cartridges because they are smaller, lighter and more easily mailed. Laser toner cartridges can be more difficult to find, as well as more expensive to ship. Inkjet cartridges can be more easily recycled in most cases, too. Where toner cartridges often need to be sent back to the manufacturer, you can recycle most inkjet cartridges through programs in schools, churches and other community organizations such as scouts and even local government offices. Bottom line – buying a printer is a little like buying real estate – location, location, location!
*User friendliness – Now, there is no hard and fast rule that inkjet printers are easier to use than lasers. Some models are, some aren’t. What you want to do is make sure that whatever model, and whichever type, of printer you purchase is right for you. Can you easily and efficiently change the cartridges? Can you find the power switches? Can you read the LCD screen and/or the control buttons? What is the energy efficiency rating? Will it fit in the space you’ve allotted for it? (Don’t laugh. More people have purchased oversized equipment than you’d think.) What is the service rating like – does it tend to break down, jam up, or conk out? How about customer service ratings – can you get help when you need it? Bottom line – Carefully check out your chosen model. Don’t let price or function be the only determining factor in making your decision.
Overall, whether or not an inkjet is the right printer for your home office will ultimately depend on you and your needs. Bottom line – Take your chosen model for a test drive before you buy. Check under the hood. Kick the tires. You’ll thank yourself for it later!
John Pickering is the owner of EezyTrade.co.uk – an online retailer of new and refilled printer cartridges for Brother, HP, Canon, Epson, Lexmark and Xerox printers. Visit us online today for hp ink cartridges and more and begin saving.
Let’s look at few things to take into consideration when making your decision, shall we?
*Quality – Inkjets are supposed to be far superior at printing graphics, and better able to handle different kinds of documents, than laser printers. Laser printers, on the other hand, are far superb at printing text. So, consider which kind of printing do you do most. If it’s mostly black and white text or spreadsheets and the like, you may want to rethink your decision to get an inkjet printer. Inkjets are better able to handle color printing than lasers, though. They produce a wider array of colors, making them ideal for printing graphics. Some models can produce almost lifelike, natural hues, especially important when printing photographs. Bottom line - If you’re looking for something that will handle your new resume’, Junior’s school report complete with photos and charts, and Mom’s recipe cards with the cute little spoon people on them, an inkjet may be exactly what you are looking for.
*Quantity – Consider your needs. If you only print every now and then, or print less than a dozen or so pages a day, an inkjet is a better choice than a laser. Toner cartridges can clog if left unused over long periods of time, making laser printers a poorer choice for the casual printer. Lasers, though, can handle more volume faster than inkjets are capable of producing. Some inkjets can handle large amounts of printing, but are usually much slower than their laser counterparts. If you produce a large amount of printed material every day, look for a model with a high yield capability. Speed may need to take a back seat to print quality, especially if you do print a great deal of color documents or graphics. Bottom line – how often you print and how much you print will determine which kind of printer you need.
*Price – What’s your budget? Inkjet printers tend to cost less than the typical laser printer. They tend to be more expensive to operate, though. They use more ink, or use it faster, than laser printers, requiring more replacement cartridges. Laser cartridges cost more upfront, but last longer and produce more printed pages. Some inkjet models are pricier than others, especially the “all-in-one” multifunction models. If you go with a multifunction model, consider the costs of the various paper supplies you will need – photo paper, brochure paper, cardstock, and whatnot. Do some price comparison of the ink cartridges your prospective model needs. Some models perform well with “generic” or store-brand cartridges, which tend to be less costly than the brand name. Other models are picky – only high-test brand name ink will do. (A note about multifunction models – Consider how often you really need to fax something, versus scanning to email. A fax model will require a phone line, dedicated or otherwise, which can lead to another possible expense. Some multifunction models come with card readers for digital camera memory cards, too. If you already have a card reader, or don’t yet own a digital camera, consider whether or not the other functions are worth the added price.) Bottom line - Don’t pay for features that you don’t need and won’t use! Do your homework to find the best model for your needs, as well as for your budget.
*Availability – Consider your location. Inkjet cartridges are more readily available than most laser toner cartridges. You can find many of them at your local super-retail-center along with the bread, milk and eggs, rather than going to the business supply specialty store. This may be very important for those of you who live in those less-than-rockin’-metropolitan areas. You can also order most inkjet refills inexpensively online nowadays. Shipping and handling charges are usually less for inkjet cartridges than laser cartridges because they are smaller, lighter and more easily mailed. Laser toner cartridges can be more difficult to find, as well as more expensive to ship. Inkjet cartridges can be more easily recycled in most cases, too. Where toner cartridges often need to be sent back to the manufacturer, you can recycle most inkjet cartridges through programs in schools, churches and other community organizations such as scouts and even local government offices. Bottom line – buying a printer is a little like buying real estate – location, location, location!
*User friendliness – Now, there is no hard and fast rule that inkjet printers are easier to use than lasers. Some models are, some aren’t. What you want to do is make sure that whatever model, and whichever type, of printer you purchase is right for you. Can you easily and efficiently change the cartridges? Can you find the power switches? Can you read the LCD screen and/or the control buttons? What is the energy efficiency rating? Will it fit in the space you’ve allotted for it? (Don’t laugh. More people have purchased oversized equipment than you’d think.) What is the service rating like – does it tend to break down, jam up, or conk out? How about customer service ratings – can you get help when you need it? Bottom line – Carefully check out your chosen model. Don’t let price or function be the only determining factor in making your decision.
Overall, whether or not an inkjet is the right printer for your home office will ultimately depend on you and your needs. Bottom line – Take your chosen model for a test drive before you buy. Check under the hood. Kick the tires. You’ll thank yourself for it later!
John Pickering is the owner of EezyTrade.co.uk – an online retailer of new and refilled printer cartridges for Brother, HP, Canon, Epson, Lexmark and Xerox printers. Visit us online today for hp ink cartridges and more and begin saving.
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