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Computer Dos and Don'ts

12/17/2014

 

As 2014 draws to a close, here is a quick list of simple things you can do, and to avoid, to keep your computer working at its best.

Things To Do
Clean the dust out of your computer every 1-3 months. If you have a laptop, use a can of compressed air and blow out the fan intake on the bottom and the vent on the side or back. If you have a desktop, disconnect the wires and remove the side cover, step outside and use a can of compressed air to blow out the inside of the case. A dusty computer creates and holds more heat, using more energy and causing more wear on the parts. Disconnect your keyboard, turn it upside down and blow air through the keys. A clean computer is a happy computer.

Give your computer space to breathe! If you use a laptop, try to keep it on a hard surface so the fan isn’t blocked and consider using a cooling pad if you use the laptop on a desk. If you have a desktop, don’t push it tight against the wall, and if it’s kept inside a cabinet or behind a door, try to keep the door open when using the computer. Doing these things ensures the computer can pull in cooler air.

Set up and maintain a current backup of your files. Whether you do this manually or use an automated program, make certain you have a copy of your important files. Although data recovery is often possible, it is frequently more expensive than having a backup.

Make certain you have a good antivirus program. We recommend Avast, BitDefender and AVG, although there are others available. Remember that you don’t want to have multiple antivirus programs on the same computer. There are other security programs available that will enhance your computer’s security without interfering with your antivirus program, but do some research before installing.

Clean your screen. If your screen is just dusty you can use a soft cloth to wipe it off. If you have a touchscreen you will have fingerprints and smudges. A glass-cleaning microfiber cloth will take care of minor smudges but if it’s really dirty a simple 50/50 mix of rubbing alcohol and distilled water will clean your screen without damaging it. Apply a small amount to your cleaning cloth and gently wipe the grime away! This can also be used on the case if needed. Do not use vinegar, Windex or other glass-cleaning solutions unless they are marked specifically for use on electronic screens as they can damage non-glass displays.


Things To Avoid
Don’t eat or drink by your computer. Spills happen and computers really don’t like conductive liquids like soda, water, beer, etc. Keyboards don’t like crumbs either, so eating Christmas cookies while typing your letter to Santa is a no-no.

Don’t leave your computer (or other electronics) plugged in during an electrical storm. Remove ALL cables connected to the computer (including your Internet cable) to prevent damage from power surges.

Don’t use the power button to shut down your computer. Unless your power settings have been configured to perform a normal shutdown when the power button is pressed, the system won’t shut down properly, and this can cause errors the next time you use the computer.

Don’t leave your charger connected when transporting your laptop. Doing so causes excessive stress on the charging port inside the computer and could even break it off. You will then need to have the port repaired or replaced in order to charge the battery.

Don’t download “free” stuff. Remember that most “free” software comes with some kind of cost, usually in the form of unwanted and potentially dangerous software. Whenever you download something off the Web read each screen before clicking “next.” You can also hover your cursor over a link to see the address it actually goes to. This simple tip can save you from ending up in the seedier side of the Web.

Do you have other tips and tricks or questions that you’d like to share? Email them to questions@yellowstonecomputing.net. If we feature your tip or question, we’ll send you a $5.00 gift certificate!

Email Services

12/12/2014

 
These days almost everyone has email. Is there a “best” email service? Is it your Internet Service Provider? Is it a paid service? Could it be one of the many free selections? Let’s take a quick look at some of the options for email.

Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
When you sign up for Internet service from a provider like CenturyLink, Charter, Frontier, etc., you usually get at least one free email account from them. Often this address will consist of your name followed by @YourISP.com. This email account can be accessed on the Web or you can use a program such as Outlook to send and receive message. You might be limited in your choices for the address and they generally don’t support certain advanced features. Perhaps the biggest downside is that if you ever change Internet providers, you will either have to pay to keep your email address or lose it.

Paid Accounts
Most of the free options listed below offer paid accounts with different features than their free counterparts. The average user probably doesn’t need these but business may find them attractive or even necessary. Among these features are things like enhanced spam filtering, a central control panel for multiple accounts, priority technical support and custom domains.

Aol
As a go-to source for Internet and email some years ago, Aol (or America Online) is now a multimedia news site similar to MSN.com. Aol’s email is still available for free, supports POP3 and IMAP, offers unlimited mailbox storage and works in all web browsers.

Outlook.com (formerly Hotmail)
Like Aol, Hotmail was one of the most popular email providers. After Hotmail was purchased by Microsoft, it went through several name changes before ending up as Outlook.com in 2013. Featuring some of the broadest feature sets in the free email realm, Outlook.com offers free and paid options, no ads, support for up to 10 email aliases (other email addresses that route to your main address) and unlimited attachment size via OneDrive.

Yahoo Mail
Yahoo is another popular option when it comes to free email. Having stepped up their game since the rise of Gmail, Yahoo Mail is one of the better looking email interfaces available. In spite of many improvements over the years, Yahoo Mail still seems to be stumbling. Its new user interface, though pretty, has been met with criticism from users who say the layout hampers usability. In addition, it is difficult to use a free account with programs like Microsoft Outlook, since access to the proper server is reserved for mobile devices.

Gmail
With over 425 million active users, Gmail is the most widely-used, web-based email provider in the world. As of May 2014, approximately 60% of mid-sized US companies use Gmail. Gmail has a clean interface and can import email from other email accounts, making the switch to Gmail very easy. Gmail also uses “Labels” to sort messages instead of folders. While it’s simply a different way to organize your messages, many users find it more effective.

iCloud
If you have an Apple device, you’ll get a free iCloud email account. iCloud is very simple, intuitive to use, and there are no ads, but the price of that simplicity is a lack of advanced features that might be too limiting if you’re a heavy email user. However, the design is attractive and if your needs are simple it gets the job done quite nicely.

The Cost of Free
As usual you don’t get something for nothing. Most free email accounts include ads. These may take the form of banner ads at the top and sides, text based ads at the bottom of your messages or even popups in some cases. Some providers even scan the contents of your messages to customize the ads to you. While most people won’t find this to be a deal breaker, some ad forms are more intrusive than others. Personally, we like the fact that Gmail’s ads are strictly text based, as this makes them far less distracting and obtrusive. If these ads bother you, consider changing providers or upgrading to a paid service.

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Do you have a question or topic you’d like us to address? Email and let us know! 

Yellowstone Computing: Who We Are and What We Do

12/8/2014

 
Picture
In our past articles we've covered a lot of technology-focused information to help you use the computer systems you use. We've been scratching our heads to try and come up with more helpful articles, and we welcome your input if you have a topic you think we haven’t covered yet! In the meantime, we thought we’d take the time to explain more specifically what services we can offer you.

Yellowstone Computing is your full-service, hometown computer repair center. We offer computer sales, service and general technology support, as well as small business networking, offsite backup solutions and much more!

Computer Sales
While we can get you any brand computer, or even custom build a system to suit your needs, as a Lenovo Business Partner, Lenovo is our preferred supplier and brand.
Whether you need new systems for your business or just want something shiny to put under the Christmas tree, we can make it happen! We also sell refurbished & recertified systems which are a great alternative when the cost of a new system is problematic. Yellowstone Computing is also a registered Microsoft Refurbisher so we can update and refurbish your existing systems.

Computer Repair and Tuneups
Got a computer with a virus? Maybe that new system isn’t as fast as it used to be, or you have the dreaded Blue Screen of Death! First off, don’t panic, just call Yellowstone Computing! If you can break it, we can fix it--in most cases anyway. From malware infections to faulty hardware, we can diagnose and repair these and other problems and get your computer back you running like new!  We even offer complete data recovery services in the event you hard drive is damaged.

Home or Small Business Networking
Yellowstone Computing can install or upgrade your network with new hardware to get better transfer speeds or increase wireless coverage. Whether you just need to get wireless in your house, or wire large buildings we can help!

Service Calls and Remote Support
We make house calls! If you need support after hours simply contact us to make arrangements. Don’t like to unplug things? That’s okay, we offer pickup and delivery wherever you might be! We also offer a remote support option so we can fix problems without ever leaving the office. Of course, you can drop off your computer during regular business hours at our office.

Backup Solutions
Everyone should have a backup of their files. Whether you’re an individual or a business, you need to have a current backup of your data. Yellowstone Computing offers numerous options for both onsite and offsite backups.

The Man (and Woman) Behind The Curtain
Joe began exploring computers when he was a teenager. His 6+ years of hands-on experience working for Scott's Computing in Thorp laid a good foundation of technical understanding and expertise that he has continued to build upon since that time. After Scott’s closed, Joe continued to work on computers in the evenings to help local residents and businesses. When Joe first began his computer business, he operated under the name "DeepCore5 Consulting."

In 2014, when Joe and Tiffany decided to expand this business to a full-time venture, they needed to come up with a name that would convey to their customers that they did computer work. The Yellowstone Trail was one of the first coast-to-coast highways that was built. Part of the highway ran through the Thorp area and is still marked with yellow stones. With this being a local and historical feature, they thought the name "Yellowstone Computing" would be very appropriate. 


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Do you have a question or topic you’d like us to address? Email and let us know! 

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What Our Clients Are Saying

Joe is really in tune with what our business needs are... what a great guy with amazing skills... - Grassland Veterinary Service

Yellowstone Computing goes above and beyond for their customers! Joe is very knowledgeable and will go the extra mile to make sure his customers not only get what they asked for but also makes sure they are taken care of for many years to come! Between the great business services they provide and their involvement in the Thorp Chamber I'd highly recommend doing business with Yellowstone Computing! Whether you are an individual looking for computer or other technology help or a large employer who needs to either supplement your current IT support or completely outsource it Yellowstone Computing should be one of your first calls! - Justin Z.