Focus On Your Business, Not Paperwork!

January 11th, 2010

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At times, the amount of paperwork that one person has do deal with can become extremely overwhelming. Many people find that a pile of unorganized paper can have drastic effects on the amount of work that they accomplish. For many of us, the motivation to organize the chaos is sometimes too much to even contemplate. However, an enterprising business has found a way to make the lives of the ordinary person much simpler.

Shoeboxed.com is an organization that provides a service that categorizes and organizes your receipts in a hassle-free manner. There are several levels of service that the company provides. One is the free version, in which you must scan in or direct your online order receipts into the account and organize them yourself. They also offer Basic, Classic or Express accounts.

The Basic account offers international service for customers with a relatively small volume of receipts to process for a price of $9.95 per month.

With this option, Shoeboxed will scan in and organize your receipts for you and shred them to protect your privacy.

The Classic account is their most popular account that is suited to one’s personal or business use at $19.95 per month. With this account type, Shoeboxed processes and organizes your receipts, scans them, and sends them back to you in an envelope.

The account level with the most options and fastest service processing is the Express account. For a fee of $59.95 per month, Shoeboxed provides even more efficient service to a client, with tasks being processed in 1 business day. The Express offers the same options and processing capacity as the Classic version, but the Express completes processing the task in a shorter amount of time.

Because so much of a person’s time can be taken up by frustration and disorganization, the service that this business provides would be very helpful to anyone that either does not possess that knack of organization or simply does not have the time to organize and keep track of their own receipts. The system is straightforward and fairly easy to understand, and also provides the option to export the scanned-in receipt information into Excel spreadsheets and other programs that work with large amounts of financial data. Someone who does not have a substantial number of receipts to keep track of would most likely not benefit from this program. However, for those that are searching for a way to keep control of their purchase records, this tool could become indispensable.

shoeboxed.com

Call 0800, 0808 & 0500 Numbers Free* From Your Mobile

January 11th, 2010

Most mobile phone providers in the UK still charge their users for calls to 0800, 0808 and 0500 numbers. 0800Buster lets you call these numbers using your mobile’s inclusive minutes, by providing you with a UK landline number to dial instead.

No registration or set-up is necessary, and the service is completely free*. Just dial 01237 20 0800, enter the full free-phone number you want to call at the prompt, then press #—it’s that simple!

0800Buster.co.uk Instructions

1. Dial 01237 20 0800
2. Enter the 0800, 0808, or 0500 number you want to phone
3. Press # to start the call

http://www.0800buster.co.uk/

Windows 7 god mode.

January 11th, 2010

This is one of the best hacks or tricks that I have seen in a long time. Coming from JKontheRun the trick allows you to have all the options to control your PC with Windows 7 in one folder. Is not that cool?

God Mode is easy to set up too, just do this:
1. reate a new folder anywhere.
2. Rename the folder by pasting this name exactly as it appears (copy it first):
3. GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

That is it.

Windows Server 2008 Benefits at a Glance

November 23rd, 2009

Windows Server 2008, released a few months ago, is Microsoft’s latest server operating system. This entry is not meant to be an exhaustive thesis into all of the benefits that Server 2008 can provide, but to serve as a brief introduction to the enhancements over previous versions.

1. Server Core Installation
Server Core installations provide a minimal environment for specific roles. This simplifies management of the server, updating and patching, and there is a smaller attack surface as the machines footprint is smaller since the number of files to support it has been reduced. Core servers have no desktop or GUI so they are managed via a command prompt or using the remote administration tools of another server. Server Core supports, but is not limited to, the following roles:

Active Directory Domain Services
DNS/DHCP
File and Print Server
IIS

2. Hyper-V
Microsoft loves talking about Hyper-V, the virtualization technology built into Windows Server 2008. Hyper-V provides a layer between the hardware and the operating system which allows virtual machines the ability to communicate directly with the hardware, bypassing the host operating system and increasing performance.

3. Terminal Services
With Windows Server 2008, Microsoft has 3 new Terminal Services components, RemoteApp, TS WebAccess, and TS Gateway. These concepts will be familiar to any Citrix administrator. In Citrix terms, RemoteApp is synonymous to Publishing Applications, TS WebAccess to the Web Interface Server, and TS Gateway to the Citrix Secure Gateway. These new features would give administrators the ability to grant users access to specific applications hosted in a TS environment over a secure web (HTTPS) connection.

4. Self Healing NTFS
With Server 2008, there is a worker thread which runs in the background that corrects the NTFS partition should any problems be found. I’m sure this is an oversimplification, but it’s pretty much a live, running version of chkdsk.

5. Support for Hot Swappable Components
Some new servers can be purchased with the capability to replace memory, processors, and PCI cards while the server is powered on. Windows Server 2008, while it is up and running, will acknowledge any hardware changes when hot swapping components.

6. Network Access Protection (NAP)
NAP keeps non-compliant computers off your network. NAP can monitor specific computer settings to enforce your workstation compliance standards.

7. Others
Windows Server 2008 includes IIS 7.0 which is a new build that is more capable of delivering streaming media, ASP, and PHP content and applications. It also has an updated management tool which allows you to manage multiple IIS servers from a single MMC.

There’s Read-only domain controllers for branch office deployments, SMB 2.0 which optimizes the file transfer rates between 2008 Servers, and over 800 Group Policies.

This list is but a small sample of the benefits of Windows Server 2008. I encourage you to research further and we’ll explore some of these features in further detail in upcoming posts, starting with Server Core.

Carbon neutral computers and web hosting

November 19th, 2009

Carbon neutral computers and web hosting – really good computer services go that extra green mile.

As a company we help our customers to become carbon neutral.

When we sell new computer or servers we work out the average electricity usage for the 3 year lifetime of the product and purchase trees from Carbon Offset Scotland, www.carbon-offset-scotland.com, to offset the carbon for this period, after this time clients can then purchase trees to offset any further usage.

Web and server hosting these days is worked out not only on the space you require but also on the power you consume, the greater the power the more cooling is required. Extra cooling requires larger air conditioning units which in turn use more electricity. We have spent the last few years finding very low powered servers which when even at full capacity draw less than 0.24 Amps [less than most new laptops] to reduce the impact overall from the word go, this has allowed us to become a truly carbon neutral hosting company.

It doesn’t stop there, to make ourselves truly neutral we have worked out the average amount of hits on a website per hard disk space usage. This data coupled with very long and boring server logs gives us the average length of time a website visitor spends on one of our customers websites. From here it is all maths, but the upshot is as we take on new websites, we offset the total footprint of our customers websites over the year.

If you are interested in carbon neutral IT services or hosting for your company call us now – 0131 440 9078.

Really good computer services is a trading division of la rg e
www.rg-cs.co.uk
www.la-rg-e.co.uk

ninite making it easier to move to windows 7

October 26th, 2009

So you are thinking about moving to windows 7 but just cannot safe the hassle of installing all those essential applications, well your prayers have now been answered say hello to the free serviceninite.
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Just go to Ninite.com and select the applications you need from their vast array of essential freeware on offer. Need Chrome, WinRAR, Skype, Picasa, Gimp, .NET, CCleaner and PuTTY (to name just a few of my favourites)? Well of course you do! Wouldn’t it be nice if you could install them all in one fell swoop?

Make your selections and Ninite generates a single convenient hands-free install file. Just run the single downloaded file on the upgraded machine and your choices all install while you get more coffee, no muss no fuss. Ninite also refuses such bloatware as toolbars and other add-ons included in some installations. However, make sure that the upgraded computer is connected to the internet before starting the installation.

I used Ninite today when upgraded to Windows 7 and have nothing but praise for it, it really saved me a lot of time and hassle. Ninite install packages work on XP and Vista as well as 7, and come highly recommended.

from the website:
The easiest way to get apps.
1.Pick the apps you want.
2.Start your customized installer.
3.You’re done!
Ninite runs on Windows XP/Vista/7 and works
in the background 100% hands-free.

We install apps with default settings and
say “no” to browser toolbars and other junk.

All we do is install the latest versions of the apps
you choose. Not even Ninite is installed.

dropbox file access via cloud computing

October 14th, 2009

logoSo this morning I checked my emails to find an invitation to start using drop-box after doing a quick google round and reading about it on their site it seems a nice take on cloud computing data access.

The service allows you after creating an account and installing an application to set a folder on your machine as a drop box, by copying files into this folder the software will upload these to their server [encrypted] and allow you to access then from either a web browser or another computer with the software installed. what is more you can share some of the files with other users as well.

ou get 2 GB for free, however for heavy users you can upgrade to either a 50 or 100GB account at a monthly cost of $9.99 or $19.99 respectively

the software seems pretty slick and if you are sensible could be used as an cheap automated backup solution ..

The full feature list can be found here:

If like me you use more than me computer I suggest giving it a go.

Dial2do making it easier not to forget anything

October 10th, 2009

dial2doA few posts back I mentioned a wonderful application called Evernote in brief it is a note taking application that allows you to synchronise all your web enabled devices to see your notes, This is made possible by cloud computing as the note repository is based somewhere on the web.
to make things easier you also get your own Evernote email address which allows you to add notes via email.

This is where Dial2do steps in. Dial2Do allows you to send voice email messages that end up as text messages in your recipient’s email inbox. You can have up to 100 contacts in Dial2Do and Evernote can be one of them. So for example if you can call Dial2Do and leave a voice message that ends up as a text note in your Evernote account. Very cool. Both services are free though Evernote also provides a premium account. never loose a note again.

happy computing.

The dawn of a new era….. Windows 7

October 8th, 2009

zziwndows7What if a new version of Windows didn’t try to dazzle you? What if, instead, it tried to disappear except when you needed it? Such an operating system would dispense with glitzy effects in favour of low-key, useful new features. Rather than pelting you with alerts, warnings, and requests, it would try to stay out of your face. And if any bundled applications weren’t essential, it would dump ‘em.

It’s not a what-if scenario. Windows 7, is set to arrive on new PCs and as a shrinkwrapped upgrade on October 22, it has a minimalist feel and attempts to fix the bad tate that vista left in so many mouths. In contrast, Windows Vista offered a flashy new interface, but its poor performance, compatibility gotchas, and lack of compelling features made some folks regret upgrading and others refuse to leave Windows XP.

For the last 6 months the team at la-rg-e have been testing the final relase version of Windows 7 and we are happy to give it our seal of approval. The final shipping version that goes on sale at the end of October is the worthy successor to Windows XP that Vista never was

For more information regarding upgrades and new PC’s runnig windows 7 contact our sales team

Microsoft Security Essentials

October 7th, 2009

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So the good news is that Microsoft have now released a free virus solution, yea you read that right free.. as in chips… I know it took a while for that to sink in for me as well.. We have been running it in the office for the last few days as i can recommend it 100%. below is the official guff from the site:

Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a free* download from Microsoft that is simple to install, easy to use, and always kept up to date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology. It’s easy to tell if your PC is secure — when you’re green, you’re good. It’s that simple.

Microsoft Security Essentials runs quietly and efficiently in the background so that you are free to use your Windows-based PC the way you want—without interruptions or long computer wait times.

more info can be found here