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In general, downloading stuff from the
internet is pretty
scary and we don't recommend it unless you
are sure
you can trust the site from which you're
downloading.
But, even if you never download by choice,
cookies and temporary files
will be
downloaded onto your computer without your
knowledge. Some of our Space Control
technicians
have discovered a couple of free computer
utilities that
work so well I thought we would pass that
information
along to you.
Disk Cleanup. If you use the internet
at all,
there are
probably a lot of files building up on your
computer
that are labeled temporary but turn
out to be not
so temporary. When you're on the internet,
the web
pages you visit store programs and files on your
computer. They may be used while you're on
that web
page but aren't needed after you exit it.
Your web
browser also stores the addresses of every
web page
you visit. (Think about that!) The
Operating System
adds some temporary files and logs. The
Recycle bin
doesn't automatically get emptied. It starts
to add up.
There's a free program called CCleaner
that
can clean up all that extraneous stuff. It
was PC Pro's
Software of the Year, CNET made it their
Editor's
Choice, and many users give it rave reviews.
That's
because: it works, it's free, and it's soooo
fast.
Windows has a Disk Cleanup utility but it takes
awhile. CCleaner took 50 seconds to cleanup
all the
crap on my computer. (I'm told that's what
the C
stands for: CrapCleaner, but that's not
official.)
Anti-virus. The other free program
we're using
at Space
Control
is AVG anti-virus software. AVG has
several
versions for sale but they also offer a free
version---it's
hard to find on their web page but I've
listed the direct
link below. This one offers the same
benefits as
CCleaner: it works, it's free, and it is
very fast. I used
to have a well-known anti-virus program on my
computer (Brand X). It also worked. The
cost wasn't
bad. But the biggest problem was that it
literally took
over my computer daily (and sometimes more than
once) to download, install, run, scan. It's
very
frustrating to try to use your computer only
to find that
Brand X is using up 100% of your CPU, and
then it
seems to just go on, and on.
As with all anti-virus software, AVG must be
updated
regularly to stay ahead of the viruses trying
to get into
our computers. AVG will update automatically
when
you start up your computer but it is so fast
you barely
notice it.
CCleaner can be downloaded from
http://www.ccleaner.com
The free AVG product is at
http://www.free.avg.com
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If your computer is five or more years old,
now's the
time to move up to a new model. You can get
a much
faster system with more memory and storage
capacity, at a very reasonable price.
Five years ago
we bought a new computer for one of our support
technicians. It came with 512 megabytes of
memory,
the hard drive could store 75 gigabytes, and
it cost
$830. That was just the processor, no
monitor, no
mouse or keyboard. Now you can get 2
GIGAbytes of
memory (4 times as much) and a 250 GB hard drive
for less than $500. That's three to four
times as much
hardware for less money. Not many things
that we
purchase get cheaper year after year.
In his new book, Free, Chris Anderson
says
that the price of speed and memory are cut in
half
every two years. And every nine months the
speed at
which data can be transferred over
fiber-optic cables
doubles. That, and the vast internet
audience, allows
companies like AVG and CCleaner (in the above
article)
to give away their
basic software to most people and sell their
premium
product to the few willing to pay for it.
Because software companies build for newer
computers, everything you install on your
computer is
using more memory than it used to. Operating
systems get bigger and bigger so it's usually
not a
good idea to put a new operating system on an
old
computer. It won't have enough memory to run it
properly. Your word processor uses more memory
than older versions. And so do email and
internet
programs.
Memory is also cheaper now. If your computer
is less
than five years old, consider adding memory
to it. You
can put up to three GB on these machines and
get a
lot of benefit from it.
Check the Dell or HP sites online and see
what kind
of deals they're offering. Their specials
change from
day to day, but there's always some deal
happening.
Be sure to look for XP-Pro or Vista Business 32
Edition (not 64 bit).
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Since most of our users have access systems, we
thought some maintenance tips might prove
useful.
Of course any mechanical system requires
upkeep.
Luckily, gate systems are relatively simple.
You
should always follow the manufacturer's
instructions,
but here are some general
tips. Think of this as easy, low cost insurance.
If you have any questions about gate
maintenance or installation or,
if you don't have a gate system and would like some
help in
choosing one, give Gilbert Bohen a call at
800-663-8688.
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That we have a new version of NX.gen that emails
reports in PDF format? This means that you
don't
need Word on the computer that receives and
displays the report. This version also does
not print
letters or invoices if they are emailed. The
more email
addresses you get, the more money you save on
postage.
PDF is a more generic format that can be
displayed
on many different kinds of hardware---even your
iPhone. When you get this new version, be
sure to
update your Adobe Reader software. You'll
need the
most recent Adobe update to get a good copy.
Contact our Support Department to find out
about the
new version of NX.gen. Or for help in
updating Adobe
Reader. Call 877-591-0455 or email
support@spacecontrol.com.
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We've decided not to go to the fall trade shows this year. We're busy building a new Space Control system that will be web-based. More about that in the future.
Ramona Taylor
Space Control Systems, Inc.
email:
rtaylor@spacecontrol.com
phone:
1-800-455-9055
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Space Control Systems, Inc. | 206 Providence Mine Rd. | Suite 118 | Nevada City | CA | 95959/font> |