CST News

Another busy month is half gone! And the year pretty much half gone also. In fact I have just filled out a survey for New World on Christmas purchasing and shopping experiences. Already Christmas planning is underway!

We have had a grand daughter’s third birthday party this month. Those who are grandparents will know the joy these hold – so much fun and great to see the little eyes light up. The other big news is of course our other granddaughter Charlotte, who has had a princess named after her! We always knew our Charlotte was a princess anyway!

Many of you will remember Dave Scott who worked for us here last year. As good fortune would have it, we have just appointed Dave as a new staff member at ProSouth in Dunedin. So if you are in Dunedin and want to deal with a familiar face for your IT, give Dave a call on 03 470 1321. I am sure he will be only too happy to help you.

Do I need An Antivirus Program On My Computer?

We are often asked this question. The simple answer is no. The better answer is no IF you are techno savvy enough to look out for yourself and be vigilant in what you press when something unexpected pops up on your screen. Blake does not have an antivirus on his computer BUT he knows how to fix blunders and he knows what to watch out for. For most of us, the presence of an antivirus just means that it is one thing we can leave to something else – one less thing to worry about.

What is the difference between a free one and a pay one? There are a number of free AV’s out there and the general rule of thumb is that you get what you pay for. The pay versions will have more features than the free ones is the simple answer. For example, the pay versions will often have a package installed which will allow you to track a laptop should it be stolen or lost. The free versions do not have that! Some of the free ones perform better than others. Check around with others.

What about antivirus on a mac computer? We hear so frequently that Macs do not get viruses so they do not need protection. If that is the case, why do the big Antivirus software companies sell Mac versions now – they all do? Have a look at these two websites – here and here. The answer would seem to be that Macs are vulnerable today.
What about my android phone? Can it get viruses? The answer to this question is technically no. However as with all these questions, there is a BUT. The but in this case is that phones can become infected with malware. This is malicious software which secretly controls your or harvests info from the phone. There is software out there to control this – ring us to ask.

The last question then is which antivirus do I use? On the basis of over 12 years selling computers and software, we recommend NOD32. We have found it to be good at intercepting nasties and it does not slow the performance of your computer as others can do. Have a look at this set of independent test results and see where NOD finishes up. If you want another antivirus specifically, do not hesitate to ask. We can supply others but much prefer NOD.

Did You Know?

I am not sure where I stole these off the net and not even sure if they are correct. I have checked a few and they seem kosher.
1. There are more fake flamingos in the world than real.
2. Half of all humans who have ever lived, died from malaria.
3. Once Charlie Chaplin entered a contest for “Charlie Chaplin look-alikes” and he came in third
4. Of all the people in history that have reached 65 years of age, half of them are living right now.
5. When your mother was born, she was already carrying the egg that would become you.
6. Lighters were invented before matches.
7. Potatoes aren’t actually originally from Ireland… they’re from Peru.
8. Otters sleep holding hands.
9. You have no sense of smell when you are asleep.
10. It is criminal offence to drive around in a dirty car in Russia.
11. Nutella was invented during WWII, when an Italian pastry maker mixed hazelnuts into chocolate to extend his chocolate ration.
12. Only one McDonald’s in the world has turquoise arches. Sedona, Arizona thought yellow clashed with the natural red rock.
13. Calvin Klein’s Obsession for Men is used by researchers to attract animals to cameras in the wilderness.
14. The medical term for ice cream headaches is sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia.
15. Blue is a psychological appetite suppressant – if you eat off a blue plate, you will eat less.
16. Firefighters used to dip their beards in water and breathe through the wet hairs clenched between their teeth before breathing apparatuses were invented.
17. A group of kangaroos is called a mob
18. Humpty Dumpty’s rhyme doesn’t say he’s an egg
19. Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
20. Bubble wrap was originally meant to be a wallpaper
MCDONALDS PIC

Stop! Don’t Click!
An interesting article from HP which has just arrived in my email. Though it is targeted at business users, much of the advice is usable at home.

Universal Power Adapter

If the power adapter for your laptop dies – and they do now and then – do not despair! Instead of getting the genuine model which may take a few days to get into stock, consider the Universal Adapter. This is an adapter that has about 12 different tips in the box and so will work on lots of different laptops. As well, they are electronically smart enough to choose the right current and voltage to operate at. Normally an adapter works only on one or two different laptops because the tip will be different and the voltage will be different.

We sell these for $85 each and will check in the shop to make sure they work on your laptop.

Check the equivalent products sold by the big boys in town – frequently around $140. So you do not need the trip to Dunedin and you do not need to pay the high Dunedin prices.

25 Common Phrases

Sue and I both get a little (lot?) upset about incorrect spelling and phrases. I thought this was a good list and saved me lots of typing time.

SPAM Emails

Do you get sick of your inbox being cluttered up with rubbish promoting 20% off stuff you never buy anyway? My favourite eldest daughter Paula (who some of you will no doubt remember) has just sent me this link to a site where you can unsubscribe to junk mail in one easy process and then get what is left over in one email digest. Could be worth a try…

Family Story

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.

After explaining the commandment to ‘honour’ thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?”

Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, “Thou shall not kill.”

Late Story – Windows 10

Just a late addition to the newsletter of a relatively easy to read article on Windows 10. The article does not give too much away but has a few clues as to what to expect.