When photographing handheld at slow shutter speeds there is an inherent danger that a certain amount of camera shake will record on film. The degree of shake is dependent upon just how slow the shutter speed is, how long a lens is mounted on the camera, and how steadily the camera is held. Generally, with moderate or short focal length lenses, camera shake becomes a factor at 1/60 or 1/30 second, although some photographers claim that they can handhold without shake at speeds as slow as 1/15 second.
The problem becomes multiplied as focal length increases; as the lens becomes heavier or longer, even the steadiest photographer needs help. As a guideline, follow the reciprocal focal length rule: put a 1/ over the focal length in use, and that's the minimum shutter speed that will usually guarantee a steady picture. For example, if shooting with a 250mm lens, 1/250 second is probably the slowest speed to shoot handheld.
Camera shake is virtually eliminated with the use of a tripod, a three-legged device with camera-mounting platform, and is reduced somewhat with a monopod, a single-legged version. The camera is attached to the tripod or monopod on a platform via a screw that fits the recessed bushing on the bottom plate of the camera. Certain long lenses also have recessed bushings on a ring mount around the lens barrel. The lens mount shifts the weight from the camera body to the often heavier telephoto lens. Quick-release plates attach to both camera and tripod, and allow for mounting and disengaging without having to screw or unscrew the camera from the platform.
Here are some matters to consider when looking for a tripod:
Height Adjustment:
The height of the tripod can be adjusted for different users or points of view. Each leg of the tripod can be extended two or three times the compacted height via a telescoping tube system. Once extended, the legs are made fast by tightening a bolt or snapping closed a swiveled lock. At the base of each leg is a rubber pad, which both protects flooring and carpeting and creates a non-skid contact. On many tripods these pads can be removed and replaced with points, more suited to working in the great outdoors, where it can be secured by literally sticking it into the ground. Match tripod height to your own and to others who might be using the equipment. Make sure that a comfortable viewing height does not require full extension of the legs. This may cause instability and the danger of tipping.
Tripod Weight:
In general, thick-legged tripods are both heavier and more secure, although more expensive pro tripods use lightweight metal to cut down on the weight. When considering a tripod, this weight/security tradeoff must be taken into account. The use of the tripod--for field shooting or in the studio--will often determine which is more important.
Tripod Capability - Camera Size:
The size and weight of the camera will also play a role in this choice; make sure the tripod is designed for the camera at hand. But be aware of the overall weight and what it will mean--trudging through the woods with a very heavy tripod will dampen anyone's enthusiasm for photography before long. If a lightweight tripod is used avoid extending the legs to their maximum height, as this may result in a top-heavy condition, causing the setup to topple with the slightest touch or breeze. Take note of this when buying such a tripod, and be aware that this may reduce its useful extension-length by as much as a third. The top plate, or tripod head must be able to handle the size and weight of the camera. It also should swivel and lock for shooting in both vertical and horizontal positions. Nearly all tripods have this feature, but less lightweight models tend to give less support on the vertical plane.
Compact Tripods:
Very compact tripods, which telescope down to a foot or less for easy carrying, are available in both thin- and thick-legged versions. Their compactness limits their extension length, but they can be useful for working close to the ground or on a table top. They can also be stood up on a car hood or roof, or even on a flat rock for general outdoor work. Their size makes them a constant and unobtrusive part of most every camera bag.
Center Post Extensions:
While the leg extensions are one way to raise and lower the camera level, many tripods also have a center post extensions. This post may be raised with a hand crank located near the tripod "neck" or via a push/pull air-cushion system. Generally, use center post extensions for fine tuning levels--raising them to their maximum height can effect overall stability, particularly with heavier cameras. Once the desired level is attained, with leg and/or center post extensions, always lock-in the adjustments--slippage can be disastrous.
Leg Options:
Tripods have either fixed legs (they can only be spread so far) or legs that splay in any number of configurations, even at different extensions. If working indoors a fixed leg model is fine; if shooting on rough terrain a more flexible tripod can be leveled to match any topography, even uphill. Working with a bubble level will help in evening out horizon lines.
Tripod Heads:
Quality tripods allow for interchangeable heads. For example, switching to a so-called panning head allows rotation of the camera with a handle along a horizontal or vertical plane. This is more useful for motion than still pictures, but can be used to "pan" along with a subject as it goes by--great for sports or wildlife--or merely to swing around the scene to find the best composition. A ball head allows rotation to any angle; this ball and socket arrangement also has a threaded camera screw. Ball heads need some getting used to, but in many ways are the most versatile heads, as they allow virtually any camera position.
Monopods:
Monopods, as the name implies, are one-legged camera supports that usually come with a simple threaded screw platform head, although many allow for interchangeable heads as well. A favorite of sports photographers--who often must move quickly to follow the action or avoid it--they are often utilized for working with long telephoto lenses. Monopods are extended by the same telescoping leg system as tripods. Though not as stable as their tri-legged cousins for very long exposures, they do give more stability than handheld shooting in the 1/30 to 1/8 second range. The charm of a monopod is that it takes up very little space and can be used as a substitute for a tripod in many situations.
Tripod Accessory:
One small accessory that is a natural mate to a tripod or monopod is a cable release. Available in lengths that range from 6-inches to a few feet, the release allows shutter firing without the need to touch the camera. This comes in handy for long exposures, as it eliminates the danger of accidental camera shake caused by the pressure of the finger as it hits the release button. In fact, lack of a cable release may actually defeat the purpose of a tripod.
A cable release is a long wire inside a cloth or metallic binding; when a plunger on one end of the wire is pressed a pin on the other injects into the threaded shutter release socket to fire the shutter. Some cameras have electronic cable releases, which generate a small charge which sets off the shutter. Radio or remote control releases allow for firing from as far as 200 feet away.
Tripod Investment:
There's no question a tripod is necessary, regardless of the camera format, for macro photography, with long telephoto lenses and for night or low light photography. That's why buying the best tripod one can afford is an excellent investment; an unsteady, unwieldy tripod is next to useless
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Three Steps to Choosing Your Domain Name
If there is one thing that can make or can break an online business, it's the domain name. That little www.YOURWEBSITE.com name is going to help guide customer to you and to your business, but only if you spend some time thinking about the perfect way to 'light' your business' door. There are three steps that can help you choose the right domain name for you, your business, and for the curiosity of your customers.
Name Your Business or Your Product
It only makes sense that you need to name your business before you can think about choosing a domain name. When you are choosing your business name, you want to remember that overall goals of your business as well as the audience you are looking to attract. For example, if you are trying to target children and their parents, you can choose something that's a bit more whimsical. But if you are trying to draw in a proper, business crowd, you need to choose something that makes you seem professional. It's best to start by listing possible business names, in order of how much you life them. If you can also incorporate your product into this name, that's all the better.
Now, with the list you have, you will want to find a few that are really working well for the image you want to create. But for a domain name, you need to make sure it's not too long for your customers to remember. What names can be either shortened or area already short without losing the information you wish to covey? Those should be your front runners.
Check Out Your Competitors
Of course, it never hurts to look at your competition to see what they are using for their domain names. While you won't be able to copy them directly, you might be able to get an idea of their format. For example, if you are looking to create a doll business, you might see that the competition is 'The Doll Business' and yours could be 'A Doll Business.' While they're still conveying the same information, they're slightly different. It can be a little tricky to choose a name in this way as there are many potential issues with copyright (especially when your business is similar to a really big corporation), so when you're in doubt, check with a copyright lawyer or the copyright office. In the end, it can be difficult to show that someone tried to copy someone else intentionally, but since you're probably going to be the smaller of the two businesses, it is sometimes better to play it safe.
Think About Domain Names You Already Like
In your current internet account, you probably have a list of the Favorite places you like to go. By looking through this list, check to see what site names you like best and then think about why. Often, these website names will be so easy to remember that you won't even have to look at your list to recall them. These domain names are usually short, branded names, and aren't strangely spelled. You should follow these examples.
In addition, your domain name needs to be something that is not already picked - but this can help you even more. When you go to a domain registrar, you can type in the names that you want to use, see if they're available, and if not, you might be able to see other similar names that are. This will help you further refine your domain name choices, while also helping you see whether you have a competitor with a similar name.
Your domain name is the signpost on the 'outside' of your online business - what message are you conveying to your customers? And what you want people to think?
Name Your Business or Your Product
It only makes sense that you need to name your business before you can think about choosing a domain name. When you are choosing your business name, you want to remember that overall goals of your business as well as the audience you are looking to attract. For example, if you are trying to target children and their parents, you can choose something that's a bit more whimsical. But if you are trying to draw in a proper, business crowd, you need to choose something that makes you seem professional. It's best to start by listing possible business names, in order of how much you life them. If you can also incorporate your product into this name, that's all the better.
Now, with the list you have, you will want to find a few that are really working well for the image you want to create. But for a domain name, you need to make sure it's not too long for your customers to remember. What names can be either shortened or area already short without losing the information you wish to covey? Those should be your front runners.
Check Out Your Competitors
Of course, it never hurts to look at your competition to see what they are using for their domain names. While you won't be able to copy them directly, you might be able to get an idea of their format. For example, if you are looking to create a doll business, you might see that the competition is 'The Doll Business' and yours could be 'A Doll Business.' While they're still conveying the same information, they're slightly different. It can be a little tricky to choose a name in this way as there are many potential issues with copyright (especially when your business is similar to a really big corporation), so when you're in doubt, check with a copyright lawyer or the copyright office. In the end, it can be difficult to show that someone tried to copy someone else intentionally, but since you're probably going to be the smaller of the two businesses, it is sometimes better to play it safe.
Think About Domain Names You Already Like
In your current internet account, you probably have a list of the Favorite places you like to go. By looking through this list, check to see what site names you like best and then think about why. Often, these website names will be so easy to remember that you won't even have to look at your list to recall them. These domain names are usually short, branded names, and aren't strangely spelled. You should follow these examples.
In addition, your domain name needs to be something that is not already picked - but this can help you even more. When you go to a domain registrar, you can type in the names that you want to use, see if they're available, and if not, you might be able to see other similar names that are. This will help you further refine your domain name choices, while also helping you see whether you have a competitor with a similar name.
Your domain name is the signpost on the 'outside' of your online business - what message are you conveying to your customers? And what you want people to think?
How Your Web Site Design Plays a Role in the Web Host You Go With
Sometimes a web site design plays a role in which web host you choose to go with. The service of web hosting is tremendous and varies from one host to another. For example if your web design on your web page is to be very basic and include a small amount of file hosting (which means "files can be uploaded via FTP or a web interface") then you could go with a web hosting service that offers a very basic amateur or beginner value package. In this case files are uploaded to the net basically "as is" and little designing or modifications are needed.
Keep in mind when it comes to web site design that you want to keep your costs as low as possible but yet you want the web page to be as professional as possible. Think affordable web site design and custom web site design.
For a complex business oriented website look for an intensive web hosting package. When web page design is to be complex, one needs to find a web host that allows for database support as well as application development platforms. Some examples of these include ASP.NET, Java and PHP. This type of web hosting services makes it possible for customers to do such things as "to write or install scripts for applications like forums and content management." If e-commerce is on your agenda then a secure socket layer (SSL) is an absolute necessity and 128-bit encryption is the best way to go.
If you choose to get a hosted shopping cart (or online storefront) you will also require a supported gateway because gateways make it possible for shopping carts to link up with credit cards in real offline time. This is what you need. The most reliable shopping carts will be able to process payments from the larger payment processing companies that exist online and therefore you need a web host that will adequately provide you with the e-commerce services you need to run your site.
If yours is to be a "database driven website" then the database accommodation of the web host could play a big role in which one you go with. For example, if your web page design includes SQL scripting language then it will be necessary that it can read whatever you choose to use in the HTML of your web pages in order to gain access to the particular database, for example if you choose to use PHP.
How much space you need on your website makes a difference when choosing a web host for your professional web page design. Keep in mind that a web host basically means that you are renting or purchasing space on someone else’s hard drive. As a general rule, a disk space of 50MB is sufficient room for twenty plus web pages and this is approximately the size of a medium to small business website. The more images, sounds, applets or animation you decide to include on your web page, the more disk space you will require. These things are all important aspects of your web page design.
Keep in mind when it comes to web site design that you want to keep your costs as low as possible but yet you want the web page to be as professional as possible. Think affordable web site design and custom web site design.
For a complex business oriented website look for an intensive web hosting package. When web page design is to be complex, one needs to find a web host that allows for database support as well as application development platforms. Some examples of these include ASP.NET, Java and PHP. This type of web hosting services makes it possible for customers to do such things as "to write or install scripts for applications like forums and content management." If e-commerce is on your agenda then a secure socket layer (SSL) is an absolute necessity and 128-bit encryption is the best way to go.
If you choose to get a hosted shopping cart (or online storefront) you will also require a supported gateway because gateways make it possible for shopping carts to link up with credit cards in real offline time. This is what you need. The most reliable shopping carts will be able to process payments from the larger payment processing companies that exist online and therefore you need a web host that will adequately provide you with the e-commerce services you need to run your site.
If yours is to be a "database driven website" then the database accommodation of the web host could play a big role in which one you go with. For example, if your web page design includes SQL scripting language then it will be necessary that it can read whatever you choose to use in the HTML of your web pages in order to gain access to the particular database, for example if you choose to use PHP.
How much space you need on your website makes a difference when choosing a web host for your professional web page design. Keep in mind that a web host basically means that you are renting or purchasing space on someone else’s hard drive. As a general rule, a disk space of 50MB is sufficient room for twenty plus web pages and this is approximately the size of a medium to small business website. The more images, sounds, applets or animation you decide to include on your web page, the more disk space you will require. These things are all important aspects of your web page design.
Finding the Right Web Host
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Finding the Right Web Host
Choosing the right Web Hosting service for your website can be a little bit confusing. There are so many choices out there and many people aren't exactly sure what they should be looking for.
Here are a few things you should take into consideration when looking for a Web Host:
File Storage Space/ Disk Space
How much disk space do you need? That depends on how many files (pages) you plan to upload to your hosting space. If it's a personal or ecommerce site (a site that sells products) with just a few pages and graphics, than 25 MB of disk space a month should be more than enough. If it's a multi-page site such as an online shopping mall, then 2000 MB would be safe.
Storage space is specified in kilobytes KB, megabytes MB, or gigabytes GB, a megabyte is 1000 kilobytes and a gigabyte is 1000 megabytes.
Bandwidth / Traffic / Transfer
All words above are used interchangeably. It's the amount of data that flows through your site, the amount of hits or how many people visit your site. If you're expecting a few hundred hits a day then 10, 15 of 25 GB of Transfer should be enough. If you're expecting hundreds of thousands of hits every month then you should get a hosting account with as much Bandwidth as possible. Bandwidth is usually expressed in Gigabytes.
CGI
Common Gateway Interface is a protocol script used to make your site dynamic. Flash banners, moving objects. With the right web design program or scripting knowledge and a host that offers CGI you can easily bring your site to life.
FrontPage Extensions
Now-a-days more sites are offering FrontPage extensions. Microsoft FrontPage is a WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) web design program that lets you easily create web pages while the software does all the coding behind the scenes. The great thing about using FrontPage and having a host with FrontPage extensions is once you design your WebPages all you have to do is click one button that says "publish site" and all your pages go from your computer to your hosting space with one click.
Shared Hosting / Dedicated Servers
Shared hosting, or sometimes called basic hosting means that the web space that you rent will be shared on the same web server with other clients of the company you've purchased web space from. This is the most common.
If you purchase a dedicated server it means your website will have its own unique server. This is the preferred choice for sites with a huge amount of traffic and many graphics that would take too long to load on a shared server.
Finding a Web Host can be confusing if you're not sure what to look for. If you're planning on having an average website with a few hundred hits or fewer a days, than shared hosting is the way to go.
Finding the Right Web Host
Choosing the right Web Hosting service for your website can be a little bit confusing. There are so many choices out there and many people aren't exactly sure what they should be looking for.
Here are a few things you should take into consideration when looking for a Web Host:
File Storage Space/ Disk Space
How much disk space do you need? That depends on how many files (pages) you plan to upload to your hosting space. If it's a personal or ecommerce site (a site that sells products) with just a few pages and graphics, than 25 MB of disk space a month should be more than enough. If it's a multi-page site such as an online shopping mall, then 2000 MB would be safe.
Storage space is specified in kilobytes KB, megabytes MB, or gigabytes GB, a megabyte is 1000 kilobytes and a gigabyte is 1000 megabytes.
Bandwidth / Traffic / Transfer
All words above are used interchangeably. It's the amount of data that flows through your site, the amount of hits or how many people visit your site. If you're expecting a few hundred hits a day then 10, 15 of 25 GB of Transfer should be enough. If you're expecting hundreds of thousands of hits every month then you should get a hosting account with as much Bandwidth as possible. Bandwidth is usually expressed in Gigabytes.
CGI
Common Gateway Interface is a protocol script used to make your site dynamic. Flash banners, moving objects. With the right web design program or scripting knowledge and a host that offers CGI you can easily bring your site to life.
FrontPage Extensions
Now-a-days more sites are offering FrontPage extensions. Microsoft FrontPage is a WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) web design program that lets you easily create web pages while the software does all the coding behind the scenes. The great thing about using FrontPage and having a host with FrontPage extensions is once you design your WebPages all you have to do is click one button that says "publish site" and all your pages go from your computer to your hosting space with one click.
Shared Hosting / Dedicated Servers
Shared hosting, or sometimes called basic hosting means that the web space that you rent will be shared on the same web server with other clients of the company you've purchased web space from. This is the most common.
If you purchase a dedicated server it means your website will have its own unique server. This is the preferred choice for sites with a huge amount of traffic and many graphics that would take too long to load on a shared server.
Finding a Web Host can be confusing if you're not sure what to look for. If you're planning on having an average website with a few hundred hits or fewer a days, than shared hosting is the way to go.
Planning and Research - Important part of Web Design
A ‘website design’ requires a lot of planning and research along with good bit of effort. But with the march of the time, now we have some excellent and easy procedures and measures, which help a lot in course of website designing. Now it is not a tough job any more to create a good and professional website with not so advanced skill (still, at least a minimum level of designing skill necessary though) and in very less amount of time. When you are designing a web site, then you must have a good collection of web logos, web templates and some other important components, which are very much important in case of web designing.
Now, it is very much important to have a particular plan much before designing a website, depending upon your goal to design the website. Now along with the planning it is also quite important to realize the goal, for which you are designing the web site. Now, if you are not clear to these objectives, your intention of good website design may fail. It is also essential to collect through data about your business strategies, pricing and the customers before starting to design the website. If possible try to conduct a market survey and obtain the proper result before designing.
Now, start to make and execute the plans, which are to be made after the decision of the website development. When the whole thing is decided, at first you have to choose the proper template so that it can match your requirements. You can find many finely designed web templates in various websites, which are totally free of cost and free for circulation and modification. Otherwise, you can buy templates too. There are lots of companies, who are providing nice web templates in very reasonable rate. While buying, you will have the options of buying a ‘copy-right’ template or a ‘non copy-right template’. Certainly, the price of the ‘copy right template’ is in the higher side. One thing should be noted that a website needs thorough up gradation and total maintenance. While up grading, you may add several new contents, new links or images, and updates to your website. Now, since these inclusions are necessary, so it is also essential that web-template is easily upgradeable. In fact, edit some portions of the web development template as par your necessity.
Now, you have to put then related contents to the web template you have. The contents include the images, texts, flash objects and many other things. Now it is important to add contents considering the physical web space you have. You content should be limited within the physical space. Now you can add the contents to the template by using various editors like MS FrontPage or even Dream Weaver. Now after these works you have to link the template (filled with various contents) to a certain domain address. It is important to have a domain address, which is simple to pronounce.
Now, some people are designing the websites in professional basis. In fact, web site designing is simple job if the mentioned tips are followed thoroughly.
Now, it is very much important to have a particular plan much before designing a website, depending upon your goal to design the website. Now along with the planning it is also quite important to realize the goal, for which you are designing the web site. Now, if you are not clear to these objectives, your intention of good website design may fail. It is also essential to collect through data about your business strategies, pricing and the customers before starting to design the website. If possible try to conduct a market survey and obtain the proper result before designing.
Now, start to make and execute the plans, which are to be made after the decision of the website development. When the whole thing is decided, at first you have to choose the proper template so that it can match your requirements. You can find many finely designed web templates in various websites, which are totally free of cost and free for circulation and modification. Otherwise, you can buy templates too. There are lots of companies, who are providing nice web templates in very reasonable rate. While buying, you will have the options of buying a ‘copy-right’ template or a ‘non copy-right template’. Certainly, the price of the ‘copy right template’ is in the higher side. One thing should be noted that a website needs thorough up gradation and total maintenance. While up grading, you may add several new contents, new links or images, and updates to your website. Now, since these inclusions are necessary, so it is also essential that web-template is easily upgradeable. In fact, edit some portions of the web development template as par your necessity.
Now, you have to put then related contents to the web template you have. The contents include the images, texts, flash objects and many other things. Now it is important to add contents considering the physical web space you have. You content should be limited within the physical space. Now you can add the contents to the template by using various editors like MS FrontPage or even Dream Weaver. Now after these works you have to link the template (filled with various contents) to a certain domain address. It is important to have a domain address, which is simple to pronounce.
Now, some people are designing the websites in professional basis. In fact, web site designing is simple job if the mentioned tips are followed thoroughly.
Web Hosting Strategy for Managing Multiple Websites
If you are making a comfortable living from the Internet and the Web or have a plan to achieve that goal, it's likely that you are running more than ten websites. The websites are your virtual offices. You want to your sites to be up and running 365 days, 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. Managing multiple websites is a daunting task if running one website is a hobby.
Proposed Hosting Strategy for Managing Multiple Websites
The hosting strategy we propose is to host your multiple major websites with 3-4 different hosting companies, and open a reseller account with another hosting company for 1) small and new websites, 2) web development and 3) backup. Hosting with too many hosting companies will significantly increase the time and the difficulty of managing sites, and using a single hosting company isn't a smart choice either.
Justification of the Hosting Strategy
Cost - Cost of the Web hosting isn't an issue for running a single web site whether it costs $5 or $25 a month. The difference is only a few hundred dollars or less a year. It's always nice and smart to get the most out of every single dollar in doing business. At least, a few hundred dollars difference wouldn't make or break a business. If you run 10 or even 50 websites, the cost of Web hosting alone will define the success or failure of your online adventure. To cut the hosting cost, the option is to use a reseller hosting account to host as many small or new sites as you want for about $15 a month. You host one or 2 major websites with one hosting company. Shared hosting account costs under $10 a month, and dedicated server will cost $50 or more a month.
Uptime - If your bread-and-butter maker website is down for a few hours, you'll lose hundreds of dollars and more. Even though most hosting companies promise 99.9% uptime, it's not common to see a website down for a few hours. A site could be down for a half day or even more if a hosting company is doing a major update. The hosting company may do the update in a weekend or a major holiday, but that's when many family-oriented and travel sites generate their revenues. If you could afford the loss of revenues, many websites owners can't bear the psychological loss and pressure. Hosting your sites with a few hosting companies will reduce the risk of downtime.
Application Development - For simple web application, webmasters will do development on the same production hosting site. If your ecommerce applications are complex, doing development on the production site may bring down the live site especially if you're in the process of changing configuration files or install customized applications. The option is setup a website on your reseller account for development and testing, and move the applications to production account on another server after the completion.
Backup - If you're not happy with a hosting company, a hosting company is out of business, or the servers will be down for a day or two, you can easily temporarily or permanently switch from one hosting company to other since you're familiar with the site managing tools already. If you have a backup or secondary copy running on another server, all you need for the switch is the transfer of the domain, which will take no more than a minute.
Shop Before You Buy
There're too many hosting plans to choose from a large number of hosting companies - ASP Web Hosting, Budget Hosting, Dedicated Servers, eCommerce Hosting, FrontPage Web Hosting, Hosting With Templates Managed Web Hosting, PHP Web Hosting, Reseller Hosting, Shared Hosting, Unix / Linux Hosting, Virtual Private Servers, Windows Hosting or Co-location Hosting. Compare the cost, hosting features, tracking records of hosting companies before making your commitment. Good luck with your online adventures.
Proposed Hosting Strategy for Managing Multiple Websites
The hosting strategy we propose is to host your multiple major websites with 3-4 different hosting companies, and open a reseller account with another hosting company for 1) small and new websites, 2) web development and 3) backup. Hosting with too many hosting companies will significantly increase the time and the difficulty of managing sites, and using a single hosting company isn't a smart choice either.
Justification of the Hosting Strategy
Cost - Cost of the Web hosting isn't an issue for running a single web site whether it costs $5 or $25 a month. The difference is only a few hundred dollars or less a year. It's always nice and smart to get the most out of every single dollar in doing business. At least, a few hundred dollars difference wouldn't make or break a business. If you run 10 or even 50 websites, the cost of Web hosting alone will define the success or failure of your online adventure. To cut the hosting cost, the option is to use a reseller hosting account to host as many small or new sites as you want for about $15 a month. You host one or 2 major websites with one hosting company. Shared hosting account costs under $10 a month, and dedicated server will cost $50 or more a month.
Uptime - If your bread-and-butter maker website is down for a few hours, you'll lose hundreds of dollars and more. Even though most hosting companies promise 99.9% uptime, it's not common to see a website down for a few hours. A site could be down for a half day or even more if a hosting company is doing a major update. The hosting company may do the update in a weekend or a major holiday, but that's when many family-oriented and travel sites generate their revenues. If you could afford the loss of revenues, many websites owners can't bear the psychological loss and pressure. Hosting your sites with a few hosting companies will reduce the risk of downtime.
Application Development - For simple web application, webmasters will do development on the same production hosting site. If your ecommerce applications are complex, doing development on the production site may bring down the live site especially if you're in the process of changing configuration files or install customized applications. The option is setup a website on your reseller account for development and testing, and move the applications to production account on another server after the completion.
Backup - If you're not happy with a hosting company, a hosting company is out of business, or the servers will be down for a day or two, you can easily temporarily or permanently switch from one hosting company to other since you're familiar with the site managing tools already. If you have a backup or secondary copy running on another server, all you need for the switch is the transfer of the domain, which will take no more than a minute.
Shop Before You Buy
There're too many hosting plans to choose from a large number of hosting companies - ASP Web Hosting, Budget Hosting, Dedicated Servers, eCommerce Hosting, FrontPage Web Hosting, Hosting With Templates Managed Web Hosting, PHP Web Hosting, Reseller Hosting, Shared Hosting, Unix / Linux Hosting, Virtual Private Servers, Windows Hosting or Co-location Hosting. Compare the cost, hosting features, tracking records of hosting companies before making your commitment. Good luck with your online adventures.
Registering a Domain Name
Registering a Domain Name
A domain name is that piece of information that makes up the address of your website. Getting, and registering, the right domain name is a crucial part of building a website because it should say something about you, the owner. Some domain name registration companies charge a lower price for registration than others but before you register there are a number of things that you should consider, and these are described below.
Domain names come with a number of different endings, .com, .net, .org, and a lot more, the decision is yours. Each ending says something about your website, whether it is local or international or informational and this can determine what sort of visitors you get to your site. If you want search engines like Google and Yahoo to find your website then you should try to incorporate some of your key words in your domain name. How you do this depends on whether you want people from all over the world visiting your site; or just people from your local area.
When you register your domain name choose something that is easy for visitors to remember. If you want a domain name that is unique to you then it is possible to register it with all of the different endings – no-one can register a domain name that has already been taken by someone else, there is always some differentiation. Try to keep your domain name short as it is easier to remember and to find.
Domain names are registered for different periods of time, so something that looks really cheap, say $1.99 may only be for six months after which you have to re-register. Some companies will allow you to reserve your domain name before you actually register.
You should shop around for domain name registration companies as some are much cheaper than others. There are probably hundreds of thousands of such companies online so domain name registration is a very competitive market – so take your time settling on a company.
Once you have found a domain name registration company that you would like to register with, go to their site. Somewhere near their pricing structure there should be a small box where you can enter the domain name that you wish to register.
The website will have information on which domain names are available and if that is the case then you will be notified immediately. If it comes back as not available then you have to find another (perhaps similar) domain name that has not been registered. When this is done you will be directed to complete the registration of your domain name by providing personal details and paying the registration fee. You can register your domain name for any period that you want, which means that you can register for a number of years, or you can register for a year and then renew that registration. Some domain registration companies also offer free web hosting, which you might want to consider – alternatively you can do this with a designated hosting company.
A domain name is that piece of information that makes up the address of your website. Getting, and registering, the right domain name is a crucial part of building a website because it should say something about you, the owner. Some domain name registration companies charge a lower price for registration than others but before you register there are a number of things that you should consider, and these are described below.
Domain names come with a number of different endings, .com, .net, .org, and a lot more, the decision is yours. Each ending says something about your website, whether it is local or international or informational and this can determine what sort of visitors you get to your site. If you want search engines like Google and Yahoo to find your website then you should try to incorporate some of your key words in your domain name. How you do this depends on whether you want people from all over the world visiting your site; or just people from your local area.
When you register your domain name choose something that is easy for visitors to remember. If you want a domain name that is unique to you then it is possible to register it with all of the different endings – no-one can register a domain name that has already been taken by someone else, there is always some differentiation. Try to keep your domain name short as it is easier to remember and to find.
Domain names are registered for different periods of time, so something that looks really cheap, say $1.99 may only be for six months after which you have to re-register. Some companies will allow you to reserve your domain name before you actually register.
You should shop around for domain name registration companies as some are much cheaper than others. There are probably hundreds of thousands of such companies online so domain name registration is a very competitive market – so take your time settling on a company.
Once you have found a domain name registration company that you would like to register with, go to their site. Somewhere near their pricing structure there should be a small box where you can enter the domain name that you wish to register.
The website will have information on which domain names are available and if that is the case then you will be notified immediately. If it comes back as not available then you have to find another (perhaps similar) domain name that has not been registered. When this is done you will be directed to complete the registration of your domain name by providing personal details and paying the registration fee. You can register your domain name for any period that you want, which means that you can register for a number of years, or you can register for a year and then renew that registration. Some domain registration companies also offer free web hosting, which you might want to consider – alternatively you can do this with a designated hosting company.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Understanding Live Data Backups With SBAdmin
As the need for system availability increases, especially in 24 hour operations, the backup "window" must decrease to prevent data from changing while being backed up.
Backing up "live" data can cause erroneous or partially updated files after such data is restored from a backup. This is particularly problematic with databases, which typically have relational data that must be kept in sync.
SBAdmin includes the ability to perform a snap shot, or point in time backup of any live data contained in Logical Volumes. Logical Volumes are software storage devices used exclusively on AIX systems and are quickly becoming a standard installation storage configuration on Linux systems.
Logical volumes are created by the Logical Volume Manager (LVM) package. SBAdmin performs snap shot backups by backing up an offline copy of all data in the logical volumes.
This allows users to continue to access and modify data in the online copy, while the backup includes all data as it was when the backup process started. This ensures the relational data, when restored, is all at the same point in time, no matter how long the backup takes.
SBAdmin uses a Split Mirror Backup process on AIX systems to capture data from an offline copy of a mirrored logical volume. All AIX systems use the Logical Volume Manager (LVM) for storing all data.
Logical volumes may be mirrored, keeping a separate up to date copy of all data as the data is changed. SBAdmin will allow you to configure split mirror backups, which will break off a copy of the live data, and use the offline copy to perform the backup.
This is especially useful for backing up live data such as Oracle, DB2, or MySQL databases. When the backup is complete, SBAdmin returns the mirror and syncs it up with the online copy. LVM also allows for 2 mirrors (3 copies) of a logical, so SBAdmin can break off one copy while data and system availability is still preserved using the remaining mirrored copies.
A backup job configured to use split mirrors, whether a specific file system, raw database, or the entire system, performs all the steps in splitting off copies, backing up, and re-syncing the copies making the process automatic and transparent to the user.
On Linux systems SBAdmin uses the Snapshot Logical Volumes. Most Linux systems now support the Logical Volume Manager (LVM) for storing all types of data, from file systems to raw database data. SBAdmin provides a simple user interface for performing LVM snapshot backups.
Now, when performing any SBAdmin backup of LVM data, a copy of the live changing data is automatically created, allowing the original data to be "frozen in time" at the point of the backup. At the same time, users can continue accessing and updating the changed data while the backup is running.
When this "hot backup" completes, the system is returned to normal operation, and the entire process is completely transparent to the users. The interface gives you several options such as which logical volume to create the snapshot, whether to create them all at once or sequentially and whether to continue or fail if there is a problem.
Since the snapshot backups are performed on any data residing in logical volumes, including raw databases and file system data, any and all data, even on a full system backup, may be captured.
Backing up "live" data can cause erroneous or partially updated files after such data is restored from a backup. This is particularly problematic with databases, which typically have relational data that must be kept in sync.
SBAdmin includes the ability to perform a snap shot, or point in time backup of any live data contained in Logical Volumes. Logical Volumes are software storage devices used exclusively on AIX systems and are quickly becoming a standard installation storage configuration on Linux systems.
Logical volumes are created by the Logical Volume Manager (LVM) package. SBAdmin performs snap shot backups by backing up an offline copy of all data in the logical volumes.
This allows users to continue to access and modify data in the online copy, while the backup includes all data as it was when the backup process started. This ensures the relational data, when restored, is all at the same point in time, no matter how long the backup takes.
SBAdmin uses a Split Mirror Backup process on AIX systems to capture data from an offline copy of a mirrored logical volume. All AIX systems use the Logical Volume Manager (LVM) for storing all data.
Logical volumes may be mirrored, keeping a separate up to date copy of all data as the data is changed. SBAdmin will allow you to configure split mirror backups, which will break off a copy of the live data, and use the offline copy to perform the backup.
This is especially useful for backing up live data such as Oracle, DB2, or MySQL databases. When the backup is complete, SBAdmin returns the mirror and syncs it up with the online copy. LVM also allows for 2 mirrors (3 copies) of a logical, so SBAdmin can break off one copy while data and system availability is still preserved using the remaining mirrored copies.
A backup job configured to use split mirrors, whether a specific file system, raw database, or the entire system, performs all the steps in splitting off copies, backing up, and re-syncing the copies making the process automatic and transparent to the user.
On Linux systems SBAdmin uses the Snapshot Logical Volumes. Most Linux systems now support the Logical Volume Manager (LVM) for storing all types of data, from file systems to raw database data. SBAdmin provides a simple user interface for performing LVM snapshot backups.
Now, when performing any SBAdmin backup of LVM data, a copy of the live changing data is automatically created, allowing the original data to be "frozen in time" at the point of the backup. At the same time, users can continue accessing and updating the changed data while the backup is running.
When this "hot backup" completes, the system is returned to normal operation, and the entire process is completely transparent to the users. The interface gives you several options such as which logical volume to create the snapshot, whether to create them all at once or sequentially and whether to continue or fail if there is a problem.
Since the snapshot backups are performed on any data residing in logical volumes, including raw databases and file system data, any and all data, even on a full system backup, may be captured.
The USP of USB
In short, a USB storage device is a device which stores data and interfaces with a personal computer using its USB interface. It further uses a standardised interface which allows communication with the host computer enabling usage and installation on modern operating systems.
Features
The USB drive is compact, lightweight and portable
Less expensive and readily available owing to mass manufacture and low production costs
It has a storage capacity ranging from 32 MB- 64 MB
The USB drive is safe and convenient
Minimal data loss owing to its plastic/ metal casing which protects data loss from overexposure
The USB drive is designed in an automatic format. There is no need to reboot on insertion of the drive. The portable drive can be plugged in easily and is not open to any kind of electrostatic discharge
The drive is described to be compatible with all operating systems including an older version of Windows
The USB does not need any external power source such as batteries. The drive comes equipped with an internal power source
The USB drive has a longer life span compared to other disks.
Data Recovery
According to the Data Recovery Experts at ONTRACK data Recovery Service, there is very little chance of permanent data loss in any USB storage device.
The drive is not susceptible to surface contamination through overexposure to heat, humidity or sunlight. Experts further claim that data corruption does not occur even if the drive is inserted in water
However, experts at Fields Recovery claim that the USB drive is highly insecure and unstable. It is open to virus attacks
Data stored on the drive is prone to theft and duplication due to its accessibility and portability
The drive has a tendency to lose data due to overwriting and reformatting. It is armed with a limited storage space coupled with a finite life span of 10 years. This begs for frequent changes by the user. You cannot use the same drive forever. If the drive is overloaded with information, there is a suspicion of previous data being permanently lost
On data loss, you need to unplug your computer and call the data recovery experts
Usually, the first step in the data recovery process is evaluation. The data loss is evaluated – the time element is important determining the amount of data which can be retrieved along with the nature of data recovered
Data recovery firms of Disklabs claim data retrieval of more than 97% of graphic data material lost
It is recommended to check all files stored on USB drives through antivirus software packages
In case of accidental deletion of data, more than 99% of the data can be recovered
Database files stored on USB drives can be recovered in their original grainy format
In case of partially damaged or corrupted partitions or bad spots, it is advisable to remove the USB drive immediately before the damage spreads. ONTRACK experts claim to recover your entire data lost due to partial damage of the USB drive
Data loss or storage of improper data can also occur. This means that due to the absence of a write mechanism on the drive, modifications to saved data cannot be done. In order to modify data, ONTRACK experts state that the data has to be deliberately damaged
Features
The USB drive is compact, lightweight and portable
Less expensive and readily available owing to mass manufacture and low production costs
It has a storage capacity ranging from 32 MB- 64 MB
The USB drive is safe and convenient
Minimal data loss owing to its plastic/ metal casing which protects data loss from overexposure
The USB drive is designed in an automatic format. There is no need to reboot on insertion of the drive. The portable drive can be plugged in easily and is not open to any kind of electrostatic discharge
The drive is described to be compatible with all operating systems including an older version of Windows
The USB does not need any external power source such as batteries. The drive comes equipped with an internal power source
The USB drive has a longer life span compared to other disks.
Data Recovery
According to the Data Recovery Experts at ONTRACK data Recovery Service, there is very little chance of permanent data loss in any USB storage device.
The drive is not susceptible to surface contamination through overexposure to heat, humidity or sunlight. Experts further claim that data corruption does not occur even if the drive is inserted in water
However, experts at Fields Recovery claim that the USB drive is highly insecure and unstable. It is open to virus attacks
Data stored on the drive is prone to theft and duplication due to its accessibility and portability
The drive has a tendency to lose data due to overwriting and reformatting. It is armed with a limited storage space coupled with a finite life span of 10 years. This begs for frequent changes by the user. You cannot use the same drive forever. If the drive is overloaded with information, there is a suspicion of previous data being permanently lost
On data loss, you need to unplug your computer and call the data recovery experts
Usually, the first step in the data recovery process is evaluation. The data loss is evaluated – the time element is important determining the amount of data which can be retrieved along with the nature of data recovered
Data recovery firms of Disklabs claim data retrieval of more than 97% of graphic data material lost
It is recommended to check all files stored on USB drives through antivirus software packages
In case of accidental deletion of data, more than 99% of the data can be recovered
Database files stored on USB drives can be recovered in their original grainy format
In case of partially damaged or corrupted partitions or bad spots, it is advisable to remove the USB drive immediately before the damage spreads. ONTRACK experts claim to recover your entire data lost due to partial damage of the USB drive
Data loss or storage of improper data can also occur. This means that due to the absence of a write mechanism on the drive, modifications to saved data cannot be done. In order to modify data, ONTRACK experts state that the data has to be deliberately damaged
Online Backups, Are You Being Smart?
Data loss is one of the major problems especially in big business houses where a large number of data has to be dealt with and in all the circumstances the data loss can be minimized by using secure online backups. Although there are many conventional backup systems such as CD, DVD, and floppy that can be used for storing small amount of data, however for storing large amount of data secure online backup seems to be the right option.
Nowadays many commercial secure online backup providers are easily available and after paying a nominal fee, you can store your data at a remote location. These commercial online backup stores ask you to download their backup software and the software manages the backup and does the rest of job. A few commercial backup stores charge anywhere between 20 cents to 3 dollar per month for storing 1 GB of data, however there are some online backup stores who offer the online backup free for a limited period.
Actually you should ensure that the commercial online backup you have chosen is genuine and reliable and the privacy of your document is maintained. Many individuals take the benefits of these low cost commercial secure online backup facilities and store their family albums and other data. The software provided by commercial stores is easy to operate and with the instructions provided to you, you can install and operate the online backup software. You should try with a free online secure backup for a month and if satisfied with the services you should continue for the desired period.
The secure online backup software will generally have many features and the latest and modern software are equipped with highly sophisticated technique to protect the privacy of the data. The system ensures that backups are taken routinely as per your requirement and accordingly you are intimated by email. The software also ensures that the file system and directories structure is maintained during backup.
The software installed at your computer first compresses the data and sometimes the space occupied by the data is reduced to 85 percent. The data afterwards encrypted so that the privacy of these data is maintained and then forwarded to the commercial backup store via local area network or Internet. Due to the encryption of the data, these are even not accessible to the backup store employees and therefore the data are fully private and while retrieving the software installed at your computer decrypt the data.
The data loss is a very big problem for large business houses, commercial ventures and even for an individual and therefore secure online backup of data is one of the right options for each one of us. Sometimes it is also necessary to maintain the privacy of the data and therefore suitable commercial backup organization having an excellent track record should be carefully selected. So instead of taking a risk of loosing your important data, it is better to store and secure online backups available at a marginal price.
Nowadays many commercial secure online backup providers are easily available and after paying a nominal fee, you can store your data at a remote location. These commercial online backup stores ask you to download their backup software and the software manages the backup and does the rest of job. A few commercial backup stores charge anywhere between 20 cents to 3 dollar per month for storing 1 GB of data, however there are some online backup stores who offer the online backup free for a limited period.
Actually you should ensure that the commercial online backup you have chosen is genuine and reliable and the privacy of your document is maintained. Many individuals take the benefits of these low cost commercial secure online backup facilities and store their family albums and other data. The software provided by commercial stores is easy to operate and with the instructions provided to you, you can install and operate the online backup software. You should try with a free online secure backup for a month and if satisfied with the services you should continue for the desired period.
The secure online backup software will generally have many features and the latest and modern software are equipped with highly sophisticated technique to protect the privacy of the data. The system ensures that backups are taken routinely as per your requirement and accordingly you are intimated by email. The software also ensures that the file system and directories structure is maintained during backup.
The software installed at your computer first compresses the data and sometimes the space occupied by the data is reduced to 85 percent. The data afterwards encrypted so that the privacy of these data is maintained and then forwarded to the commercial backup store via local area network or Internet. Due to the encryption of the data, these are even not accessible to the backup store employees and therefore the data are fully private and while retrieving the software installed at your computer decrypt the data.
The data loss is a very big problem for large business houses, commercial ventures and even for an individual and therefore secure online backup of data is one of the right options for each one of us. Sometimes it is also necessary to maintain the privacy of the data and therefore suitable commercial backup organization having an excellent track record should be carefully selected. So instead of taking a risk of loosing your important data, it is better to store and secure online backups available at a marginal price.
Everything One Needs To Know About Data Recovery On Mac Computers
No matter how experienced you are in using a computer, there is no guarantee that you will never go through the nightmare of accidental data loss. Should you change your mind about a file you have just deleted, or simply realize that it was the wrong file to delete, you will have to come to terms with the fact that human error is a very common thing among computer users worldwide.
There are many other factors that can cause the problem of loosing data. The failure of the hardware on your computer or a crash due to some type of software are only some of the reasons that make you loose time and money over recovering data from your computer. Not to speak about human error or issues caused by the power systems! These are even more harmful and happen a lot more often than the damages caused by floods, fires, heat or smoke. One must also consider the virus attacks and the issue of vandalism or sabotage, as you can never know what may happen.
Nevertheless, the main point is that you do not need to panic, in case you are in the situation when you must attempt data recovery. The main reason for this statement is that there are numerous data recovery software types, that can surely get you out of such a unpleasant situation. Data recovery software is available for Mac, NT/2000/XP and RAID data recovery.
The Mac data recovery software can be used on all variety of hard drives, that is from small ones of 2 GBs up to bigger ones of 120 GBs, but it must be done by a data recovery professional.
The power of the available Mac data recovery software is far beyond our expectations sometimes. It can recover HFS and HFS+ File System Data, but the best thing about it is the fact that it can even recover entire partitions, in case a partition has been deleted or formatted. Another advantage of the Mac data recovery software is that the files in the Lost or Missing Mac folders can also be saved! This type of software is able to recognize and preserve long file names, therefore the user will have nothing to worry about when putting the recovered data back in place. Full support for all types of drives is also provided, no matter if it is IDE, EIDE, SCSI or SATA drives we are speaking about.
There are many other factors that can cause the problem of loosing data. The failure of the hardware on your computer or a crash due to some type of software are only some of the reasons that make you loose time and money over recovering data from your computer. Not to speak about human error or issues caused by the power systems! These are even more harmful and happen a lot more often than the damages caused by floods, fires, heat or smoke. One must also consider the virus attacks and the issue of vandalism or sabotage, as you can never know what may happen.
Nevertheless, the main point is that you do not need to panic, in case you are in the situation when you must attempt data recovery. The main reason for this statement is that there are numerous data recovery software types, that can surely get you out of such a unpleasant situation. Data recovery software is available for Mac, NT/2000/XP and RAID data recovery.
The Mac data recovery software can be used on all variety of hard drives, that is from small ones of 2 GBs up to bigger ones of 120 GBs, but it must be done by a data recovery professional.
The power of the available Mac data recovery software is far beyond our expectations sometimes. It can recover HFS and HFS+ File System Data, but the best thing about it is the fact that it can even recover entire partitions, in case a partition has been deleted or formatted. Another advantage of the Mac data recovery software is that the files in the Lost or Missing Mac folders can also be saved! This type of software is able to recognize and preserve long file names, therefore the user will have nothing to worry about when putting the recovered data back in place. Full support for all types of drives is also provided, no matter if it is IDE, EIDE, SCSI or SATA drives we are speaking about.
What Types of Data Need Regular Backup?
The average home user is now more aware of the uses of digital gadgets and has a storage device ready for every possible need. The type of data that we need to access everyday is highly personalized according to our lifestyle and profession. That is why the backup needs of a housewife will be different from those of a student, but both will depend on a certain database that absolutely must not be lost.
Backup – Its Importance
Surveys reveal that the people of the UK are more aware of viruses than they were before. Over 75% of all home users feel that it is important to have an antivirus installed. However, few update the software regularly. Apart from viruses, there is not much awareness about other causes of data loss. Operating System (OS) crashes are still unforeseen by most. Hardware-related issues are more common, especially the hard disk crash. These cases being rarely within the purview of laymen, mishandling is quite common. The other form of data loss which is steadily rising is through human error. A wrong click of the mouse, a USB drive that accidentally slides into a bowl of soup, or a CD that gets scratched while being taken out from the tray -- there are so many ways in which data can be lost by the owners.
This is where the importance of backup comes in. No matter how prepared you are, and how safe you feel your system is, a data loss can catch you unawares. Five types of data that we commonly lose and that need to be backed up regularly have been listed below.
Personal Memo and Address Book
The address book and the personal memo are two important folders that are immediately lost in case the OS crashes. We usually keep them in the same drive with the program files as they come as a package, storing our precious information in them. Imagine trying to find out all the phone numbers, email ids and addresses of your friends and family, not to mention birthdays, etc. The personal memo sometimes contains little bits of information such as when you want the wall clock delivered from the service centre, the date for the renewal of your id card, and other data that can be very frustrating to lose.
Preserving Memories
We all like to preserve our precious memories. Photos and family videos have become an important part of our lives. They also take up a lot of space on the hard drive as media files are usually quite large, even if compressed. Therefore, they also stand more chances of getting corrupted or deleted. It is advisable to keep regular backups of these and not to load them on the hard disk at all. The moments captured in them will not come back if lost once.
Personal Library and Repertoire
Do you like reading? Maybe you have written a few stories or poems yourself. All music lovers keep downloading music and video clips from the internet. Imagine how sorry you would feel if your library or your repertoire vanishes one morning in a disk crash. Media downloads are prone to corruption and fragmentation. Ensure you run a virus scan before taking a backup of them.
Accounts and Vital Information
Many of us keep our personal finance details on our hard disks. This information can pose a threat if lost. You don’t want a crafty hacker to get access to your account or credit card details. Besides, if you have the good habit of keeping regular accounts, you should also try to preserve it properly for the tax people.
Working from Home
Many people work from home now, running their businesses, writing on the net, selling goods and services on the web, designing, having an animation or editing or sound studio – and all those activities that require digital backup. If you are working from your desktop or laptop, it is crucial that you take regular backup of your client data, too, apart from the work-related information. You will face the very uphill task of rebuilding the database and redoing everything again if you lose your business data.
Developing the Backup Habit
Taking regular backups is not expensive, but a matter of habit. There are CD, DVD, USB drives and portable hard disks available as cheap and handy options.
Backup – Its Importance
Surveys reveal that the people of the UK are more aware of viruses than they were before. Over 75% of all home users feel that it is important to have an antivirus installed. However, few update the software regularly. Apart from viruses, there is not much awareness about other causes of data loss. Operating System (OS) crashes are still unforeseen by most. Hardware-related issues are more common, especially the hard disk crash. These cases being rarely within the purview of laymen, mishandling is quite common. The other form of data loss which is steadily rising is through human error. A wrong click of the mouse, a USB drive that accidentally slides into a bowl of soup, or a CD that gets scratched while being taken out from the tray -- there are so many ways in which data can be lost by the owners.
This is where the importance of backup comes in. No matter how prepared you are, and how safe you feel your system is, a data loss can catch you unawares. Five types of data that we commonly lose and that need to be backed up regularly have been listed below.
Personal Memo and Address Book
The address book and the personal memo are two important folders that are immediately lost in case the OS crashes. We usually keep them in the same drive with the program files as they come as a package, storing our precious information in them. Imagine trying to find out all the phone numbers, email ids and addresses of your friends and family, not to mention birthdays, etc. The personal memo sometimes contains little bits of information such as when you want the wall clock delivered from the service centre, the date for the renewal of your id card, and other data that can be very frustrating to lose.
Preserving Memories
We all like to preserve our precious memories. Photos and family videos have become an important part of our lives. They also take up a lot of space on the hard drive as media files are usually quite large, even if compressed. Therefore, they also stand more chances of getting corrupted or deleted. It is advisable to keep regular backups of these and not to load them on the hard disk at all. The moments captured in them will not come back if lost once.
Personal Library and Repertoire
Do you like reading? Maybe you have written a few stories or poems yourself. All music lovers keep downloading music and video clips from the internet. Imagine how sorry you would feel if your library or your repertoire vanishes one morning in a disk crash. Media downloads are prone to corruption and fragmentation. Ensure you run a virus scan before taking a backup of them.
Accounts and Vital Information
Many of us keep our personal finance details on our hard disks. This information can pose a threat if lost. You don’t want a crafty hacker to get access to your account or credit card details. Besides, if you have the good habit of keeping regular accounts, you should also try to preserve it properly for the tax people.
Working from Home
Many people work from home now, running their businesses, writing on the net, selling goods and services on the web, designing, having an animation or editing or sound studio – and all those activities that require digital backup. If you are working from your desktop or laptop, it is crucial that you take regular backup of your client data, too, apart from the work-related information. You will face the very uphill task of rebuilding the database and redoing everything again if you lose your business data.
Developing the Backup Habit
Taking regular backups is not expensive, but a matter of habit. There are CD, DVD, USB drives and portable hard disks available as cheap and handy options.
Backup Data to Tape Drive, Network Attached or a Virtual Tape Library?
When it comes to setting up a system for multiple computers operating on a network, backing up your data to a tape drive, network attached storage (NAS) or a Virtual Tape Library are some of the solutions the end user should consider!
Although they ultimately perform the same function, the methods of operations are somewhat different. In some cases, specific software is needed, files encrypted; resulting in a more secure enviroment. Speed is not necessary what every IT engineer wants, in some case, ease of use. Finding a balance is not always that easy.
Reliability:
The use of magnetic tape to encode computer data was first marketed by IBM in the 1950s. Today, tape drives are still regarded as a very reliable forms of data storage. Perhaps the largest benefit of using tape drives is that the data can be stored offsite to minimize risk of destruction by theft, floods or fires. In terms of pure functional reliability, network attached storage systems, virtual tape libraries and tape drives are comparable.
Retrieving Data:
Retrieving data after a loss is generally faster with a disk based system than with tape drives. Speed, however shouldn't be the only consideration when choosing a backup medium. For businesses that require a daily "snapshot" of data on any particular day, the speed of data recovery isn't as critical as incremental date stamped data imprints.
Speed:
There's no doubt that disk based operations are faster than backing up to tape drives. Tape drives can take hours to copy data while NAS and VTL storage offers real-time data storage. This is an important consideration for businesses that operate round the clock because recording to tape drives requires a backup window when computers are not in use. However, for those who prefer the benefits of storing tapes but don't have an adequate backup window, a "disk to disk to tape" system is a common solution. With this solution, data is copied to a secondary hard disk and then recorded to tape for archiving.
Space:
The capacity of a network attached storage solution is dependant on the number of disk drives installed. A NAS for a small business could technically be a personal computer with enough disk space to hold the entire data contents of the companies systems. On the other hand, professional grade network attached storage machines can hold between 3 to 40 plus terabytes of data.
Tape drives can essentially be customized to fit the storage needs of a business. With tape drives, you can essentially "pay as you grow" for additional storage by adding tape drives to tape drive libraries. Instead of paying for the amount network attached storage space you anticipate you'll need 5 years from now, you can purchase tape drives with space enough to meet your current demand. The tape drives fit into a storage case called a tape library with racks that can be filled as the data load increases.
No matter which system your business chooses, the important thing is to get some sort of system in place to back up your company's critical data. The decision to choose network attached storage or to use tape drives is a decision best made with the assistance of a professional who can recommend the most cost effective way to achieve your goals and protect your valuable data.
Although they ultimately perform the same function, the methods of operations are somewhat different. In some cases, specific software is needed, files encrypted; resulting in a more secure enviroment. Speed is not necessary what every IT engineer wants, in some case, ease of use. Finding a balance is not always that easy.
Reliability:
The use of magnetic tape to encode computer data was first marketed by IBM in the 1950s. Today, tape drives are still regarded as a very reliable forms of data storage. Perhaps the largest benefit of using tape drives is that the data can be stored offsite to minimize risk of destruction by theft, floods or fires. In terms of pure functional reliability, network attached storage systems, virtual tape libraries and tape drives are comparable.
Retrieving Data:
Retrieving data after a loss is generally faster with a disk based system than with tape drives. Speed, however shouldn't be the only consideration when choosing a backup medium. For businesses that require a daily "snapshot" of data on any particular day, the speed of data recovery isn't as critical as incremental date stamped data imprints.
Speed:
There's no doubt that disk based operations are faster than backing up to tape drives. Tape drives can take hours to copy data while NAS and VTL storage offers real-time data storage. This is an important consideration for businesses that operate round the clock because recording to tape drives requires a backup window when computers are not in use. However, for those who prefer the benefits of storing tapes but don't have an adequate backup window, a "disk to disk to tape" system is a common solution. With this solution, data is copied to a secondary hard disk and then recorded to tape for archiving.
Space:
The capacity of a network attached storage solution is dependant on the number of disk drives installed. A NAS for a small business could technically be a personal computer with enough disk space to hold the entire data contents of the companies systems. On the other hand, professional grade network attached storage machines can hold between 3 to 40 plus terabytes of data.
Tape drives can essentially be customized to fit the storage needs of a business. With tape drives, you can essentially "pay as you grow" for additional storage by adding tape drives to tape drive libraries. Instead of paying for the amount network attached storage space you anticipate you'll need 5 years from now, you can purchase tape drives with space enough to meet your current demand. The tape drives fit into a storage case called a tape library with racks that can be filled as the data load increases.
No matter which system your business chooses, the important thing is to get some sort of system in place to back up your company's critical data. The decision to choose network attached storage or to use tape drives is a decision best made with the assistance of a professional who can recommend the most cost effective way to achieve your goals and protect your valuable data.
Friday, March 14, 2008
6 Tips For Your Writing Journey
So, you'd like to be a writer? Congrats! Writing not only is a great way to express yourself, but can provide an income. Keep in mind not all writers make a fortune, some still can’t quit their day job. Below are some tips to start your writing journey.
1. Start Writing
Okay, so this tip is obvious. For some, it's a question of what to write about, for others how to write. Write how and what you want. What kind of books do you like to read? Fiction, Mystery, science fiction, how to books? How about articles, reports, maybe you're interested in journalism. Whatever the case may be, to get your creative juices flowing, start writing! Don't worry about how it sounds, grammar or other mistakes, you can go back to fix these.
2. Join online and offline groups/message boards and chats
If you already know what you want to write about, consider joining writer groups at your local library, or online groups, along with message boards and chats. It's a great way to network with other writers and published authors. It's also a good place to share your work and receive feedback. Many places online are free to join, some require a membership which usually consist of a user name, e-mail address and password for your user name. Some request more information such as a name, address and sometimes phone number.
3. The Library
You've probably heard about some books that writers refer to; this could be writer markets, e-book publishing, self publishing and generally how to improve your writing. Bu what do you do when you can't afford to buy these books from your local bookstore or online? A trip to your library is the key. Many libraries carry writer resource books, which if you have a library card, are free. If you're living out of the area, the library may require a fee for membership. The book you're looking for may not always be at your local library; however libraries borrow from other libraries in and out of state. The method of receiving outside books is called Inter-Library Loan. Later on, if you find the book to be a great resource, you may be able to purchase a used copy online.
4. Researching
The Internet is also another good resource for information. Keep in mind that not every resource you find online is going to be an honest good resource. It will take time to sort out which websites are useful. Most information is free, so you can sit back and research in the comfort of your home. If you don't have a computer with Internet access, check your local library and see if you can use one of theirs.
5. Workshops
Workshops taught by experts is a great way to learn from the professionals, but only if you can afford it! Make sure the topic of the workshop is based around your interest. For instance, if you love fiction..It wouldn't be a good idea to go to a workshop based only on non-fiction. It's a good idea to register early to ensure a spot at the event. Bring a new legal pad, plus a few writing tools to take notes.
6. Contents
After writing a while, you may want to enter contents. Some require an entry fee. I suggest staying away from the entry fee contents until you've entered some other free ones. That way you can get a feel for how contests work. Spend some time writing and re-writing your entries. If you've written your entry in 5 or so minutes, the judges will notice it immediately. You wouldn't want a reputation for sloppy work.
There you are 6 tips to get you started on your journey to writing. Good Luck!
1. Start Writing
Okay, so this tip is obvious. For some, it's a question of what to write about, for others how to write. Write how and what you want. What kind of books do you like to read? Fiction, Mystery, science fiction, how to books? How about articles, reports, maybe you're interested in journalism. Whatever the case may be, to get your creative juices flowing, start writing! Don't worry about how it sounds, grammar or other mistakes, you can go back to fix these.
2. Join online and offline groups/message boards and chats
If you already know what you want to write about, consider joining writer groups at your local library, or online groups, along with message boards and chats. It's a great way to network with other writers and published authors. It's also a good place to share your work and receive feedback. Many places online are free to join, some require a membership which usually consist of a user name, e-mail address and password for your user name. Some request more information such as a name, address and sometimes phone number.
3. The Library
You've probably heard about some books that writers refer to; this could be writer markets, e-book publishing, self publishing and generally how to improve your writing. Bu what do you do when you can't afford to buy these books from your local bookstore or online? A trip to your library is the key. Many libraries carry writer resource books, which if you have a library card, are free. If you're living out of the area, the library may require a fee for membership. The book you're looking for may not always be at your local library; however libraries borrow from other libraries in and out of state. The method of receiving outside books is called Inter-Library Loan. Later on, if you find the book to be a great resource, you may be able to purchase a used copy online.
4. Researching
The Internet is also another good resource for information. Keep in mind that not every resource you find online is going to be an honest good resource. It will take time to sort out which websites are useful. Most information is free, so you can sit back and research in the comfort of your home. If you don't have a computer with Internet access, check your local library and see if you can use one of theirs.
5. Workshops
Workshops taught by experts is a great way to learn from the professionals, but only if you can afford it! Make sure the topic of the workshop is based around your interest. For instance, if you love fiction..It wouldn't be a good idea to go to a workshop based only on non-fiction. It's a good idea to register early to ensure a spot at the event. Bring a new legal pad, plus a few writing tools to take notes.
6. Contents
After writing a while, you may want to enter contents. Some require an entry fee. I suggest staying away from the entry fee contents until you've entered some other free ones. That way you can get a feel for how contests work. Spend some time writing and re-writing your entries. If you've written your entry in 5 or so minutes, the judges will notice it immediately. You wouldn't want a reputation for sloppy work.
There you are 6 tips to get you started on your journey to writing. Good Luck!
Email Management: Don't Let Email Run Your Life
If you are anything like me, you are bombarded with email. In Particular, you get messages from clients, spammers, friends, family and associations or groups of which you are a member. Without proper preparation for such a massive amount of email, you might find yourself swimming in email. Email was created to be a tool to save you time, but if you can't find an effective way to organize it, you will most definitely be losing time to it instead of gaining time from it. The following are some ideas that will help you use your email program to save time:
* If your email's spam filter isn't doing a good job catching unwanted emails, check its settings. Usually in your email options, there will be junk email settings. Set the protection to a higher level. This should take care of at least a little more of the unwanted spam. If you have your email set to a high level already and are still receiving lots of spam, consider getting spam blocking software. Googling "stop spam" or "spam blocker" will give you a large list of options from which to choose.
* Consider setting up an autoresponder. An autoresponder can handle a great deal of general questions that you get on a regular basis. All you have to do is set it up once and your message(s) can go out hundreds or even thousands of times. Autoresponders are also great at sales, so to speak. They do all the work for you. When someone opts in to your list, you can set up your autoresponder to send a series of messages in a specific order at set intervals.
* Save commonly sent email messages as signatures. Signatures don't only have to be actual signatures. You can save whole email messages as signatures and name them accordingly. For example, if you commonly follow-up with individuals you have met at your local Chamber of Commerce meetings, you could title your signature "follow-up" and save a message such as:
"Dear Mr. X,
It was such a pleasure to meet you at the last Chamber meeting. I hope that we have a chance to speak again at..."
Of course you would have to change details such as the name the email is addressed to, along with other more specific information, but the template will be ready within a few clicks of your mouse.
* Read and respond to email at set intervals throughout the day. Checking your email as messages come in is most definitely a common mistake that people make. Stopping the work you are doing to check email is extremely inefficient. Your tasks will take much longer to complete if they are subject to constant interruptions. Set a recurring reminder on your email calendar to check email 4 times per day. Only check and respond when you are scheduled to do so.
* Separate your email into folders. Just as you organize your documents into folders on your computer, so should you with your email. A good organizational system will make it much easier to find what you need when you need it. You can also set up rules in some programs so that your email gets automatically sorted as it arrives.
* Color code your email. Some email programs such as MS Outlook allow you to color code your email based on certain criteria, such as who it's from or the subject of the message. This will allow you to more easily differentiate between important and insignificant emails. For example, if you color code all of your client emails in red, then you will easily be able to see them within a sea of email.
Email is a great tool if it is used properly. When it's not, it can have a very negative effect on your time management. By learning to implement even a few of these simple steps, you can become a more efficient email user and stop losing time to a technology that was meant to help you save it.
Kelly Sims is a Virtual Assistant and Owner of Virtually There VA Services. To find out if you should simplify your life, please take the "Simplify Your Life" quiz at =>http://www.virtuallythereva.com/quiz.html . While you are there, don't forget to register to receive her new free mini e-book, "How to Add 2 Hours to Your Day: Lessons in Efficiency". Virtually There VA Services can be found on the web at =>http://www.virtuallythereva.com .
* If your email's spam filter isn't doing a good job catching unwanted emails, check its settings. Usually in your email options, there will be junk email settings. Set the protection to a higher level. This should take care of at least a little more of the unwanted spam. If you have your email set to a high level already and are still receiving lots of spam, consider getting spam blocking software. Googling "stop spam" or "spam blocker" will give you a large list of options from which to choose.
* Consider setting up an autoresponder. An autoresponder can handle a great deal of general questions that you get on a regular basis. All you have to do is set it up once and your message(s) can go out hundreds or even thousands of times. Autoresponders are also great at sales, so to speak. They do all the work for you. When someone opts in to your list, you can set up your autoresponder to send a series of messages in a specific order at set intervals.
* Save commonly sent email messages as signatures. Signatures don't only have to be actual signatures. You can save whole email messages as signatures and name them accordingly. For example, if you commonly follow-up with individuals you have met at your local Chamber of Commerce meetings, you could title your signature "follow-up" and save a message such as:
"Dear Mr. X,
It was such a pleasure to meet you at the last Chamber meeting. I hope that we have a chance to speak again at..."
Of course you would have to change details such as the name the email is addressed to, along with other more specific information, but the template will be ready within a few clicks of your mouse.
* Read and respond to email at set intervals throughout the day. Checking your email as messages come in is most definitely a common mistake that people make. Stopping the work you are doing to check email is extremely inefficient. Your tasks will take much longer to complete if they are subject to constant interruptions. Set a recurring reminder on your email calendar to check email 4 times per day. Only check and respond when you are scheduled to do so.
* Separate your email into folders. Just as you organize your documents into folders on your computer, so should you with your email. A good organizational system will make it much easier to find what you need when you need it. You can also set up rules in some programs so that your email gets automatically sorted as it arrives.
* Color code your email. Some email programs such as MS Outlook allow you to color code your email based on certain criteria, such as who it's from or the subject of the message. This will allow you to more easily differentiate between important and insignificant emails. For example, if you color code all of your client emails in red, then you will easily be able to see them within a sea of email.
Email is a great tool if it is used properly. When it's not, it can have a very negative effect on your time management. By learning to implement even a few of these simple steps, you can become a more efficient email user and stop losing time to a technology that was meant to help you save it.
Kelly Sims is a Virtual Assistant and Owner of Virtually There VA Services. To find out if you should simplify your life, please take the "Simplify Your Life" quiz at =>http://www.virtuallythereva.com/quiz.html . While you are there, don't forget to register to receive her new free mini e-book, "How to Add 2 Hours to Your Day: Lessons in Efficiency". Virtually There VA Services can be found on the web at =>http://www.virtuallythereva.com .
Friday, March 7, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
HE MAN WHO MARRIED A DUMB WIFE
LEONARD: My wife is dumb. Quite dumb. I admit, I noticed it before we were married. I couldn't help noticing it, of course, but it didn't seem to make so much difference to me then as it
does now. I considered her beauty, and her property, and thought of nothingbut the advantages of the match and the happiness I should have with her. But now these matters seem less important, and I do wish she could talk; that would be a real intellectual pleasure for me, and, what's more, a practical advantage for the household. What does a judge need most in his house? Why, a good-looking wife, to receive the suitors pleasantly, and, by subtle suggestions, gently bring them to the point of making proper presents, so that their cases may receive--more careful attention. People need to be encouraged to make proper presents. A woman, by clever speech and prudent action, can get a good ham from one, and a roll of cloth from another; and make still another give poultry or wine. But this poor dumb thing Catherine gets nothing at all. While my fellow judges have their kitchens and cellars and stables and store-rooms running over with good things, all thanks to their wives, I hardly get wherewithal to keep the pot boiling. You see, Master Adam Fumée, what I lose by having a dumb wife. I'm not worth half as much. . . . And the worst of it is, I'm losing my spirits, and almost my wits, with it all. When I hold my wife in my arms--a woman as beautiful as the finest carved statue, at least so I think--and quite as silent, that I'm sure of--it makes me feel queer and uncanny; I even ask myself if I'm holding a graven image or a mechanical toy, or a magic doll made by a sorcerer, not a real human child of our Father in Heaven; sometimes, in the morning, I am tempted to jump out of bed to escape from bewitchment. Worse yet! What with having a dumb wife, I'm going dumb myself. Sometimes I catch myself using signs, as she does. The other day, on the Bench, I even pronounced judgment in pantomime, and condemned a man to the galleys, just by dumb show and gesticulation!
LEONARD: My wife is dumb. Quite dumb. I admit, I noticed it before we were married. I couldn't help noticing it, of course, but it didn't seem to make so much difference to me then as it
does now. I considered her beauty, and her property, and thought of nothingbut the advantages of the match and the happiness I should have with her. But now these matters seem less important, and I do wish she could talk; that would be a real intellectual pleasure for me, and, what's more, a practical advantage for the household. What does a judge need most in his house? Why, a good-looking wife, to receive the suitors pleasantly, and, by subtle suggestions, gently bring them to the point of making proper presents, so that their cases may receive--more careful attention. People need to be encouraged to make proper presents. A woman, by clever speech and prudent action, can get a good ham from one, and a roll of cloth from another; and make still another give poultry or wine. But this poor dumb thing Catherine gets nothing at all. While my fellow judges have their kitchens and cellars and stables and store-rooms running over with good things, all thanks to their wives, I hardly get wherewithal to keep the pot boiling. You see, Master Adam Fumée, what I lose by having a dumb wife. I'm not worth half as much. . . . And the worst of it is, I'm losing my spirits, and almost my wits, with it all. When I hold my wife in my arms--a woman as beautiful as the finest carved statue, at least so I think--and quite as silent, that I'm sure of--it makes me feel queer and uncanny; I even ask myself if I'm holding a graven image or a mechanical toy, or a magic doll made by a sorcerer, not a real human child of our Father in Heaven; sometimes, in the morning, I am tempted to jump out of bed to escape from bewitchment. Worse yet! What with having a dumb wife, I'm going dumb myself. Sometimes I catch myself using signs, as she does. The other day, on the Bench, I even pronounced judgment in pantomime, and condemned a man to the galleys, just by dumb show and gesticulation!
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