We all want to get the the best experience from our computers so it is perhaps natural that many users have asked us about upgrading to Apple’s newest desktop operating system: Mac OS X 10.6 code named “Snow Leopard”. Apple’s PR claims that Snow Leopard builds upon the strengths of their previous release 10.5 code named “Leopard” while improving performance and adding support for Microsoft’s enterprise communications product Exchange.

Real World Experience

Snow Leopard is what we call an incremental release more like a Service Pack in the Windows world than a whole new version for example XP SP1 versus XP SP3 rather than XP versus Windows 7. Snow Leopard does a lot to let users take advantage of new capabilities in the latest hardware rather than drastically changing the way you use your computer. Thus it should be no surprise that our advice is Snow Leopard is a worthwhile upgrade primarily for users of newer hardware with at least 2 GB of memory (RAM) installed.

Q. But what about Exchange support for users of older computers?

A. To get full Exchange support you may have to buy a new computer. Unfortunately that is not part of the economic reality for most of us, however, most of the features you want to use are available in older versions of the Mac OS as Apple has been slowly developing support for Exchange since version 10.3. The PR for Snow Leopard really refers to the fact that Apple has finished implementing support for the publicly documented parts of Exchange.

Q. I bought my computer 2 years ago. Is that new enough?

A. You only need a Mac featuring an Intel Processor to run Snow Leopard so most Mac built during or after 2006 are strictly new enough. Most of the advantage of running Snow Leopard though comes from the enhanced support for 64 bit Intel processors These are the Core 2 Duo and newer. Since all Macs with processors newer than the Core 2 Duo however shipped with Snow Leopard preinstalled this means that the target audience for Snow Leopard upgrades is really those users of Core 2 Duo machines only.

Q. How can I tell what processor is in my machine?

A. The easiest way is to go the the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen and choose the first item in the menu “About This Mac”. In the window that appears your current Operating System version and your processor will be listed. The computer on which the image below was taken can take advantage of Snow Leopard.

About This Mac Dialog

Installing

Once you have determined that your computer is supported you will need to purchase a copy of Snow Leopard from any retailer. Unlike Windows which comes in multiple flavors, Apple offers only two versions of their OS, one for servers and one for all other Macs. You can however get a discount if you are upgrading multiple computers by purchasing a “Family Pack”.

It is always wise to have a backup of your computer either managed by Time Machine or manually with a product like Carbon Copy Cloner before upgrading your OS. Don’t have a backup? MePush can help… When the does arrive software arrive, the actually upgrade process is fairly simple. You insert the disk into your computer’s optical drive then reboot your computer. Hold down the ‘c’ key on your keyboard while your Mac boots and it will boot into the installer. At this point you should only need to follow the on screen prompts. Very rarely, a problem may crop up; like the installer saying that it can not install onto this computer. Should a problem arise, stop, shutdown the computer and give us a call. Normally, however, you will complete the prompts and the installer will begin modifications to your computer’s software. At this point you can go grab a cup of coffee as the install can take up to half an hour. Finally, your computer will reboot and you will have upgraded to the latest version of the OS. Take a moment and run Software Update for your computer, second item down under the Apple Menu and for your non Apple supplied applications, varies by application but often under the first menu to the right of the Apple Menu or for Microsoft products in the “Help” menu.

What Can You Expect

Soon after Snow Leopard’s release there were a number of reports of problems. At the time of this writing we can happily say that most of those issues have been resolved with Software Updates released in the interim. Most users tell us that the biggest change they notice form Leopard is in Time Machine running much quicker and with fewer problems. You may also notice a number of user interface refinements but our feeling is that by at large the greatest advantage is to those users upgrading from Mac OS X 10.4 “Tiger” who will gain the benefits of Leopard plus the accelerations built into Snow Leopard.

Many customers are asking about Windows 7 and we are selling a ton of Dell PCs with Windows 7 so we thought we would provide some answers to the common questions we hear.

Q: Can I upgrade my PC to Windows 7?

A: The answer is likely YES, but we say NO. That is, if your pc is more than about 1.5 years old I would recommend you do not upgrade your PC. PCs running some flavor of Vista (woe is you if you run Vista) can usually do the upgrade without too much issue, but you still may need to beef up the RAM on your PC because though Windows 7 is a phenomenal operating system it also loves fast computers. Therefore, your pc that is a year or 2 old could be upgraded, but by the time you add the cost of the software ($100+), more RAM ($50-$90), and cost of installation (which is more as you will need to wipe your Windows XP PC clean) you are likely 1/3 or 1/2 of the way to a new PC anyway and then you are stuck with a PC that is a few years old anyway.

Q: Is Windows 7 better than Vista or XP?

A: Definitely better than Vista. Vista is awful and i feel bad for anyone who must run it. As for XP it is better in a lot of ways, but we feel strongly that XP is still a great operating system for a large percentage of users. Windows 7 has an array of new features that many home owners will find very useful, but for the standard business user who is running a piece of business software, Outlook for email, and using MS Office for productivity, etc. doesn’t really need the upgrade.

Q: Should my business upgrade from XP to Windows 7?

A: First you need to answer whether the business software you run to manage the operations is Windows 7 compatible. Most software vendors have caught up and are Windows 7 compatible, some are still not there yet. That said, most applications that run in XP will run in 7. Even if you have the funds to upgrade your entire business or just a single PC to 7, we still recommend most businesses continue to run Windows XP and therefore many of the PCs we sell are installed with XP by Dell and have the option to upgrade to 7 for free. This allows a business the most flexibility in the long run. By installing XP, users get the same operating system they are used to and thus no loss in productivity for the business.

Q: What hardware specs does Windows 7 require?

A: The official system requirements can be found here, but we recommend 4 Gigs of memory and a Core 2 Duo Processor at a minimum. Otherwise, you have a PC with Windows 7, but it feels just as slow as your old PC.

Q: Can I move all my files and email to Windows 7?

A: Yes, as long as you have the software to install on your new PC, you can move your docs, email, contacts over to the new PC without a hitch.

The new Motorola Droid does carry a hefty price tag of $299 with 2 year activation, however, it does boast some long term monthly savings.

1. Droid only requires the $30 unlimited data plan instead of the $45 data plan for Exchange /Corporate email.
2. With PDAnet app ($25 fee one time) you can tether your PC to the Droid and use it for high speed internet access. This means technically you could cancel your internet connection at home and just run off the Droid. This is likely not ideal in small offices etc that require a local network for file and print sharing. For many though, this could be a $40 dollar a month savings by cutting internet service. Keep in mind that the Droid pulls 3G speed which is fine for most browsing and file downloads, but power users who rely on a 5mbps connection or greater may notice a lack of speed.
3. Turn by turn directions for free with Google Maps means you dont have to waste money on a Tom Tom or Garmin. a $50 dollar car mount and your have your phone mounted as your in car GPS. This also saves you the cost of paying Verizon every month for VZ Navigator service.
4. There are a few hundred other conveniences the Droid offers. We will try to write something to focus on the apps available and what conveniences they allow.
5. Our friends at Cellular Connection can sell you the Droid of course. Ask for Caleb or John if you are frequenting the Lewisburg store.

The day Windstream took over D&E accounts was the beginning of the end. D&E Communications was a pretty innovative company with local employees and pretty good customer service. Windstream is the total opposite. They fired most of the local personnel and customer service is now beyond horrible.

Because of the horrible line issues, poor customer service, and inability to talk to anyone who has any real ability to make change, we encourage ALL of our customers to switch to Cable Internet to PTD through Service Electric, CATV, etc. We also encourage our customers to switch their dial tone telephone lines from Windstream to cable. Ironton Telephone provides superior service, solid line quality, and very accessible and helfpful customer service. We have the main sales rep on speed dial, and the techs at PTD are also very helpful.

To be blunt, we hope all of our customers make the switch. Maybe some day Windstream will self-correct and provide what we expected from D&E, but until then we strongly recommend cable in the territories where Windstream provides service.

MePush Technology Solutions (www.mepush.com) expands its web design services to the Danville and Bloomsburg areas. The Lewisburg-based company will use a mix of customer service and technology to establish a local presence in these areas and provide Bloomsburg and Danville with superior web design services.

Conor Quinlan, MePush CEO, attributes excellent customer service, an insistence on top notch design, and the ability to produce sites that rank very high in Google as the reason for the company’s past and future growth. As an indicator to the company’s health and success, he cites a 17% increase in revenue for the first half of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.

“Our clients see our passion for their business and understand that our goal is to build their business,” said Quinlan.

Bobbie Kroman, who recently launched BJKCOUTURE.COM,  expressed her enthusiasm in a thank you note she wrote after the site launched.

“I am delighted to recommend MePush to anyone needing an e-commerce website.  I came to Conor after two other web developers failed to meet my creative requirements or timeframes.  I was long past my targeted launch date and pretty desperate.  MePush was able to develop my site, start to finish, in only 2 weeks, delivering exactly what I had envisioned.  I worked primarily with Alex and found him to be amazingly patient and clear with me, and always working in my best interests.  He took my (new) deadline very seriously and helped me successfully launch my clothing line right on time.  My site is creatively done, and fully reflective of the products I sell.  Thank you Conor, Alex and Xiaolong!”

MePush is Central PA’s leading web development firm. The company provides web design, web strategy, internet marketing, and web hosting services. For more information, visit www.mepush.com.

Here is a quick checklist for safe surfing on the Internet.

General Assumptions:

1. You have anti-virus (use AVG Free)
2. Windows Firewall is on
3. You have a router and are not directly plugged into your cable modem or DSL modem. If not, get a router/firewall.
4. You have all the latest updates from Windows. If not, please do so. Open internet explorer and go to tools, windows updates.

OK THE CHECKLIST….

1. Before sending confidential info, click on the little gold padlock on the upper or lower part of your screen and check the site’s security certificate.  If it is out of date, or says Unknown or Self-issued, that means trouble.  You could be on a phony site.

2. Even if the certificate is OK, make sure the inner pages on the site are also secure, and begin with https://…  although this is not foolproof.

3. Never allow your browser or a web site to remember your user name or password.  Never send your Social Insurance/Security Number or birth date to a site unless you are sure it is secure.

4. Avoid public computers, or anyone else’s computer, to exchange confidential data.

5. When you are done, log out properly.  Do not just minimize or close the page.

6. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, Internet Options, General tab.  Delete your Cookies, Temporary Internet Files and clear the History.

7. If you are on a wireless network, make sure you are using WPA or WPA2, not the older insecure WEP.  Do not use the default settings your router came with.  These usually provide little or no security.

8. Check your statements or paperwork as soon as it arrives.  Report discrepancies promptly to the company.

9. Don’t send credit card info or any other personal info via email.

10. If you are in doubt about anything or just need to ask questions, just contact MePush

LEWISBURG, PA – MePush Technology Solutions (www.mepush.com) expands its residential and business computer services to the Danville and Bloomsburg areas. The Lewisburg-based company will use a mix of customer service and technology to establish a local presence in these areas.

Conor Quinlan, MePush CEO, attributes an efficient use of technology as the reason for the company’s past and future growth. As an indicator to the company’s health and success, he cites a 17% increase in revenue for the first half of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.

MePush uses several technologies to provide instant, remote support to customers and businesses. MePush IT specialists can repair computer problems, back up data, and manage business networks over a secure internet connection. The efficient use of these technologies means customers save a trip to the repair shop, and businesses save the time it would normally take a technician to respond in-person.

If remote technical support is not available, a technician will make an in-person house call. MePush offers onsite service in addition to free pickup and delivery throughout its service area, including Danville and Bloomsburg. A technician will pick up the ailing computer from the customer’s home or business and will take it back to the MePush office for repair. After repairs are made, the computer is hand-delivered to the customer.

“We’re able to reach into communities up to 60 miles away and offer our clients every convenience of having a local shop,” said Quinlan. “By leveraging technology we can offer the right mix of speed, personality and service while expanding our service area,” he said.

MePush is a Central Pennsylvania technology solutions provider. The company focuses solely on providing superior computer and network services to homes and businesses. Services include virus removal, sales, repairs, networking, and business IT management. For more information, visit www.mepush.com.

Sunbury residents can relax and allow MePush to provide free pickup and delivery of their computers. Our main office is located in Lewisburg, PA, but we offer the convenience of a local shop by offering

• Remote support via an internet connection that allows us to service a computer in Sunbury or any other area
• Free pickup and delivery
• A guarantee that our service will be Fast, Friendly, and Fanatical or next time is free.

You can always bring your PC in for service, but if your schedule is too busy, relax and let us do all the work.

To setup an appointment for computer repair in Sunbury, PA please call 570.524.6894 or email us via our contact page

3 Easy Options to Get $10 of any computer service until August 20, 2009. Do all 3 and get $30 off.

1. Subscribe to our blog! Click here.

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Thanks again for helping us grow our social network. Feel free to give MePush feedback. We will write about the topics you request.

We meet with people all the time about building a website. Time and time again, they lack some essential things before starting a website.

1. Content — Web designers are in business to design your website, not invent your content. We can of course guide you with regards to writing content that is effective and search engine friendly and we can also write your content for you, but that often is very costly. THEREFORE, It is key to make sure you have your content organized. Each page on your site will have 3 things. TEXT, IMAGES, and FUNCTIONS. For example, your contact page will have text for your address, email, phone; an image of a google map or maybe of your office; and the site will function in a certain way by allowing users to fill out a contact form. Make sure you have defined and prepare the text, images, and functions for each page. These are not light decisions, think hard.
2. Logos — This is sort of like content. Too many companies don’t have logos or they have a logo from some guy and they can’t find the cd or the guy who made it doesnt return phone calls, etc. A logo is key to your image, your brand, your message. Get a good logo and make sure you have a high res full color version to hand to your web designer. This logo will play a role in the design of your site.
3. Traffic Plan — So many people think that if they build a site, they will magically land on page 1 and all internet traffic will make a sharp left turn towards their site. Right… The reality is you need to develop an action plan for how you plan to get traffic to your site. Some options are a) business cards, billboards or other offline media b) Google Adwords c) search engine landing pages d) blogging e) lots of inbound links f) telling every one and their brother g) good PR.
4. Budget – Good websites don’t cost $500. Period. Get a budget. That doesn’t mean 10K. Just have a realistic plan of what you can spend. 3-5K is a solid budget for a small business website. 7-10K is a great budget for a much larger, perhaps more dynamic small business website. These budgets could swing largely depending on the functionality, design intensity, and SEO requirements of your site. The main point is that having a budget helps you decide on what you have to spend. You can work with your web designer to figure out what you can get for that budget.
5. Maintenance — A site that doesn’t get updated is a site that will not perform very well. Users expect fresh (not updated last year) content. Make sure the site you build has a content management system that will allow you to update pages, add news, add events, etc so that your site is dynamic and also helps you manage recurring costs as you or a staffer can make changes without having to pay a web designer to type!