When I was preparing for my most recent visit to Cleveland to see my parents (that’s Cleveland, Ohio, for any of you reading this from outside the USA), my father said, “Bring a PC.” I haven’t traveled without a computer since the days when they made you turn your computer on at security, back when you had to hunt all over the airport to find a power outlet, long before wi-fi was invented. Now … [Read more...]
A Backup SMTP Port?
This morning my outgoing mail abruptly refused to go out. Any of it. My housemate’s mail, too. Now, given that I have at least 8 separate e-mail accounts (I own four domains and co-own a fifth, as well as having e-mail through the Ur-Guru’s servers and, of course, an account provided by my ISP), that seemed like a problem that had to originate with Comcast. And this time it wasn’t a general … [Read more...]
Stupid Outlook Tricks: FileSlinger™ Backup Reminder 10-03-08
What I really need is a set of backup vocal cords. I was planning to do some recording this week, and what happens? I have laryngitis, with added coughing. Even if it didn’t hurt to say more than a few words at a time, I wouldn’t want to subject anyone to the squawking. There are lots of text-to-speech programs out there, but I don’t want to subject anyone to them, either. After all, synthetic … [Read more...]
Back Up with Personality: FileSlinger™ Backup Reminder 06-06-08
It’s been less than a year since I reviewed Universe Point’s ION backup—and more than a month, I confess, since CEO Jeff Snader asked me to check out the latest version. ION’s big selling point is monitored backups: if something goes wrong with your backup job, ION will tell you about it. This is a good feature to have; it keeps you from learning the hard way that your backups are no good. … [Read more...]
Putting the Humor Back in Backups: FileSlinger(TM) Backup Reminder 05-23-08
Is this the late-late-early show or the early-early-late show? Looking at my calendar and asking myself what the chances are that I'll manage to write a second column by Friday (when I have to get up at 4:30 AM to get ready for the BACN meeting at 7:30 AM), I decided just to post-date this and send it out now. Last week TechTarget sent me a link to an “e-zine.” I don't know why they called it … [Read more...]