Upgrading Microsoft Office. Is Office 365 for you?

Many people feel pressure from other sources to upgrade to the latest version of MS Office.  You may have just purchased a new computer for your home and your old version of Office is missing or may be too old to work on a new computer. With either scenario, you may be looking to buy Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) you should know how the Office game has changed.

Microsoft Office 365 is subscription based. The good news is you can download it right away and it’s cheaper to start. You also get upgrades to newer versions when they come out. The bad news is you will pay more in the long run because you have to pay every year. When you stop paying, it stops working. Another problem is you can’t pick and choose which applications you want. In the past you were able to only install Word or Excel if that’s all you needed. Now you download the whole thing and install it. There is not an option to be found anywhere in the download process. Less choices means it’s easier, but it also means less freedom to choose and more room on your computer.

What are your options?

If you would rather not upgrade and were only upgrading because you can’t open newer files (ie. you have Word 2000 and you want to open a Word 2007 file), there is an easy remedy. Simply install the Office Compatibility Pack.

Other users can still open your files because Office is always backwards compatible (ie. Word 2010 can open Word 2007, 2003 or older files).

If you need a newer version because you are tired of your old one or if your new computer no longer supports your old version, you can still buy a non-subscription version (anything older than 2013) online. Unfortunately, you are not going to find these older versions at a local store or direct from Microsoft. Try Amazon.com or eBay. Just make sure it says “retail box” in the description and it includes the CD.

So who is Office 365 really for?

Businesses or individuals who are dedicated to MS Office and want to use the latest software. If you buy Office every time a new version comes out, the subscription service is definitely for you. If you are buying licenses for a lot of computers it’s also for you. In these cases the subscription service will save you money.

An option for those willing to try something new:

There is also a free version of Office. It’s called OpenOffice.org (it’s also the website). It’s supported by a community of programmers and will open most Microsoft Office documents.  If your needs are simple, I recommend you try it.  It could save you a lot of money in the long run.

Questions, comments, concerns or just need help? Contact me at service@gocomputerace.com.

Keys to Protecting Your Network From Cyber-Attacks

More than half of businesses across the world lack the ability to detect security breaches to their networks within a short period of time. Just think about how much valuable information can be lost, tampered with or stolen in just a matter of minutes? With current technology, there is no need to take the risk of a cyber attack. Data center monitoring is quickly becoming the top priority for businesses all over the world. But what does it take to achieve 100% visibility for ultimate data center security? APCON explores this topic in the following infographic.

[Click image for full size version]

Keys to Protecting Your Network From Cyber-Attacks

Microsoft Tech Support Scams

Microsoft is not in the business of scamming people, at least not the real Microsoft. There have been in the last year or so, companies that because they are located in other countries, have gotten away with posing as Microsoft and offering tech support help to people in need.

They call you, pretending to be Microsoft tech support and tell you that they have noticed that your computer is having problems. Then they have you go to a fake website and change some settings on your computer so they can “help” and then, at the end of the call, tell you it costs X amount of money. By then your computer is probably worse off than it started.

How do they know you need help when they call? Good question. It’s because they are using their own spyware or malware that has found its way onto your computer to cause you problems in the first place.

Do they really help? No. They may “fix” certain issues that you are having but they are issues that they created in the first place. So when they fix them, they are really just telling their spyware to leave you alone temporarily so they can create more problems for you later.  They also hope you will call them at a later date so that they can take your money.

How do you know if it’s really Microsoft? Microsoft never calls people. The only time they would ever do so is if you purchased something from them recently and there is a problem with your purchase or if you called them recently and left a callback number. Regardless you would have initiated the communication at some point.

If you ever suspect a tech support scam, simply ask if there is any kind of fee for the service. If the answer is “yes” then immediately hang up. You can then report the phone number to the Federal Trade Commission.

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0076-telemarketing-scams.

After that I would highly suggest having you computer checked for spyware. You can always contact me if you need further assistance.

AOL=RUN

Ladies and gentlemen another public service announcement. If you are using AOL email, RUN. If you are using the AOL software RUN. If you are using AOL anything. RUUUNNN! Seriously. It’s all packed to the brim with spyware. I am not kidding. Get another email, do not use any of their services.

I had a client who had a completely clean computer use the AOL software and the very next day (no exaggeration) his computer could barely work because it was so infected.
Let me know if you have any comments or questions about this or if you have had problems with AOL yourself.

Java Updates

Today I would like to talk about the importance of Java updates.

What is Java?

Java is a programming language commonly used in webpages and certain applications that add advanced functionality. More on Java here: http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/whatis_java.xml

Why is updating Java important?

In a word; security. Any program that adds online functionality to a website can pose a security threat. Spyware programmers can deploy these functions in malicious ways to gain control over your computer, lock you out or gain access to valuable information.
A recent article released by CNET talks more about it:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57563951-83/homeland-security-still-advises-disabling-java-even-after-update/
I personally don’t advise disabling Java. It can cause problems in applications. I do however support the idea of keeping it up to date.

How do I update Java?

Java should check for updates every so often on it’s own. The key word there is “should”. Sometimes the update feature stops working for some reason or because people don’t know what Java is, they will simply ignore the notices to update.
If you want to update Java manually you can follow the steps in the instructions linked below:
http://www.java.com/en/download/help/java_update.xml
Scroll down to the “Java Update Options” section.

I also update Java whenever I do regular maintenance on a computer, a part of every service. So if you’ve had service recently, you’re good. Just keep updating it whenever it prompts you.

NOTE!! Sometimes Java will offer to install additional software along with the update. This is entirely up to you but it will be selected by default so keep an eye out for the option. You may not want what is being offered.

A Good Reason To Buy a PC Soon

Today I would like to talk about why you should buy a computer soon. The answer is: Windows 8. Confused? Let me explain. Windows 8 is being pushed by Microsoft just like every other version of Windows they’ve released. If you are a techie like me, you’ve noticed a pattern of every other version of Windows being a complete dud. Well we’re on the dud version again. Ex: Windows XP (good), Vista (bad), Windows 7 (good), now it’s Windows 8 (bad again).

Granted, there are going to be some people that like it. Just like there were some who liked Vista. If you’ve been happy with Vista, that’s good, I’d say even lucky. However good experiences with Vista were not the norm. Some people may like and will have good luck with Windows 8. However, I seriously doubt this will be case with most.

The reason you should buy a new computer soon, if you’ve been thinking about it, is that Windows 8 is coming out Oct. 26 and it will be installed, by default, on every new computer system. In other words, if you decide you don’t like Windows 8 and want Windows 7 instead you will have to special order your computer and after a while (I’d say about 6 months) you won’t be able to get it with a new system at all and will have to buy it separately, then install it over Windows 8. Which will be expensive and very time consuming.

If you are on the fence about Windows 8 and are wondering if there are any real benefits to it, let me assure you, there are almost none. If anything there is less functionality due to it trying to be more simplified and ends up being harder to navigate. What used to take 1 or 2 clicks, may take 5 or 6.

There is a demo of Windows 8 on the net called Metro7 which allows you to see what it’s like to use Windows 8 on your current PC. Unfortunately, it has spyware built into it, so I can’t recommend it. You can however go to your local computer store and see Windows 8 for yourself if you are still interested.

BTW if you are wondering what computer to get, let me make a quick recommendation. I would go with HP or Dell (good warranty/tech support and decent quality components) and with the i3, i5 or i7 Intel processors. You can expect to pay about $600 on up for a decent system. I can also help find the right computer for you or even transfer your data and setup your new system.

UPDATE: You can still get Windows 7 if you order it online at dell.com or hp.com . Just go to their computer sections and select Windows 7 under “operating system”.