Month: November 2017

  • Firefox Quantum Ships Today

    These days, I’m just looking for any reason to use Firefox as my default browser. So starting today, I’m going to try for at least one week. Why? Mozilla just shipped Firefox 57.0, based on the new Quantum engine. Download Firefox Quantum and set it as your default browser, or read more about my experience using Firefox, and how it compares to Google Chrome, here.

    Need some reasons to use Firefox as your favorite browser? Here are a few:

    • Unlike Microsoft’s or Apple’s browsers (among others) Firefox runs on all major computing platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. This means you can use one browser across all of your devices.
    • Firefox lets you sync your settings, history and bookmarks across all of your devices so you never have to remember where you saved that bookmark or started that article you want to finish later.
    • Firefox uses less memory than many other browsers, like Google Chrome. This means faster performance and less waiting.
    • Firefox protects your privacy. Even more importantly, Mozilla, the organization that maintains Firefox, is on a mission to make the Internet a better place. Unlike the for-profit tech companies like Google, Microsoft and Apple, who make more money the more they know about you and your browsing habits, Mozilla builds a browser that’s designed to protect your privacy instead of monetizing you.

    This doesn’t mean that Firefox is perfect, or that it’s even the best browser for you. But it’s worth a try!

  • Windows Laptop Buyer’s Tips

    Fall 2017

    Here are the things to look for in a new Windows laptop. If possible, go to a store like Best Buy to see the laptop and try it out. For the most typical uses, follow these guidelines. If you want to use your laptop for more demanding tasks, like video editing or gaming, you’ll probably want to look at the higher end.

    In general, shoot for the middle in terms of pricing. You don’t need the most cutting edge tech unless you want to pay a premium. On the other hand, if you can’t afford to pay too much, consider a ChromeBook or a refurbished laptop.

    Hardware

    • Price: you don’t need to get anything too expensive, but you’ll pay in other ways if you get the cheapest options. Computers are so powerful these days that even the cheapest are quite capable, so you don’t need to get the fastest computer you can afford,
    • CPU speed (don’t get anything too slow). The truth is that most computers are so fast now that you’ll be fine with a middle of the road CPU.
      RAM: Go with 8 GB if possible. 4 GB is not really sufficient, and 16 GB is probably more than you need unless you plan to do video editing.
    • Go with an SSD (Solid State Drive) instead of a “spinner” hard drive, even though they are more expensive. The 10x speed boost is worth it. It’s really disk access that slows things down, assuming your CPU doesn’t suck and you have 8 GB of RAM.
    • Size and weight: if you plan on carrying your laptop, make sure it won’t throw your back out of alignment when you pick it up, or that it’s not too big to fit in your bag
    • Screen quality: this includes both the screen resolution (number of pixels, and how small they are — the smaller the better as everything will look crisp) and the view angle. Flip the lid up and down and stand off to the side. You will see the screen become dim at a certain angle. If this is too narrow, you’ll constantly be adjusting the screen.
    • The keyboard: try typing and make sure it’s comfortable, and that the keys feel good. This is the primary way you’ll interact with your laptop, so make sure you like it.

    Software

    • One of the first things you should do when you start your new Windows laptop is to install Google Chrome or Firefox and set this as your default browser. You can then sync your browser settings across computers, even if you find yourself using another computer that isn’t running Windows.
    • Instead of paying hundreds of dollars for a Microsoft Office license, consider using Open Office or Google Drive for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software.

  • Why You Should Never List Emails on Your Web Site

    It’s a bad idea to list any emails on your web site. Instead, direct visitors to use your web site’s Contact Us form. Here’s why:

    1. Spammers constantly scan web sites for email addresses, which they can find automatically. Once they do, the email address will be flooded with spam.
    2. You can’t track leads generated from your web site if people contact you by sending an email, even if they click on the email link. You can track leads collected through your Contact Us form or similar web.
    3. If you want to collect email addresses of prospective clients on your web site, not through your email server, there are ways to do this efficiently and accurately that will capture all of these customer emails in one central database, and won’t expose your email address to spammers.

    What if your site doesn’t have a Contact Us form, or a way to capture visitor’s email addresses? Contact us on this web site, and we can help.