Digital storage has become one of the most convenient and paradigm shifting technologies for businesses and individuals alike.  The ability to store, organize, and quickly retrieve and analyze photos, tax documents, and schoolwork allows us to work quickly, efficiently and effectively, and it doesn’t take up any of that wall space which was previously occupied by a bank of filing cabinets.

However, when hard drives fail, or optical media gets scratched, it is easy to curse this technology.  While backup systems will always protect you from this type of disaster, it usually takes a loss of data before the investment seems prudent.

Fortunately there is a faint glimmer of hope for those affected by digital storage media failure. Read the rest of this entry »

BLOGS.. well have become a way of life over the past 10 years.  The Blog-O-sphere has allowed everyone to stretch their virtual vocal chords with these simple to use and highly customizable publishing platforms. Read the rest of this entry »

[Originally posted at http://rydberg.biology.colostate.edu/sites/bioit/2010/02/02/finally-a-replacement-for-notepad]

For the past decade or so, I have been stuck using the default Notepad application that comes pre-installed on every Windows computer. For my purposes, the ‘Development Suite’ applications such as the MS ‘Visual’ tools and other development environments are too much – heavy and complicated. As I am usually working on a single file containing HTML, JAVA or PHP code, Notepad was a sufficient solution due to its lightweight and very simple interface – just type! However, longing for the days when I programmed with Emacs on a Unix system – led me to do a little research to find a similar tool that could highlight syntax and make the coding more human readable with, you know, colors and indentations and stuff. This is when I discovered Notepad++

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[Originally posted at http://rydberg.biology.colostate.edu/sites/bioit/2009/11/17/new-computer-old-computer-ccleaner]

I am often asked these two questions.

I have a new computer, how can I remove all the CRAP that came preinstalled?

I have an older computer, how can I speed it up?

I will share with you a little IT secret, and that is CCleaner. In short, this program optimizes your system, by removed “crapware” that comes preinstalled on your new machine, cleaning up your Windows registry, as well as trashing temporary files that are not needed. Oh, and it is totally free! So, the next time you want to optimize an older computer, or polish up your brand new machine by wiping that crapware off – give CCleaner a try. The only drawback is for Mac users, since this is a Windows only computer. Luckily Macs don’t come with much crapware – so you shouldn’t be too disappointed.

http://www.ccleaner.com

Maybe it is just a sign of the times, but I loathe wires.  While in college I collected a number of super long Ethernet cables (typically from scouring the central computing building’s surplus bins) so that could “wire” one apartment or house and then the next during my long career as a student.  I didn’t care if a cable ran around a room, out a door, taped to the wall of a stairwell, down the hall and finally connecting to our community switch – it was all about functionality – and besides, I wasn’t overly concerned about the aesthetics of a rental property.  Now, however, I own a house and have pride in these silly things – I want stuff to look good – and this usually means having less wires, flashing lights and god knows what else laying all over the place.  I love a nice clean habitat.

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