Computer Courage is Looking for a Talented Web Designer/Developer

Computer Courage is a small business in Berkeley, California that provides web design and development, WordPress integration, graphic design, and IT services.  We have a web development team of four and are looking for a new team member to start part time in approximately 3 days per week, with opportunities for full time work in the near future.

Requirements:
- Solid HTML/CSS talent and experience (2 years professional experience required)
- Graphic design skills are a requirement – Photoshop and Illustrator
- Working knowledge of PHP is a must
- Experience with WordPress.org theme and plugin development is big plus
- JavaScript skills are a plus
- Adobe Flash and/or Actionscript skills are a plus
- Bachelors Degree preferred.  Art school graduates are encouraged to apply
- Talent is a must, experience is preferred.  If you are a talented, motivated student please feel free to apply

Location:
- This job is in Berkeley, California.  This is not a telecommuting job – only people who can come to our office in Berkeley at least 3 days a week need apply.

Compensation:

- Compensation will be from $18 to $24 per hour, depending on experience.  A salaried, full time position is a possibility in the near future.

Application:

Here’s how to switch from AVG Free Edition to Microsoft Security Essentials (also free).  Further explanation of why we recommend switching is below.

1. Uninstall AVG Free Edition.  You can do this by going to your Control Panel, then “Add/Remove Programs”.  Select “AVG Free Edition” from the list and click Remove.
2. You may need to reboot the computer after this.
3. Next, download and run the AVG Remover.  You can get it here.  This cleans out all traces of AVG from your system.
4. Now download and install Microsoft Security Essentials from here.  The install couldn’t be simpler.  Be sure to let it do a full scan after it installs.

Here’s more details about why we recommend Microsoft Security Essentials.

Free antivirus may sound “too good to be true”, but it’s not.  For years, companies like Avira and AVG have been giving out free antivirus to consumers.  How do they do it?  Usually, free antivirus exists as a “gateway” to get you to buy more expensive products such as internet security suites (which we don’t recommend for most consumers).  Instead of spending money on advertising, or on getting trial software preloaded on new PCs, some antivirus makers found that offering free basic protection to millions allowed them to sell expensive “enhanced” protection to tens of thousands.

This model is fine, but AVG has gone too far with it.  Starting with version 9, the product which was once lightweight and simple has become overburdened with unnecessary and slowing features.  Where AVG used to gently recommend a paid version of their product, they now push the paid version too aggressively, with questionable tactics such as unnecessarily complicated upgrades which often confuse the user into paying.

The good news is, Microsoft has released a free antivirus, and it’s different.  Microsoft is not trying to sell you an upgraded version, they are simply protecting the reputation of their operating system.  Their new product is fast and lightweight, without the popups, system drain, and confusion that bogs down other free and paid antivirus programs. It works exceedingly well.  While the world of antivirus changes from month to month, we’re happy to recommend Microsoft Security Essentials as the optimum choice for most home users (for now).

Computer Courage is proud to announce the launch of the Berkeley Public Education Foundation website.

Also built on the Wordpress platform, It is a professional, but friendly website with a color scheme for each section. It also has a Google Calendar integrated into the calendar page and widgets. Visit the website at: http://www.bpef-online.org.

We were thrilled to see that in a new study by water&stone and CMSWire, WordPress came out on top as the leader in open source Content Management System satisfaction.  Image and link below:

You can download the full report here

Every incoming message is a set of tasks for me.  At the very least I need to open each message, skim it, and delete, archive, forward, or read and respond.  This doesn’t include any “real work” that the email may demand (researching a product, running a report, etc).  Like most of you, I find moments in the day to sit down and wrestle with the inbox, slashing away at it and trying to keep it to a reasonable size.  I’ve learned to take each email, parse it, and act on it.  This action may be an email response, a delegation of a task, an addition to a to-do list, an archiving, or a simple press of the delete key.  With these tools, I can bring my inbox down to size and focus on my other tasks.  But all this time, I’ve been missing something critical – I’ve only been managing my inbox, what about my outbox?

I’ve been reading David Allen’s critically acclaimed book, “Getting Things Done”, in an effort to find a way to manage my time and my tasks.  I’m only on Chapter 4, but I’m already gaining some clarity about the scope of tasks that I surround myself with every day.  One area that Allen opened my eyes to is the concept of the “open loop”, which represents an unfinished task, project, or communication.  As he points out early in the book, an open loop can be an action that you are waiting for someone else to do.  Allen recommends tracking these in a list called “Waiting For” and reviewing this list on a regular basis.  At any given time, I’m waiting for 10 or more  people to get back to me, and this is something I have trouble keeping track of.

The realization I came to today is that almost every email I send represents a task on the “Waiting For” list.  How many messages have I sent out so someone assigning them the “next step” on a project, and then simply forgot about it?  How often do they drop the ball and stall or kill the project?  Maybe I’ve emailed my employee and asked him or her to draft up a letter for a client, or maybe I’ve asked a client for some data that I can’t continue without, or maybe I’ve opened up a trouble ticket with a software vendor.  In any case, most of my outgoing emails require an action on someone else’s part, an action that I am actively waiting for and need to follow up on.

The “Waiting For” email list, aka my Sent Items, might be bigger than my Inbox!  As I realized this, my heart sunk a little.  I thought of all the new tasks I had made myself aware of.  I envisioned opening up a to do list every time I sent an email and painstakingly transcribing details about the outgoing message, who needed to act, when I expected a response, when I needed one, etc.  This sounds like an absolute nightmare.  Fortunately, I found a pretty simple solution that I wanted to share with everyone, and see how it works for me or for anyone else.

The Technique: Managing Your Sent Items with “Resolved Sent”

The key to managing your sent items will be to essentially have two folders for sent items.  The first folder is just your normal “Sent” folder – where sent messages are automatically placed by your software upon send.  This is the temporary home of all sent mail, and your goal will be to clear this folder just like you do your inbox. Your goal will be to eventually move all of your sent messages into a second folder, which I’ll call the “Resolved Sent Items” folder. This folder is for sent items that do not require any follow up, and can be forgotten about forever.

As with any GTD technique, this would only work with proper review.  I need to regularly go through my Sent Items folder and accomplish two goals: move messages to the Resolved Sent Items folder, and be reminded of items that I’m still waiting for.  I propose doing these separately.

At the end of each day, I will go through the day’s sent mail, which lives at the top of the Sent Items folder  This task is simple, all I need to do is look at each message and determine it is an “open loop” or not.  If the loop is closed, the message gets moved to Resolved Sent Items.  If the message is still an open loop, it stays put.

At the start of each day, I should look at the Sent Items folder in its entirety.  Every single message in the folder represents something I’m waiting on (since I’ve screened the list  the night before).  As I read through these open loops, I may be prompted to send reminder emails, change courses on projects, or just to be aware that I am waiting.  Once I’ve been through this list in the morning, I can forget about it until the end of the day, when the pattern repeats.

This can be implemented with either folders (Outlook) or labels (Gmail, Thunderbird).  Outlook users can create a subfolder of the Sent Items folder called “Resolved Sent Items” and label users can create a label called “Resolved Sent” which they can attach to sent items.  Either way, it will be easy to pull up a list of all sent messages that aren’t finalized, and parse them.

Success in business is accomplished many ways, and one of the tried and tested means of accomplishment in business is follow-up.  I pride myself in being reliable and responsible with my tasks.  This new, wider vision of my task responsibilities is intimidating, but will also allow me to perform in a more successful, organized, and stress free manner, if I can keep up with the twice daily reviews.  Please post your feedback and comments below.

Windows 7 – Better Than Vista
The first thing you should know about Windows 7 is that it is better than Windows Vista, in just about every way.  Many of you have heard us (and others) say that Windows Vista was a flop.  Many of you are still running Windows XP, the previous version of Windows, because it is generally still respected as a quality (if a bit dated) OS.  Windows 7 has the performance of Windows XP with a user experience close to that of Apple OS X.

Vista was a total disaster, Windows 7 is a success.  Vista is slow and crashes frequently.  7 is fast and stable.  Vista created massive problems for 3rd parties, 7 is highly compatible.  Vista is expensive, 7 is affordable ($30 for students, $120 for upgrades, $200 for new home copies, $300 for businesses).

What’s Important About Windows 7 To You?
Windows 7 has many new features.  Some are helpful, some are pleasant, some will become necessities in the future.  None of the new features, however, are worth the upgrade alone.  So should you upgrade?  Easy answer:

Windows XP users do not need to upgrade to Windows 7. You’ll get 7 on your next computer, and it will run beautifully.  In the meantime, there’s no direct upgrade from XP to 7 (you have to purchase a full copy, then reinstall).  If you have a fast computer and you want the upgrade anyway, we can do it for you, just contact us.   If you’ve been waiting to buy a new PC at the store, it’s now is a fine time.  Though you might want to contact us first to get our free suggestions and buying tips.

All Windows Vista users should upgrade to Windows 7.  Vista is a problem.  7 is the solution.  The cost of the software upgrade is $120 for homes, $200 for businesses.  The upgrade process is fairly easy, we can do it for you or you can do it yourself.  This upgrade will make your system run better and faster for many years to come.

Businesses should continue to use Windows XP until getting a consultation.  Your business operations are critical to your income and you shouldn’t take any chances.  If you think your company is ready for the upgrade, contact Computer Courage to schedule a consultation so we can analyze your hardware, software, and needs before making the jump to Windows 7.  It’s not a matter of “if” with Windows 7, it’s just a matter of “when”.

Windows 7’s New Features
Windows 7 is not just a fix for Vista’s problems, it also brings some new features and tricks to the table.  You can see a whole feature list here, but below are some of our favorites:

• New taskbar – The new taskbar is somehow simpler, prettier, and more powerful.  It reminds us of the OS X Dock, but with innovative improvements such as Aero Peek, which lets you easily see open window previews.
• Better Networking – The new HomeGroup feature of Windows 7 makes it easy for you to share your pictures, video, and music with other computers in the house (even non-7 machines)
• Better Power Management – Stay greener and keep your utility bills down with improved sleep and resume functions.
• Support for Netbooks – We’ll see how well it runs, but 7 promises to be the future of those little mini-laptop “netbooks” you’ve been seeing around.

Is It Too Early For Me?
Remember, there is no rush.  Some people don’t like to run an operating system when its just come out – maybe it will have problems with your hardware or software.  If you wait, those problems might get hammered out for you before you buy.  Companies like Dell are still selling new computers with Windows XP on them, so you don’t have to make the transitions yet.  If you have a business with a network, make sure to contact Computer Courage for a consultation before moving forward with Windows 7 upgrades.

Free Upgrade If You Bought After June 26, 2009!
If you purchased a full copy of Windows Vista, or got it preloaded on a PC from a major manufacturer, you are likely eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 7 (with some tax, shipping, and handling).  We strongly suggest you claim your upgrade disc.  You don’t have to upgrade now, but you might as well take advantage of the offer (which won’t last forever).  Note, even if you bought a PC with Windows XP on it, it’s likely to have been a copy of Windows Vista with an XP Downgrade, so you’re still probably eligible.

To find out if you are eligible for a free copy of Window 7, go to this page on Microsoft’s website.

The good folks at AVG have released the latest version of their excellent antivirus software, AVG Free Version 9.  As many of our readers know, Computer Courage is a big fan of AVG.  They provide high quality antivirus to the masses for free, without bogging down your computer.

The latest version of AVG Free doesn’t have much in the way of new features, it’s supposed to be faster and lighter.  This is probably a response to the release of Microsoft Security Essentials - a new free antivirus option from Microsoft itself.  MSE has some real promise to it, but we’re not ready to recommend it over the proven AVG yet.

When it comes to AVG, the most common question we hear is “why is it free?”  The answer is simple.  They provide a free product to millions of home users, with an option to upgrade to the paid version (which contains extra protection that we think isn’t necessary for a typical user).  Even if they get only a tiny percentage of users to convert to the paid version, they will make big bucks.  The other big guys (Norton, McAfee) use other methods such as advertising, and getting their software pre-installed on new PCs.  Any way you cut it, everyone is making money.

Now, if you are running AVG Free 8 or 8.5, it’s time to upgrade.  The upgrade is easy, with one caviat: You must uninstall AVG Free 8.x before installing AVG 9. This is critical – it will not warn you if you try to install AVG Free 9 on top of 8, and it can result in a loss of protection.

1. Uninstall AVG Free 8.x : Start Menu -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs -> AVG Free
2. Restart the PC
3. Download and install AVG Free 9 from here.
4. When installing, a few things to consider:
   1. Make sure to select the Free version in the installer – don’t get fooled into upgrading!
   2. Don’t install the Toolbar, it’s overkill
   3. Set up a weekly scan to run at night

If you have any thoughts about the new version of AVG, or free antivirus in general, please share in the comments.

UPDATE

Wireless Security – Do I Need It?
People ask us all the time about wireless security and whether or not they need it. The answer is absolutely. Your home network needs to be secured to keep unwanted snoops out and to keep your data in. Without security, neighbors could use your internet connection to do anything, and their activity would be traceable back to you. Beyond this, a savvy person with a laptop could break into an unsecured network and potentially access or damage your files.

The good news is that security is easy – we only needs to log into your router and set up WPA (or WPA2) security with a password. After that, any device that wants to connect to the network will have to enter a password and you are secure. If you need help setting up security, contact us or call your router’s manufacturer.

Wireless Reliability – I Keep Losing My Connection!
If you are suffering from a loss of connection on your wireless, it’s time to troubleshoot. Computer Courage is happy to come to your door and do the work for you, but we’ve also got some tips on how you can troubleshoot it yourself.

First, try plugging your computer directly into the router via a wired connection. If you still get drops, then the problem is not actually with wireless. If that’s the case, you can try troubleshooting your modem with your ISP or replacing the router.

If the problem is a wireless one, you may be suffering from interference from a phone, especially 2.4Ghz cordless phones. Try unplugging cordless phones and see if the connection improves. It may be a distance issue – try connecting when you are right next to the router. Finally, it may be a software or computer specific issue so try multiple computers – try a Mac if you have one available. If none of these steps help you to find the problem give us a call

Wireless Heaven – The Ultimate Solution
Computer Courage is proud to announce a wonderful new wireless solution. We call it Wireless Heaven. In a nutshell, it is affordable, secure, reliable, and can cover a very large area. If you have areas of your house that are not covered by wireless, if you have dropped connections, or if your network is unsecured, Wireless Heaven is the solution for you.

Features of Wireless Heaven:

• Very reliable
• Super fast – you can stream movies over it
• Scalable – Cover a small apartment or a huge house!
• No more “dead spots”
• No wiring necessary

Big House? Wireless Heaven Can Cover It
No matter how big your house is, we can cover it with seamless wireless internet. We do this by simply adding more units to the network and placing them strategically through the building. No wiring needs to be done, the units communicate wirelessly to each other. This is a great way to get wireless to your basement, upstairs, cottage, etc. It also works with any internet connection.

Call To Set Up Wireless Heaven
If you think this wireless solution is right for you, contact us online or call us at 510-525-2226 and we can have a technician at your house to get you connected right away.

Written by Adam Schwartz

Computer Courage is proud to announce the launch of the West Coast Coating Consultants website. It is a professional construction themed website you can view at http://www.westcoastcoatingconsultants.com.

Also built on the Wordpress platform, this site features a content slider, portfolio organized by region, a contact form and drop down navigation.

Computer Courage is proud to announce the launch of the Chemical Data Management Systems (CDMS) website. It is a clean and professional website you can view at http://www.cdms.com/.

Also built on the Wordpress platform, this site features a content slider, a contact form and expandable navigation.