Data Doctors Blog - Computer Repair and Data Recovery Discussion - Radio Show

Holiday tech purchasing 'gotchas'

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00-0700

The holiday season accounts for a large percentage of the revenue for retailers and manufacturers and doing whatever it takes to make sales is the order of the day. Gimmicks and confusing offers are very common this time of year and not understanding the details is what they count on! In virtually every category of technology, the primary yardstick for most consumers is price and the retailers & manufacturers prey on those that only look at the price. Listen in as the Data Doctors expose the most common retailing tricks that you will be confronted with this holiday season.
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Teleworking & Telecommuting - better than ever!

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00-0700

The Information age has changed many aspects of our personal and business lives, mainly for the better. 'Going to work' has always meant getting dressed and driving to a physical location, then spending more time driving home at the end of the day. Teleworking opportunities and telecommuting tools have continued to change the employment landscape as the Internet becomes more pervasive. Whether you are looking for a new opportunity or wanting to explore telecommuting for your existing situation, listen in as the Data Doctors discuss the latest tools and resources for educating your self on this new business paradigm!
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The Internet at 40

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00-0700

While there are competing thoughts on the actual event that is deemed 'the birth of the Internet', everyone agees that it all started in 1969. On Sept. 12th, the first two remote machines of the DOD funded ARPAnet were connected. On October 29th, the first message was sent between the remote systems; "The day that the Internet uttered its first words". Regardless of the details, the Internet has become the most transforming technology in the history of mankind. This week, the Data Doctors take a look back at the road that led to what we all take for granted today as we celebrate the Internet's 40th anniversary.
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The latest on Green Computing

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:00-0700

In 2006, the EPA estimated that personal computers consumed 2% of all the electricity in the United States. 3 years later, you can bet that number has gone up, because the number of computers in use has gone up. If we all made some small adjustments to our computing devices and behaviors, we could collectively safe a substantial amount of power. Listen in as the Data Doctors put on their Birkenstocks and wrap their arms around a few trees while discussing power saving tips as well as some common misnomers about technology and power.
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Windows 7; it's really worth considering!

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:00:00-0700

It's been a long time since we got excited about a new operating system, but Microsoft has done a pretty darn good job of getting this new operating system right. Due to be released on Oct 22nd, how and when you might consider migrating is becoming an important thing to think about. What should folks in the market for a new computer consider? What should folks that are struggling with their existing system do? How should businesses approach this new platform? These questions and much more will be answered by the Data Doctors and some special guests as we work up to the launch of Windows 7!
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Get the lead out (of our landfills)!

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:00:00-0700

This week's show will be cut short (12p - 12:30p PT) as a result of the ASU football broadcast, so we have very little to get the word out for a very important topic: repurposing & recycling e-waste. 70% of the heavy metals in our landfills comes from discarded electronics. The lead, cadmium, mercury and dozens of other toxins used in the creation of electronic devices poses a threat to ground water if this continues. Do your part; get your old technology down to one of the more than 40 drop off points around Arizona. If you listen to our show outside of the state, please use the resources posted below to find a responsible recycler in your community!
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The growing problem of Fake Alerts

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:00:00-0700

One of the most common ways to become infected with any number of today's most common infections is to fall for a fake security alert. According to a recent survey by Webroot, advanced users are more likely to encounter these fake alerts and fall victim to the scam. You can easily run into this scam simply by clicking on a link from a Google search, so the more you use search engines, the more likely you will run into a fake alert. Listen in as the Data Doctors discuss the latest scams, how you can spot the fake alerts and how to avoid them all together!
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"What's Next" from Demo Fall 2009

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:00:00-0700

Whether you are a gadget head or a casual user of technology, the intrigue of 'what's next' in the tech world interests everyone. One of the premier events for unveiling new technology products and services is a conference known in the industry as "DEMO". Demo started in 1991 and has been the launching pad for many of today's hottest tech: Sun's Java language, the Palm Pilot, TiVo & Salesforce.com are just a few examples. So what was shown at the Demo Fall 2009 conference that could be the next big thing for all of us? Listen in as the Data Doctors discuss what was launched at this years event that could just be the "Next Big Thing".
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The Vernacular of the Digital Generation

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:00:00-0700

The impact of the Internet and technology on our language is apparent to even the most technically challenged of us, IMHO. If you're getting lost when someone tells you to STW or that they were AFK, then you aren't alone. If your interactions with others online are not causing you to LOL, then perhaps a little edutainment is in order! Listen in as the Data Doctors and our very knowledgeable listeners chime in to explain to the uninitiated how to decode today's online communication protocols!
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Signs of a Computer Meltdown; revisited

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:00:00-0700

It's time for us to bang the drum on this one again! How expensive would all your car repairs be if you always drove your car until it broke down! Unfortunately, that's what most computer users do with their systems; drive it till it crashes! When you hear strange noises or get warning lights on your car, you typically have someone check it out and if you start doing that with your computer, you will be much more likely to catch a problem before it turns into a major disaster. The problem for most users is that they don't know what to watch for... That's were the Data Doctors come to the rescue. Listen in as we discuss all of the various signs and clues that your computer might be headed for a meltdown and more importantly what to do when you see the signs!
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Computing in the 'Cloud'

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:00:00-0700

In technical circles, the Internet has always been referred to as 'the cloud' and as more valuable Internet resources come on line, more of us will engage in 'cloud computing'. If you use webmail (like Gmail or Yahoo Mail), online tax preperation software, online accounting programs or manage your business contacts via a web-based service, you are part of the cloud computing masses. Listen in as the Data Doctors discuss the pros and cons of cloud computing and how to evaluate whether your next application should reside on your own computer or in the cloud!
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Dealing with Spam, Ham & Meatloaf!

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:00:00-0700

Everything that ends up in your Inbox falls into one of three categories: Spam - unsolicited commercial e-mail Ham - legitimate messages Meatloaf - Jokes or other meaningless messages from well meaning friends Understanding the basic rules and 'netiquette' of e-mail can dramatically reduce your exposure to the bad stuff, making it easier to get to the good stuff. Listen in as the Data Doctors focus on the obvious and not so obvious rules of the road for electronic messages.
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The Perplexing Perturbing Printer!

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:00:00-0700

Printers are an essential part of the computing experience, but the complexity in designs, performance and maintenance can make even the most high-tech user throw their hands up in defeat! This week's show will focus on all of the fun and games surrounding printers from the differences in inkjet technologies, to the age old debate on ink refills to the latest efforts to make printing more 'green'. We know that everyone listening has had to deal with annoying printer issues and sharing those experiences might help others to avoid your pain, so call in and participate!
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Back to School Tech Tips

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:00:00-0700

Youngsters of every age are in the process of shaking off their late wakeup routines and heading back to school. Whether you or your students are in elementary school or headed towards an MBA, technology is going to play a major role in scholastic life. What should you do to make sure that old computer is ready for another year? What are some of the basics that everyone should consider? What websites might provide assistance for the upcoming avalanche of homework? Listen in as the Data Doctors provide tips from A to Z for those that are headed Back To School!
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How YOU may be responsible for Cyber attacks

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:00:00-0700

This week's Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack on Twitter was surprising to many, but the most surprising part is that you may have been a part of the attack without even knowing it! Why Twitter? Who did this? What was the motivation? DDoS attacks are actually launched by a single person behind a single machine that just happens to be able to remotely control thousands of infected computers (called a botnet) around the Internet. How do you become part of these silent networks? How can you tell if you are currently infected by a botnet agent? How can you avoid them altogether? Listen in as the Data Doctors discuss the
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