I broke into the world of computers and technology at around the ripe old age of 10. Not so amazing really, but remember…that was in 1984…back when most people on the street didn’t know what a computer was. The day my father came home from Radio Shack with a brand new Tandy 1000 was the beginning of what has turned into a passion for technology. Continued

In the corporate world, larger companies build what are called “disaster recovery” centers. This is an off-site building that houses a miniaturized version of the entire company’s computer network. Its sole purpose in life is to be there in case a disastrous situation happens at the primary data center (fire, explosion, etc.) so the company keeps running no matter what.

Being that Joe and Jane computer user don’t have that kind of money to build one of these, we have to resort to a much smaller scale.

Question: Why have a disaster recovery computer?

Answer: So you have something to use in case your primary computer fails.

Your DR computer doesn’t have to be expensive nor does it have to be new. All it has to do is work in case your primary box decides to conk out.

If using Windows XP:

If using a desktop, you can get by easily with a Pentium III powered computer. This will run Windows XP easily even with only 128MB of RAM on-board (although it’s suggested you go with at least 512MB minimum). Pent-3’s are easy to come by and moreover are cheap.

If using a laptop, a 1GHz Celeron processor with 256MB RAM on-board will do the job just fine. However you should make sure that the native screen resolution is at least 1024×768. An LCD native res of 800×600 simply isn’t enough as most major web sites are designed for the 1024 minimum. This setup will also run Windows XP easily.

Either setup should have at least 1 USB port, preferably USB 2.0 hi-speed spec. It’s especially important to have this if you intend your DR computer to have wireless connectivity (you can pick up a small USB wireless adapter to enable this).

If using a Mac (OS X):

If using a desktop, a G4-spec Mini or iMac will do the job, however it’s recommended to go minimum G5 if possible as OS X is agonizingly slow on a G4.

if using a laptop, a 13-inch screen Macbook will do fine. Again, you can go minimum G4 but it’s recommended G5 or higher.

While it’s true you could use a G3 with OS9, it’s better overall if you use a Mac that will run OS X. Using OS9 instead of OS X is like using Windows 98 instead of Windows XP.

If using Linux:

As crazy as this sounds, you could “get away” with a pre-Pentium era 486 processor using Damn Small Linux. In fact the absolute minimum req’s for that distro is a 486DX (66MHz processor) with 16MB of RAM.

It will be slow, it will be only the bare essentials as far as a GUI is concerned, but yes it will work.

However, given the fact that 486-powered PCs do not have any capability for USB ports whatsoever (as none of them have PCI slots, only ISA), it’s highly recommended that you do not use a computer that slow or out-of-date. Stick to the 733MHz-and-higher territory only.

What should your DR computer have?

A quick checklist goes like this:

• Ability to send/receive e-mail easily. If you use web-based e-mail, set up the bookmark in the browser. If you use an e-mail client (such as Outlook Express or Mozilla Thunderbird), install that and set up your account appropriately.
• Ability to do word processing and other like-related tasks (OpenOffice or Abiword, your choice).
• A browser installed that has all the plugins you currently use (IE, Safari, Firefox with the at-present current Flash plugin and whatever other plugins you use).
• All instant messengers that you use.
• An OS that is completely updated. Whether Windows XP, OS X or Linux, the OS should be completely updated.

You can add in as many apps as you need to get rolling with your DR computer. At the end of setup, you should be able to boot the computer and start using it immediately without the need to set up any additional items.

Tips for maintaining a DR computer

This computer will most likely sit in a closet, possibly for many months. Your #1 enemy is dirt build-up. The easiest way to combat this is to put the computer in a duffle bag (one that can fit the computer easily) and zip it up. This will keep dust build-up out. In addition, having the computer in the bag is convenient because you can store all the cables in there along with the computer itself.

If your DR computer is a laptop, you can pick up a cheap laptop bag at Wal-Mart that will do the same job.

Is it really necessary to have a DR computer?

In my particular situation, a large chunk of my life is done by computer. Online banking, scheduling, communications, my job itself and so on. So yes, for me it’s absolutely required to have a DR computer (mine is a laptop).

The Big Question is this: How much would it impact your life in the negative direction if you had absolutely no access to a computer at home? If the answer makes your heart skip a beat and causes you to say “Wow.. that would really, really suck!”, you might want to consider building a DR computer.

No matter where you purchase any computer product, from an entire system to a USB flash drive, inevitably you will be asked if you want to purchase an extended warranty on the item. While you might have an involuntary reflex of answering “no”, experience has proven to me this is not always the best answer.

Where I’m Coming From

As the primary technical resource for a small business I have my hand in repairing / upgrading / replacing / etc. virtually all hardware and software for desktops, laptops and servers, in addition I do some repair work for friends and family when needed. While virtually all of the machines at work are Dell’s, we still have several hand-built machines in service, additionally the machines I deal with “on the side” range from all major manufacturers, so I have dealt with a reasonable amount issues.

Before going saying anything else, I’m going to knock on wood. Continued

A new virus has been discovered that is possibly the most deadliest to computer systems ever created. The video below will show you how to remove this virus. It is highly recommended that you forward this post to anyone you know that uses a computer. See video below for details.

Yep, that’s right. I turn 33 today, so you can clicky-clicky on your mouse on over to here or here and send a card to rich@frostedside.com.

Being that I was born smack dab in the mid-70s (1975), my generation was literally the last that experienced the world before internet. As a matter of fact, my generation was also the last before the advent of pagers (remember those?), cordless phones, cellular/wireless phones, cable television, satellite television/internet, home video (VHS/Betamax), compact discs, GPS and so on.

Computers were around, but it was a for-enthusiasts-only club (i.e. nerds) up until well into the 2000s.

Do I long for the days past when we didn’t have all of today’s modern technology around?

Absolutely not.

My opinion is that technology has matured in a way that has without a shadow of a doubt improved life.

Unofficially, consumer-available internet wasn’t widely available until 1996, so let’s turn back the clock to 1995 and compare tech then to tech today in 2008. We’ll also throw some other modern-day tech into the mix here.

Confirming the balance on your checking account

1995: Manually keep a record of your balance in the back of your checkbook, by hand. Wait until the bank opens on a day when you’re not going to work (usually Saturday) and either call or visit to confirm the actual balance is correct - and it usually wouldn’t be.

2008: Login to your bank’s web site and check the balance - anytime.

Placing a phone call for a tow service when your car breaks down

1995: Lock your car and literally abandon it, walk to the nearest payphone, grab the attached phonebook (assuming it has one), find a tow service listing, put a coin into the phone (assuming you have one), place a call to the tow service, walk back to your car and wait.

OR

If there are no payphones around, go to a stranger’s house and do the EXTREMELY awkward thing of knocking on someone’s door and pray to God it’s someone nice that will let you use their phone to place a call to a tow service.

2008: Grab your wireless phone, dial 411 (in the US), be auto-connected to a tow service and schedule a truck/lorry to come by and get your car to the nearest garage. The wait time is the same but at least you don’t have to abandon your car.

Getting turn-by-turn driving directions to anywhere

1995: Use a fold-out map, physically draw your route using a “highlighter” marker, assuming your vision is good enough to read the jumble of lines.

2008: Internet and/or GPS. If using internet, print your map just for the area you need to know (far easier to read). If using GPS, get in the car, punch in the address and go.

Communicating with anyone by voice in a different country

1995: Place a phone call and cringe knowing you’re spending an obscene amount of money every minute you’re connected just to say “hello”.

2008: Use free client-to-client voice communication via internet. Smile knowing that you’re saving loads of money compared to a phone call. And it sounds better than a phone, too.

. . .

The above are just four seemingly insignificant examples but are in fact very significant.

If you use internet and tech in a way that serves (keyword there), you have the advantage of using communication and data mediums that make life easier and better.

Simply put, I don’t miss the pre-internet/pre-tech world and look forward to what tomorrow brings.

As a final note, I still to this day love the fact that the internet is truly a world-serving thing. When I see something as simple as blog comment from people across the USA or from other nations (Canada, UK, Australia and anywhere else that has internet access), that’s just plain awesome.

PCMech Live community member Kamp3r (a.k.a. Troy) put together a simple video on how to break down a computer for recycling purposes. It’s simple and to the point. If you have an old computer and were wondering what the steps were in doing this, this should be helpful to you.

One day, your computer will be a big-ass table…

The tabletop computer known as Big-Ass Table Microsoft Surface has the possibility of having a consumer version available in 2011.. maybe.

The one question that has been lingering since day one about Surface is its practicality. It’s obviously not portable, the fact you have to look down at it all the time screams of ergonomic nightmares, and of course the issue of the “do you get what you pay for” question. Is it really worth the $5,000 price tag for what you get? It is that necessary to have?

From the consumer’s point on view, I can answer that already: NO.

An example of where a product like this would truly shine is in the classroom. If you plopped a few of these interactive-screen computers for use in grade-school level (i.e. grades 4 thru 8), the tech could be used every day in a way that would work.

But as a consumer product? No way; I don’t see it happening.

Engadget publishes a story today that is actually pretty infuriating. Sony, like a lot of computer manufacturers, likes to load up their new machines with loads of crapware.

Engadget actually reports that they tried to review an ultra-portable from Sony and it blue-screened on them on the first boot. As they say, that is thanks to all the bloated software that came pre-loaded on the machine.

Well, Sony learned the error of it’s ways and “solves” it. Or do they?

Actually, they are not charging a fee of $50 to remove the trial applications and games that come pre-loaded on their machine. This option is currently only available on the Vaio TZ2000. It is called “fresh start” and it is described, according to Hardware 2.0, as:

Opt for a Fresh Start™ and your VAIO PC will undergo a system optimization service where specific VAIO applications, trial software and games are removed from your unit prior to shipment. Fresh Start™ safely scrubs your PC to free up valuable hard drive space and conserve memory and processing power while maximizing overall system performance right from the start.

What a load of crap that is. As 9 to 5 Mac says, Sony is pulling its head from it’s ass - but only slightly.

If you don’t want to fuel Sony’s insanity, try PC Decrapifier instead. And whatever it doesn’t catch, I guess you’ll need to remove it yourself.

One of the first questions answered on the show was what our thoughts were on the current state of the computer industry. Rich answers by stating two upcoming tech examples, USB 3.0 and SSD. See video below for details.