Geek of The North » Mike

Geek of the North 5-10-2012 – #42 – The answer to Life, The Universe and Everything

Mike — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:18:56 +0000

I played a clip of “the Hitchhiker’s guide to the universe” in celibration of episode #42.

I talked about our road trips to Memphis, Texas and back where we recorded (my wife was with me) the last episode.

DNS attack – Configure your DNS to OpenDNS or Google Public DNS . Watch out for Scams out there.

Flipboard for Android – If you would like to side-load an early release, get it here

I talk about SEO and all the scams that are out there for local businesses and my aim to educate people on things such as that.

*** Shameless plug *** If you would like to hire me to help with your business or personal web site, drop me a note mike@mikedell.com or click “CONSULTING” above in the menu.

I will have an announcement on mikedell.com for those of you who used to listen to Mike Dell’s World and my other podcasts coming up soon. Stay tuned!

Catch me later!
-Mike

All new Ford Escape first drive on Geek News Central

Mike — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:21:51 +0000

As I mentioned in the last Geek of the North episode, here is the Ford Escape first drive video and a link to my article at Geek News Central:

Link to the full article

Geek of the North – 4-23-12 – Check out what I did Last Monday

Mike — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:14:16 +0000

Recorded from the Highway somewhere in Texas.

Sponsor: GoToMeeting with HD Faces makes it easy to collaborate online anytime. Try it Free!

I had the opportunity to go to San Francisco (though my affiliation with Geek News Central) earlier this week to drive the new 2013 Ford Escape. As I told you in the last episode, I was was heading out there.

Today I talk about the trip and how it was with no Laptop. I just brought the iPad and phone (along with my camera gear and recording stuff)

If you would like to read my article over there go here: http://www.geeknewscentral.com/2012/04/19/all-new-2013-ford-escape-first-drive/

Geek of the North – 12-APR-2012 – iPad 3rd Gen Review – Travel Lite

Mike — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:36:07 +0000

Today I talked about traveling lite using just the iPad, Droid and Kindle rather then bringing along my computer. I have a trip planned next week that I will test this and report back.

I’m going to a Ford event in San Francisco on Monday to drive the new Escape SUV for Geek News Central. Should be a fun time!

Google Plus changed! YUCK!

Catch me Later!

-Mike

*** Video version recorded in iMovie on my iMac. Excuse the mess in my studio!

Geek of the North TV – Special iPad 3rd Gen Unboxing

Mike — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:51:39 +0000

This is just a quick video of me Unboxing a 3rd Generation iPad (or iPad HD/iPad3 if you want).

This was the second one I unboxed and the first one I unboxed was taking the video for the second one’s unboxing.

So far I like the iPad 3rd Gen. As I have said before, I don’t know exactly what use I have for it, but I find it’s fun to sit in the easy chair and just surf the web. My wife loves it, so it’s likely it’s “Her” iPad. The other one I got is for my Mom and Dad. We pre-ordered them together and got them on the 16th of March via UPS.

Catch me later in the week for a full review in the audio version of the podcast (Geek of the North Radio).

-Mike
THE Geek of the North

First post from iPad

Mike — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:46:42 +0000

Just trying out the iPad app for WordPress. It seems to work great so far.

I will have the unboxing video up a little later on.

-Mike

TED Talk gone wrong

Mike — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:37:43 +0000

…OR is it right?

Geek of the North #39 – Tech Support for Grandma

Mike — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:34:40 +0000

Today I talked about our Snow storm here in Northern Michigan along with the 6 7 apps you should have on your windows machine.

It seems that a lot of us “Geeks” are the tech support for friends and family and it’s always good to have a standard setup. Here’s mine: 6 Applications You Need for your Windows Machine (now 7)

No video episode this week due to a few things… Will have a video episode on Tuesday next week

Catch me Later!
-Mike
THE Geek of the North

Geek of the North #38 – Podcasting navel gazing

Mike — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:20:34 +0000

Today I talk about my history of online audio (podcasting) and do a demo of different setups I use.

I do my audio podcasts using the Heil PR-40 Mic most of the time but sometimes I use a cheaper BEHRINGER XM8500 dynamic mic. I always use my Roland R-05 recorder instead of recording into the computer.

Enjoy!

Thanks for listening!
-Mike
The Geek of the North

*** Links can be affiliate links. It costs you no more to buy though these links and I get a small commission if you do ***

Online Technology Coach

Mike — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:08:02 +0000

Thanks for reading this. This category on Geek of the North is going to be the home base of my effort to demystify the world of Online Technology. My goal is to put up instructional posts, videos, webinars, audio podcasts and screen casts (Don’t worry, I will show you what all of this means) that help people, normal people, with the online world. Things move a light speed online and things change just as fast. I would like to become your coach for all this geeky stuff. I can make the complicated seem easy!

Stay tuned to geekofthenorth.com to learn the things that can make or break you online.

-Mike Dell
THE Geek of the North
Your Online Technology Coach

What computer should you get?

Mike — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:04:01 +0000

One of the most asked questions I get is “I want a computer, which one should I buy?”

This can be a hard question to answer. It all depends on what you plan on doing with your computer. If it’s just for surfing the web, doing Facebook and maybe photos then just about any of the available computers on the market will work. One thing you have to think about is the price. Even in the these days of cheaper computers, you do get what you pay for. As a general rule, get what you can afford. IF you have $500, spend all $500. A $300 Wal*mart computer will likely do the job, but it won’t have the support that a more expensive one will.

My standard advice is that if you can afford it, get a Mac. A Mac computer has a lot of advantages over a Windows PC. Even though the Mac is more expensive out of the box, one thing to think about is that it comes with most of the software you will need included. Most windows machines do not have a good app for photos, video or even email. Apple machines come with iLife. iLife is a suite of applications that include iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband and iDvd. These apps will allow you to organize and edit your photos, videos, music and write DVD’s without downloading and installing other apps. True, a Mac will cost more money. Also, you need to consider Apple hardware. The Mac is made from the best components and their service is second to none. If you have a problem with your Mac, just take it to the nearest Apple retail store or Apple dealer, and they will fix it. Try that with a Dell, HP or Toshiba. Macintosh laptops will outlast any PC laptop in both usefulness and toughness 2 to one. If you go with a $500 windows machine you will replace it twice in the same time 1 Mac laptop will last.

This is not to say you can’t have a great computer that runs on windows. As long as you practice good computer hygiene, it will be a good machine and will do everything you will want to do. I will discuss what “good computer hygiene” in a future post.

Bottom line is, get as much computer as you can afford. If you are going with a Windows machine, stick to a name brand (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, Sony and the like). If you can afford it, get a Mac.

Every windows machine needs these 6 applications (now 7)

Mike — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:00:36 +0000

Below are my top 6 picks for apps you need to have on your Windows computer. This is the way I would setup someone if this was going to be their only computer.

1. Mozilla Firefox Web Browser - www.mozilla.org – The Mozilla Firefox web browser is a more secure and customizable web browser then Internet Explorer that Microsoft ships with every copy of windows. It’s faster, safer and it renders pages in the way that MOST web designers want their sites to look like. Firefox is based on the Gecko rendering engine which is what the original Netscape and Mosaic browsers had back when browsers were first invented.

2. Chrome Web Browser - www.google.com/chrome – It may sound like over-kill to have 3 browsers installed on your computer, but there is a good reason for it. That is, so you are compatible with all websites. The Google Chrome web browser is the most advanced version of the WebKit browsers. Webkit is the basis of the iPhone, iPad and Android mobile browsers. It also offers an “app store” which adds some functionality. The best reason I can come up with is that if you go to a website on one web browser and it doesn’t look right, you can switch to another browser to see if it’s you or the web site. In the browser wars, Firefox and Chrome are running neck and neck. So if you only install one or the other, you won’t go wrong. Since they are both FREE, you should do both.

3. Microsoft Security Essentials - windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/security-essentials – Microsoft Security Essentials is a FREE anti-virus and anti-malware program that for some unknown reason, Microsoft chooses to NOT include in windows. I suppose it so they don’t get sued by all the anti-virus companies out there. MSE will do everything the paid programs will do and it will NOT take up as much of your cpu cycles. It stays out of your way unless there is something attacking you. One of the things that bug me is the companies that sell “Internet Security Suites” make it sound like you are going to loose everything in your bank account unless you pay them their fee. Kind sounds like the Mob to me. I like the fact that MSE comes right from the OS manufacturer and if anyone can figure out how to protect windows, it should be Microsoft. So save your money and just install MSE and be happy!

4. Open Office - www.openoffice.org/ – Open Office is a FREE office suite of programs. It has a word processor, spreadsheet and presentation package that is a good alternative to Microsoft Office. It will start up a bit slower on most systems but once it’s running, it’s hard to tell the difference in speed and functionality. A lot of Government and Educational institutions have switched to Open Office. Open Office will open all MS Office formats and save files in that format as well. This will save you a couple of hundred dollars over buying Microsoft Office.

5. Skype - Skype is a voice (and video) over IP communications program that lets you call anyone in the world, as long as they have Skype also, for FREE. It will also let you call phones world-wide from your computer for cheap. You can even get an incoming number which can be handy. You could get the incoming number in a city other then the one you live in so if you have friends and relatives in another city, you can give them a local number to call and it will ring into your computer. All you need for this is a microphone. Most PC’s have a built-in mic now so that won’t be a problem. If you add a webcam you can have a video call with your friends and family.

6. Carbonite online backup - www.carbonite.com – Carbonite online backup does just what it says it does. It backs up your files online. The great thing about Carbonite is that you don’t really have to think about it. It will back up everything you want it to on computer (as long as it’s on the drive inside the computer). It uploads to the “Cloud” over time and keeps things like photos, documents and other data safe. This is one of the few programs I recommend that isn’t free. Carbonite will cost you around $55 a year per computer. I’m sure you are asking yourself why not use DVD’s, Thumbdrives, external hard drives or tapes (does anyone use those anymore?). Well, you should use all those things or at least one of those things. The problem is that you bring your external hard drive in and back things up and then your house burns down, then your computer burns down and that hard drive burns. You are screwed. With carbonite, your stuff is backed up and once you get your new computer you can restore all your files from the internet. It’s worth the money!

7. Yes, there is one I forgot. It’s called Malware Bytes… Find it at: http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free
This list is in no way a complete list of programs you might need to do your job, enjoy your home computing or gaming. It’s just a start. Once you have these programs installed and setup on your computer you should do one more thing. That thing is set a restore point in windows. Or, even better, make a disk image of the hard drive that you can re-install if things go wrong. I will show you how to do these things in a future post.

If you have a suggestion for a “must-have” Windows program, please drop me a note using any of the contact methods listed on the contact page.

Geek of the North #37 – Consolidation

Mike — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:28:31 +0000

As Dylan said, “The times, they are a changing”.

Today I killed off the remaining 2 podcast shows I had out there (Mike Dell’s World and Retrotech). I’m folding those into this show (Geek of the North). Since I AM “THE Geeek of the North”, I figured I would consolidate all of my online broadcasting and business onto one website. As I explain in the episode, It will make it easier for me to keep up with and create great content instead of half-assed efforts on many channels.

The plan is to do at least 1 long form audio show every week (and it could be more) and fold in segments for Mike Dell’s World (my personal stuff), Retrotech (interviews about old stuff), What’s up With That and the normal geeky tech news and views I’ve always tried to do here at Geek of the North. All from a Geeky perspective. I will also do a shorter form video (15-20min) episode a week with the audio coming out on the audio feed as well.

I will also be doing a LOT more blogging and youtube videos.

My business (Boonadello Marketing) will move here also and be re-branded to Geek of the North. Why not? Drinking my own cool-ade tastes good!

Stay Tuned and thank you for your support!

Catch me later!

-Mike