That Time of Year Again

So, with school back in full swing and computers getting more use than they have all summer, it is time again for the dreaded computer virus outbreaks that plague our favorite machines.

And that is why it saddens me to say we have already had an outbreak of the Alureon trojan and bootkit.  I'm just going to leave a link to the Wikipedia page here to describe it to you, but even if you don't click the link, know that this virus is bad, like Russian Mafia bad.  The kind of thing that kills your computer and takes hours to remove and restore your data.  This is ugly.

And the worst part is, its sneaky enough it slips past anti-virus software piggybacking on less than savory software packages you may be installing.  So, best advice to prevent an outbreak, don't install it if you can't trust it's source.

Other than that, go luck, and I hope you don't catch the bug, cause this doctor, at least, is booked.

Plethora of Used Parts

Now, when it comes to computers, I know as well as anybody that most of us love the shiny and new.  But with the ongoing problems with economic instability, I have to say that Digital Fruit has always been about reusing.  More than 66% of the computers we operate on are refurbished.

So the point of this article today is to promote the use of a refurbished computer.  Many of us have computers that have bit the dust, and are just sitting in a back closet, or have even had to give up on using a computer because we can't afford a new one.  But things don't have to be this way.  Digital Fruit, through our many business transactions have acquired parts that we have no computer to put them in.  Things as simple as DVD drives and as necessary as CPUs, and we have the ability to sell them at a fraction of the cost they originally sold for.  So please, before disposing of your old computer in the dumpster, please reconsider.  You may have a completely usable PC, just waiting for a few dollars in recycled parts.

Its ALIVE!!!

We have power!  So, after procuring an inverter we did a test run on the solar panel, we've found everything to be in working order.  Our next step will be to get a battery and a water-tight container to house it.  Then our first steps towards energy independence will be complete.

Digital Fruit Small Business Conference: Fall Edition

So, due to a lack of attendance, but a positive reaction from those who were there, we will be having a second go at the Digital Fruit Small Business Conference.  Some time in mid-September, we will be re-introducing the topics discussed at our last conference.  I would like to remind those attending that there is a $25 dollar entrance charge, and that lunch will be served after the first session block.  We look forward to having you there.

Inactivity

I feel I need to apologize.  Recently, with a plethora of business and personal problems, I have not been able to address customer's computers in a timely manner.  To any of you trapped in this seemingly endless cycle, I give my deepest apology.  I'm sorry.

Things have been improving, though, and the back log of computers in the shop is starting to clear out, so I should be able to finish things up soon.

Final: Digital Fruit Small Business Conference

So, we've finally gotten down a solid date for the Digital Fruit small business conference.  It will be held July 14, with two desperate blocks for attendance, 10-1 and 3-6.  Bringing a tablet or laptop is suggested, as there will be hands on demonstration of some of the skills we will be discussing.  The entry fee is $25, and each session is limited to 45 people.

There will be an hour block after each session set aside for businesses to network, and for software and hardware demos being done by us, Digital Fruit.  Refreshments will also be served half way through each session.  So come and join us, learn something new, and have some fun.

A Sinking Ship or a Rising Phoenix?

So I was just reading an article on Tech Republic defending Microsoft's support of open source technology.  The article illustrated ten points that showed a large amount of Microsoft technology the company has open sourced.  Looking at that, and the statement the article made about Microsoft now being on of the top twenty contributors to Linux, it seems like open source is the new motto at Microsoft.

But there was another company that once aspired yo reach the top of the world, and failed.  In its death throws, that company, one Sun Micro systems, decided that it would make a sort of bid for immortality, turning almost all of software offerings into open source products.

Now, I'm not saying I think Microsoft is going anywhere, or that they have any plans to sell, but neither did Sun, and now they're gone.  The point I'm really driving at is maybe this is a last effort to stay relevant, or maybe a shot at something greater.

To argue against the Sun comparison, I will point out two major differences that Microsoft has from what Sun did.  Microsoft has money, and they have better PR than Sun did.

The money thing should speak for itself.  The PR thing, that where Sun really failed.  Almost no one knew that Sun was dying.  If Microsoft suddenly disappeared, people would notice.

So make your own decision, if Microsoft setting up to sink or soar?