One thing often overlooked is the effect that multiple monitors have on productivity. A good monitor not only helps reduce eye strain but allows more efficient use of programs. Larger monitors for instance allow more of a document, drawing or worksheet to be seen. A sharper monitor allows for better detail and reduced eye fatigue.
Multiple monitors expand these qualities even further. If you are like most people you will find yourself working in many programs at once, often moving from one to another. If you find yourself moving back and forth or having the need to have two programs open at once then multiple monitors may help.
I use 3 monitors and have added a forth recently because I needed a different resolution for a specific application I am using. I have had 3 monitors for a few years now and I don’t know what I did before I had them. Being able to have Microsoft Outlook open on one and a Remote Desktop session on a Server and whatever research I am doing on the other two without having to minimize and move programs around has become an indispensable tool for me. I have added dual monitors to all the workstations at our office and see the benefits in productivity every day.
There are a few things to consider when moving to multiple monitors. First, the monitors should be a good quality monitor and they should match in size and resolution. If your monitors do not match your eyes will adjust each time you look from one monitor to the other and the point is to try and use the monitors as seamlessly and effortlessly as possible. I have seen different monitors used successfully but that is usually when one application is consistently used on one of the monitors.
Second, they should have the thinnest border you can reasonably find. We typically use Samsung monitors because they are a good quality monitor and they have a few product lines that have a very thin border around the monitor. The thin border around the monitor will help the monitor border seem to disappear with use. Monitors with thicker border will work but the space in between the monitors will be more apparent. Multiple monitor use will continue to grow as the cost of high quality monitors continues to drop.
Corrupted updates for Symantec Mail Security (SMSME 6.5)
What the problem is:
In the mail security logs it kept saying definitions were corrupt and the date was 1/1/1601.
What is causing said problem:
While updating Symantec a update corrupted the current log files and so it needs to be recreated to resolve the issue.
How to fix Symantec Corrupted Updates:
DroidX created appointment cannot be editted via Outlook
What the problem is:
Created Outlook appointments on a Droid are unable to be edited by Outlook.
What is causing said problem:
Unknown at this time
How to fix Symantec Corrupted Updates:
1. Open the appointment in Outlook created via the Droid X
2. Edit the appointment
3. Click Scheduling Assistant
4. Right click the blank cell, below All Attendees
5. Type your name, hit Enter. Exchange should resolve the typed name to your FQDN
6. Uncheck the box to the left, click Save and Close
Outlook Anywhere Setup
What the problem is: Need to access outlook files from a mail server to client PCs.
What is causing said problem:
How to Setup Outlook Anywhere:
Open the Server and transfer the certificate files from their server (mail.xxxxx.xx:3390) to the computer you are configuring.
On the client computer, do the following
When you go to open Outlook you will be required to put in a user name and password, the user name should be input as user@xxxxx.local and the password will be their normal windows password.
Manually update the GAL (Global Address List)
What the problem is:
The Global Address List is not automatically updating when by default it is supposed to.
What is causing said problem:
The error causing the Global Address List to not update is a corrupt file within Outlook. This can happen after a long period of use with outlook and happens for no apparent reason.
How to Manually Update the Global Address List:
SBS 2008 OWA says 404 file not found
What the problem is: OWA suddenly stops working after updates or a restart.
What is causing said problem: updates or a restart.
How to Fix SBS 2008 OWA 404 Error:
Why HDMI Cable Quality Doesn’t Matter… Well, Most Of The Time….
Digital is digital, 0s are 0s and 1s are 1s. HDMI cables transfer digital signals and HDMI standards make sure that certain standards and requirements are met for the various HDMI cable types so save your money and get the cheap cable for runs 6 feet (2 meters) or less. Longer runs (over 15 feet) can be subject to interference and data loss so quality of the material used will start coming into play the longer the length of the run but typically the cheaper cables with work just as well on those long runs as the cables that cost you a small fortune.
DVI vs VGA
If your monitor and video card have DVI use it whenever possible. Computers are digital and so are the signals they send to the monitor. When you use VGA connector the digital signal from the computer is converted to analog and transferred to your monitor where it is then converted back to digital and displayed. In this conversion to analog some of the quality is invariably lost. When you use DVI connectors the signal does not get converted so the signal is not degraded. Don’t believe us, try it yourself on a video card that has both outputs and display the same desktop on both. DVI will look clearer and sharper every time. DVI wins hands down.
The Benefits Of Multiple Monitors
One thing often overlooked is the effect that multiple monitors have on productivity. A good monitor not only helps reduce eye strain but allows more efficient use of programs. Larger monitors for instance allow more of a document, drawing or worksheet to be seen. A sharper monitor allows for better detail and reduced eye fatigue.
Multiple monitors expand these qualities even further. If you are like most people you will find yourself working in many programs at once, often moving from one to another. If you find yourself moving back and forth or having the need to have two programs open at once then multiple monitors may help.
I use 3 monitors and have added a forth recently because I needed a different resolution for a specific application I am using. I have had 3 monitors for a few years now and I don’t know what I did before I had them. Being able to have Microsoft Outlook open on one and a Remote Desktop session on a Server and whatever research I am doing on the other two without having to minimize and move programs around has become an indispensable tool for me. I have added dual monitors to all the workstations at our office and see the benefits in productivity every day.
There are a few things to consider when moving to multiple monitors. First, the monitors should be a good quality monitor and they should match in size and resolution. If your monitors do not match your eyes will adjust each time you look from one monitor to the other and the point is to try and use the monitors as seamlessly and effortlessly as possible. I have seen different monitors used successfully but that is usually when one application is consistently used on one of the monitors.
Second, they should have the thinnest border you can reasonably find. We typically use Samsung monitors because they are a good quality monitor and they have a few product lines that have a very thin border around the monitor. The thin border around the monitor will help the monitor border seem to disappear with use. Monitors with thicker border will work but the space in between the monitors will be more apparent. Multiple monitor use will continue to grow as the cost of high quality monitors continues to drop.
Backup Data Needs To Be Stored Offsite One Way Or Another!
Backups are done to ensure that in the case of a catastrophic failure your data will be recoverable. Catastrophic failure could be from hardware failure or it could be from something much worst such as a fire, theft or water damage. If your backups are stored with the equipment being backed up and get damaged with it your backup becomes worthless.
Storing the backups in another office of a fire proof safe is not enough. Your backups need to be stored offsite.
If you are taking your backups offsite you need to consider the following:
• Are your offsite backups stored in a secure manner or protected location?
• Is the backup media transported in a secure way and not subject to extreme temperatures such as in the Interior of a hot or cold car?
• Can you recover the data from the backup media if the drive that did the backup was destroyed?
• Does your industry have compliance rules that cannot be adhered to by removing backup media to an unprotected location
• Is your data accessible by others while it is offsite or is it encrypted?
Backup Tapes Do Not Like Fire Proof Safes
We are not sure where this myth started but contrary to popular belief, tapes, external hard drive and other backup media is not safe in fire proof safes.
Fire proof safes are meant to protect paper form catching on fire and that’s it. If you have a 5 hour fire proof safe what that means is that when the safe is in a fire, the paper contents in it will not catch on fire for 5 hours. What these safes do is protect their paper contents form reaching a specific temperature, the flash point of paper, for a specific time. Unfortunately, tapes, hard drives and other backup media will be destroyed long before the flash point, or combustible temperature of paper is reached.