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Happy May!
Here we go - nice weather, baseball season in full swing, gateway to summer...
This month, I dive into backing up, a subject that I am constantly asked about. Plus, I inform you about the perils of attempting to print on the cheap, along with a quick tip and more great stuff you only get from my newsletter.
No other excitement happening here, but looking forward to the summer, more races, tennis tournaments, and bike riding!
See you this time next month, when I'll do it all over again. Talk soon.
-CC
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Keep Calm and Back Up Your Mac! | |
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OK, I sound like a broken record (as the old folks used to say), BACK UP YOUR DATA!
But why?
For one reason, most of your “stuff” is digitally based these days, so instead of making paper copies like people did in ancient times (pre-1999), it’s all on the computer. And since I’ve been doing this for a few years, and good enough at it so I can still afford to live here without having to drive Uber in the evenings, I can definitely tell you about how important it is to BACK UP YOUR DATA! Because I’ve seen more than a few tears shed from clients about lost data, that’s why. I have a degree in psychology AND one in journalism, so I’m qualified to deal with those issues as well as write about them.
Does all this sound interesting to you? Then read on here!
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Do you feel like you're being taken to the cleaners when you buy printer ink? Similar to razor cartridges, the cost of replacing the consumables seems to go on forever. It's almost like the printer itself is a loss leader, and once you're hooked, you'll be shelling out for replacement ink for perpetuity, or at least as long as the printer remains functional.
Yes, like many other things in life, there are shortcuts and hacks you can take to try to save a few bucks here and there, and printer ink is one of them. There are third-party companies that sell "compatible" ink and toner carts, usually for far less than their brand name counterparts. In fact, Amazon sells these copycat products, often with the search results commingled among the manufacturer sanctioned versions.
But is it a good idea? In theory, yes, but so are a lot of other ideas that people say they support but don't really want to live with.
Recently, a client ordered a series of no-name carts for a high-end printer via Amazon. The results? Green tinted output, looking like an album cover from 1967. A total waste of money.
But now, the decision might be made easier: HP has been releasing upgraded firmware for some of its printers for quite some time now, which will disallow the use of any ink carts that aren't sanctioned by HP. Read about it here.
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$23.99 for the fake, vs. $54.89 for the real deal. Which one sounds more appealing? Exactly... | |
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Remember the good old days of landlines, and the ability to dial *67 to block your caller ID? Now that everyone has a smartphone and landlines are quickly becoming a relic of a bygone era, so is the ability to block your number also relegated the past?
In a word, no. Again, it's an easy-to-configure setting in your, well, your iPhone's settings.
Tap on SETTINGS, and then scroll down and tap on PHONE, Once there, scroll down and tap on SHOW MY CALLER ID. By default, it should be on, meaning there is green showing. By toggling the switch to the left, you can party like it's 1995 and "block your caller ID." Just don't forget to toggle it back on when you make your next call to somebody who wants to hear from you. People have this funny thing about NOT answering calls from anybody they don't know.
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Happenings in the Apple and tech world that could possibly impact you!
Looking for a new iPad? Don't pull the trigger right away - Apple is expected to announce a few new iPad models (along with an updated Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard) at its "Let It Loose" event on May 7th, at 10 a.m. EST. (Meaning you have to be up at an ungodly hour if you're on the west coast.) There haven't been any updates to the iPad line since 2022, so iPad fanboys and fangirls have a reason to be excited.
⏰ The clock is ticking for TikTok, or so it seems. There are a lot of moving parts in this situation, and nobody knows what the political landscape will look like in nine months from now. The act to ban it (not an actual ban, anyway) is wrapped up in all sorts of political nonsense, so by the time the dust settles, maybe everybody will have moved on to the next flavor of the month app. (I have one word for you: Angry Birds!) See the links below for a great article from Forbes on this matter.
💵 Run away from the Chase: If you're a Chase Bank client, check out this article. In case you don't feel like reading it, here's the gist: The financial institution founded during the John Adams administration is planing on a little side hustle to put more cash on the books by selling your data via a new division. According to the bank, Chase says the new company is "a natural step towards its vision to bring “win-win value” to its business clients and banking customers." (The Chase spokesperson who actually used the phrase "win-win" should be placed on a permanent leave of absence!)
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Me, creating the newsletter you're now reading. Note that I only keep absolutely essential items on my desk.
Wisdom I picked up along my journey: The small desk never gets cluttered!
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People often ask me about my home home office setup where I do my work, including creating this newsletter. So here it is!
• Mac mini (behind the display), Samsung SSD for backup, black Apple Mouse, Trackpad and Keyboard
• LG curved display
• SoundCore Bluetooth speaker
• Apple AirPods
• AirHug webcam
• Insignia USB microphone
• iPhone 13 on stand
• Movado desk clock (just noticed that the battery needs replacing!)
• Coronado Brewing Co. coaster (this rotates with others from time to time)
• Alfred E. Neuman bobblehead (What, me worry?) Alfred E. Neuman is my co-pilot...
Not pictured: HP LaserJet Multifunction printer, HP Envy color printer, iPad Pro (which sits on the water cooler in the kitchen, and which I used to take this photo)
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From the mid-1980s until well into the 1990s, buyers of Apple and Macintosh Computers were offered a complimentary subscription to a cleverly-named glossy, Apple-centric magazine. What was the name of this magazine? (No cheating, please!)
First correct answer will receive a nifty gift of my choice and a shoutout in June's newsletter!
Thanks for playing!
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Nine Helpful and (Hopefully) Fun Links for May 2024! | |
📷 This month's background picture: The Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike, Breezewood, PA | |
What's On The Horizon For June... | |
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Next month, I'll be talking about your inbox... plus your sent mail, your email trash, and everything related to your email and its organization! Plus, a little something about Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
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Like what you're seeing here? (Or not?) Learning something new, or simply being entertained? Want to see more (or less) things here? Then do your boy a solid and send me your thoughts - good, bad, or otherwise. Thank you! | |
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Chris Capelle
Macintosh Computer &
Apple Products Expert
P.O. Box 7512
Wilton, CT 06897
203.451.1377 (cell/text)
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Don't forget to follow me on social media! | | | | |
