|
|
|
|
|
 The CTSI Tech Times
Monthly Updates from Your Trusted Technology Partner
October, 2010 - Vol 2, Issue 10 |
|
|
| Upcoming Area Events |
10/1/10 - South Plains Fair
10/1/10 - 10th Season of the Corn Maize
10/2/10 - Texas Ave. Street Dance, 7pm
10/2/10 - Hobbs 12th Annual USW Scholarship Scramble
10/2/10 - Littlefield Country-Western Opry, 7-11pm
10/3/10 - 2nd Annual Lubbock Wine Festival, American Wind Power Center Museum
10/9/10 - Meadow Country Western Jamboree, 6:30 - 11pm
10/11/10 - Columbus Day
10/15/10 - Pat Green, Wild West
10/16/10 - Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma State football game
10/22/10 - 2nd Annual Scare House, Hub City Aviation Hangar, 8-11pm
10/23/10 - PaWa Trade Days, Quitaque, 9am
10/29/10 - Fiddler On The Roof, Lubbock Auditorium, 7:30pm
10/30/10 - Hobbs Halloween Carnival
10/31/10 - Halloween
11/6/10 - CTSI Tailgate at the Texas Tech vs. Missouri football game
|
| Milestones |
10/2/10 - Pam Sumrall marks 18 years with CTSI.
10/3/10 - Joshua Whitley has been with CTSI for 5 years.
10/7/10 - John King has been part of the CTSI team for 8 years.
10/17/10 - Nancy Clark celebrates 3 years with CTSI.
|
|
|
| From David's Desk... |
 One of the latest trends in storage technology is the portable hard drive. Portable hard drives (also called pocket media drives or personal media drives) are designed specifically for personal desktops and notebooks. Their usefulness in the marketplace was created by the strain that is now placed on computers by digital music, photographs, and everyday documents.
By backing up the files from your hard drive onto the portable hard drive, your data can be protected against sudden power failures, malicious virus attacks, and unforeseen hard disk failures. Portable drives hold large amounts of data (up to one terabyte), so there's no real fear of the average user running out of space.
With the proliferation of viruses and malware that exist on the Internet today, one can't be too cautious. The pocket media drive is portable, easy to use, and very affordable. For frame of reference, a typical drive is about the same size as a stack of 3 by 5 inch note cards. Along with the advantages listed comes the peace of mind created by knowing that your music, photos, and personal documents are safe from most forms of danger. And, instead of having to e-mail large files with pictures and other attachments to friends and relatives, you can store them on a portable hard drive and have access to your information on any computer.
Although there are some similarities between the two, a portable hard drive and a Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) solution have some distinct differences. While both the portable hard drive and the BDR are storage devices, the portable hard drive is essentially for personal use whereas the BDR aligns with business needs. For example, a portable hard drive would be ideal for mp3 files, photos, videos and personal documents. On the other hand, the BDR is used for mission critical systems in a business setting, such as: personnel and accounting data, databases, and server based information.
I look forward to sharing future technology advances with you, our clients. If you have any questions regarding portable hard drives, feel free to contact me or a member of our Technology Consulting Group, and we will be glad to help you as part of our continuing effort to be your Trusted Technology Partner.
Until next time,
David D. Baucum
President & CEO, CTSI
|
| Windows XP: The facts about the future |
The future is here, and it's better than ever with Windows 7, the latest Microsoft operating system. Windows 7 has proven benefits over earlier versions of Windows. It combines the latest in reliability, security, and responsiveness with the familiarity and compatibility of Windows XP, so you'll feel right at home, right away.
We know you love Windows XP, and you're in good company. Millions of Windows XP users are fans of the operating system, and many depend on Windows XP to run earlier applications and hardware that is not compatible with Windows 7. Windows 7 is designed to be compatible with the most popular hardware and software products you use every day and even though Microsoft is ending the sale of Windows XP on October 22, 2010, they still plan to provide support for Windows XP until April 2014. The Microsoft Support Lifecycle explains it all.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact a member of our Technology Consulting Group. |
|
|
|
|
Tips of the Month
|
|
When working with Excel, Word, or PowerPoint, you can save the current document with a new name, or in a different directory, or on another device, by tapping the F12 key. The "Save As" dialog box appears. Then you can enter your filename and press Enter.
Not every laptop uses this keystroke, but most seem to. If you're on a plane or in a hospital, you should disable your wireless receiver. Or suppose you're riding in a train or car and you know there's no wireless signal, you'll increase your battery performance if you disable the wireless receiver. Hit Fn+F2 and it'll toggle wireless on and off. (Practice it a few times so you can recognize how the icons in the system tray appear, so you'll know to switch it back on if you ever disable it by accident.)
Looking at a page you want to come back to again and again? Press Ctrl+D - this will add the current page to your bookmarks (or "Favorites" as they're called in Internet Explorer). |
|
Tech Trivia
|
|
Both Texas Tech and Oklahoma State have running backs who have rushed for over 2,000 yards in a single season.
Can you name both of them?
|
| Staff Spotlight - Brett Bell |
 Brett Bell is CTSI's Managed Services Systems Manager. He makes sure all the monitoring, patching, and BDR systems are functioning properly and upgraded as needed. He has been a part of the CTSI team since February of 2004.
Brett was born in Oregon and grew up in Northern California. He has a degree in Physics from San Jose State University and a minor in Psychology. For 14 years he worked at various grocery stores starting at the age of 16, but left the grocery business to pursue employment that was more technically oriented. He has worked in the IT industry for almost 14 years now. Somewhere in-between grocery and IT, he worked with super secret spy satellites for the Air Force. Don't ask; he can't talk about it.
Brett has been married to his wife Chris for over 12 years. No kids, but 3 dogs and a Siamese cat keep them pretty busy. They moved to Lubbock from California so Chris could be closer to her younger sister.
Since moving here, Brett has taken over 100 pictures of lightning from his back patio overlooking a large playa. He looks forward to the severe storm season each year. When not working, he likes to play on his iPad, or play some Battlefield: Bad Company online with a group called the Killer Old Farts.
|
| Helen's Recipe of the Month |
Helen Burns, CTSI's Purchasing Manager, has been with the company for the past ten years. In addition to her purchasing duties, Helen serves as our unofficial party coordinator. Helen (with help from our administrative assistant, Nancy Clark) makes sure we celebrate every staff member's birthday as well as various holidays by providing a wide range of delectable treats. Without further ado, from Helen's kitchen to you!
 2 cups sugar
1 ½ cup oil
4 eggs
3 medium apples, peeled & grated
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups flour
Beat sugar & oil until blended. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Sift dry ingredients together and add to the batter, then add grated apples and mix well. Bake in a sprayed 9 ½ by 11 cake pan at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
Frosting
8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ stick butter or margarine, softened
2 tsp vanilla
1 box powdered sugar, sifted
Optional: ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Beat cream cheese and butter together well, add vanilla, then add powdered sugar a little at a time, blending well after each addition. Add nuts if desired and blend well. Spread on cooled cake.
|
|
|
|
|
The CTSI Tech Times
Monthly Updates from Your Trusted Technology Partner
October, 2010 - Vol 2, Issue 10 |
|
|
| Upcoming Area Events |
10/1/10 - South Plains Fair
10/1/10 - 10th Season of the Corn Maize
10/2/10 - Texas Ave. Street Dance, 7pm
10/2/10 - Hobbs 12th Annual USW Scholarship Scramble
10/2/10 - Littlefield Country-Western Opry, 7-11pm
10/3/10 - 2nd Annual Lubbock Wine Festival, American Wind Power Center Museum
10/9/10 - Meadow Country Western Jamboree, 6:30 - 11pm
10/11/10 - Columbus Day
10/15/10 - Pat Green, Wild West
10/16/10 - Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma State football game
10/22/10 - 2nd Annual Scare House, Hub City Aviation Hangar, 8-11pm
10/23/10 - PaWa Trade Days, Quitaque, 9am
10/29/10 - Fiddler On The Roof, Lubbock Auditorium, 7:30pm
10/30/10 - Hobbs Halloween Carnival
10/31/10 - Halloween
11/6/10 - CTSI Tailgate at the Texas Tech vs. Missouri football game
|
| Milestones |
10/2/10 - Pam Sumrall marks 18 years with CTSI.
10/3/10 - Joshua Whitley has been with CTSI for 5 years.
10/7/10 - John King has been part of the CTSI team for 8 years.
10/17/10 - Nancy Clark celebrates 3 years with CTSI.
|
|
|
| From David's Desk... |
One of the latest trends in storage technology is the portable hard drive. Portable hard drives (also called pocket media drives or personal media drives) are designed specifically for personal desktops and notebooks. Their usefulness in the marketplace was created by the strain that is now placed on computers by digital music, photographs, and everyday documents.
By backing up the files from your hard drive onto the portable hard drive, your data can be protected against sudden power failures, malicious virus attacks, and unforeseen hard disk failures. Portable drives hold large amounts of data (up to one terabyte), so there's no real fear of the average user running out of space.
With the proliferation of viruses and malware that exist on the Internet today, one can't be too cautious. The pocket media drive is portable, easy to use, and very affordable. For frame of reference, a typical drive is about the same size as a stack of 3 by 5 inch note cards. Along with the advantages listed comes the peace of mind created by knowing that your music, photos, and personal documents are safe from most forms of danger. And, instead of having to e-mail large files with pictures and other attachments to friends and relatives, you can store them on a portable hard drive and have access to your information on any computer.
Although there are some similarities between the two, a portable hard drive and a Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) solution have some distinct differences. While both the portable hard drive and the BDR are storage devices, the portable hard drive is essentially for personal use whereas the BDR aligns with business needs. For example, a portable hard drive would be ideal for mp3 files, photos, videos and personal documents. On the other hand, the BDR is used for mission critical systems in a business setting, such as: personnel and accounting data, databases, and server based information.
I look forward to sharing future technology advances with you, our clients. If you have any questions regarding portable hard drives, feel free to contact me or a member of our Technology Consulting Group, and we will be glad to help you as part of our continuing effort to be your Trusted Technology Partner.
Until next time,
David D. Baucum
President & CEO, CTSI
|
| Windows XP: The facts about the future |
The future is here, and it's better than ever with Windows 7, the latest Microsoft operating system. Windows 7 has proven benefits over earlier versions of Windows. It combines the latest in reliability, security, and responsiveness with the familiarity and compatibility of Windows XP, so you'll feel right at home, right away.
We know you love Windows XP, and you're in good company. Millions of Windows XP users are fans of the operating system, and many depend on Windows XP to run earlier applications and hardware that is not compatible with Windows 7. Windows 7 is designed to be compatible with the most popular hardware and software products you use every day and even though Microsoft is ending the sale of Windows XP on October 22, 2010, they still plan to provide support for Windows XP until April 2014. The Microsoft Support Lifecycle explains it all.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact a member of our Technology Consulting Group. |
|
|
|
|
Tips of the Month
|
|
When working with Excel, Word, or PowerPoint, you can save the current document with a new name, or in a different directory, or on another device, by tapping the F12 key. The "Save As" dialog box appears. Then you can enter your filename and press Enter.
Not every laptop uses this keystroke, but most seem to. If you're on a plane or in a hospital, you should disable your wireless receiver. Or suppose you're riding in a train or car and you know there's no wireless signal, you'll increase your battery performance if you disable the wireless receiver. Hit Fn+F2 and it'll toggle wireless on and off. (Practice it a few times so you can recognize how the icons in the system tray appear, so you'll know to switch it back on if you ever disable it by accident.)
Looking at a page you want to come back to again and again? Press Ctrl+D - this will add the current page to your bookmarks (or "Favorites" as they're called in Internet Explorer). |
|
Tech Trivia
|
|
Both Texas Tech and Oklahoma State have running backs who have rushed for over 2,000 yards in a single season.
Can you name both of them?
|
| Staff Spotlight - Brett Bell |
Brett Bell is CTSI's Managed Services Systems Manager. He makes sure all the monitoring, patching, and BDR systems are functioning properly and upgraded as needed. He has been a part of the CTSI team since February of 2004.
Brett was born in Oregon and grew up in Northern California. He has a degree in Physics from San Jose State University and a minor in Psychology. For 14 years he worked at various grocery stores starting at the age of 16, but left the grocery business to pursue employment that was more technically oriented. He has worked in the IT industry for almost 14 years now. Somewhere in-between grocery and IT, he worked with super secret spy satellites for the Air Force. Don't ask; he can't talk about it.
Brett has been married to his wife Chris for over 12 years. No kids, but 3 dogs and a Siamese cat keep them pretty busy. They moved to Lubbock from California so Chris could be closer to her younger sister.
Since moving here, Brett has taken over 100 pictures of lightning from his back patio overlooking a large playa. He looks forward to the severe storm season each year. When not working, he likes to play on his iPad, or play some Battlefield: Bad Company online with a group called the Killer Old Farts.
|
| Helen's Recipe of the Month |
Helen Burns, CTSI's Purchasing Manager, has been with the company for the past ten years. In addition to her purchasing duties, Helen serves as our unofficial party coordinator. Helen (with help from our administrative assistant, Nancy Clark) makes sure we celebrate every staff member's birthday as well as various holidays by providing a wide range of delectable treats. Without further ado, from Helen's kitchen to you!
2 cups sugar
1 ½ cup oil
4 eggs
3 medium apples, peeled & grated
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups flour
Beat sugar & oil until blended. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Sift dry ingredients together and add to the batter, then add grated apples and mix well. Bake in a sprayed 9 ½ by 11 cake pan at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
Frosting
8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ stick butter or margarine, softened
2 tsp vanilla
1 box powdered sugar, sifted
Optional: ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Beat cream cheese and butter together well, add vanilla, then add powdered sugar a little at a time, blending well after each addition. Add nuts if desired and blend well. Spread on cooled cake.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|