Helpdesk
Q: Even though you always advise to backup externally I have been lax in doing so. I have a PC, a MacBook and a smartphone and tablet, plus flash drives and CDs for my music and photos. So I always felt that I had at least one device that I could always refer to as a backup. But this offer for free storage space (from www.mypcbackup.com/) looks too good to refuse. I checked them out on Google and they seem to be legit and have good user posts recommending the product. — Steve Lifton
A: It’s a legitimate company. The amount of free space — 1 gigabyte — isn’t enough to backup a computer. You could store some photos and documents there but you sure couldn’t create a full backup for your computer. The idea is to get its foot in the door with the free offer and then to sell you more backup space. There’s nothing wrong with that — it’s a commonly used marketing technique. But if you decide to use the service for complete online backups you’ll end up paying, just as you would at the two online services I’ve recommended in the past — Carbonite and Mozy. But by all means enjoy the free space. And if you are happy with the site, consider becoming a paying customer.
Q: I am intending to donate a computer to a worthy cause, but I am troubled about what kind of info may be in the tower. Would you please advise me what I should do? — Virginia Hott
A: I simply remove the hard disk and store it in a desk drawer. That way I have eliminated the chance of prying eyes and also have the hard disk. If I discover that there’s some information on it that I need the disk is there for me to use. Most places will let you donate the computer sans hard disk. If you don’t want to remove the disk there are programs — free ones — that claim to safely destroy any information on the hard disk. One that Microsoft recommends is this free one: www.killdisk.com/.
I’d be lying if I claimed to be a talented shopper. I break out in hives after 10 minutes in any major department store.
But while I’m a dud in the brick and mortar world of retail, I can spend money with the best of them online. Just ask my wife. Or, better yet, don’t.
I feel comfortable taking you by the hand today as we enter the busiest time for online shopping — the weeks leading up to Christmas. It’s make or break time for online retailers and it’s also a critical time for you. Online shopping is convenient, but there are pitfalls that can tarnish the holiday season. Let me show you how to tiptoe around them.
Stick with brand-name sites
It is fun — and often profitable — discovering little known sites that offer unique products. But wait until the holidays are over to do that. Tiny online businesses – most of them legit, some not — pop up this time of the year to take advantage of all the money that changes hand during the holiday season. With your gift shopping on the line this is no time to experiment.
Here’s what can happen. Some of the legitimate new businesses will be overwhelmed by success. They’ll get more orders than they can handle. They’ll run out of stock, they’ll make mistakes in shipping. The learning curve is steep with a new business. Even established but small businesses can quickly get over their heads with a flood of orders. And there are always a few crooked ones that pop up offering incredible bargains that will never be delivered. The safe bet – and that’s what you want when it comes to holiday gifts — is to stick with the brand-name sites as well as the small sites that have already proven themselves to you by successfully delivering in the past.
This is the season to be skeptical
Most shopping sites are designed to answer your big questions in advance. They’ll show whether an item is in stock and calculate the probable delivery date for your order. That usually proves to be accurate. But, as you’d guess, there are always exceptions. So even if items shows up as in stock, send off an email or call the company to make sure that’s still true. And allow a safety margin when it comes to delivery dates.
Buy American
I’m a patriotic guy and like spending my money with American companies. But that’s not why I’m urging you to stick with companies based in the U.S. for your holiday shopping. Ordering from a company that is based overseas adds a new element of danger when it comes to shipping delays and mishandled orders. Any business will occasionally make a mistake – send the wrong size or color. Large American companies can make things right quickly. And you have more legal protection when shopping with businesses based in the U.S.
Don’t get too enthusiastic
Some folks — my mom was one — get carried away when shopping online. It’s a perfect world for impulse buyers. They start off with a list of gifts but keep stumbling across other stuff that looks wonderful. It’s so easy to click the mouse and make unplanned purchases. And that can wreck anyone’s budget. So make sure you create a budget and stick with it. Nothing wrecks the holiday spirit faster than unplanned for debt.
Double check for security, then check again
Make sure you are using a secure connection when you place your order. The online business should use an https web address instead of the usual http. That address shows that the information uses Secure Sockets encryption when you transmit ordering information. And never shop at businesses that ask that you send your order — complete with credit card information — by email. Also make sure your own computer is set up correctly with anti-virus and adware protection as well as a firewall. The computer crooks don’t take a holiday vacation. In fact, this is the busy time of the year — with all that money flying around online — for criminals.
Use your credit card
Your credit card offers great protection against financial disaster. If there’s trouble with your order — whether from a fraudulent business or just an incompetent one — you’ll be reimbursed. You lose a lot of protection when you shop using a debit card. And some credit cards offer extended warranties for your product.
I love online shopping — no worries about parking, no long lines. It’s a great way to get your shopping done in a hurry. But, if you aren’t careful, it’s also a great way to ruin Christmas in ways that even the cleverest Grinch never dreamed of trying.
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