Cost

When dealing with Blu-Ray on computers, we’re looking more into using this medium as a storage device over a video viewing device. Geeks, like myself, do watch media on our computers but the general public does not. We all, however, do use our computers as an information storage device. The amount of information that can be stored on a Blu-Ray disk was actually one of the selling points of the medium. This, along with Sony’s marketing powerhouse (with Hollywood Support), is probably what drove HD-DVD out of the market. So, our cost comparisons below are only going to show the duel layer BD’s (Blu-ray Disk), because the 25GB single layer disks are too small for the files we’ll want to use with this storage medium. According to several leading hardware sales locations, if I wanted to begin backing up information today this is what I’ll be spending:

• Blu-Ray Burner: $150 (LG) – $200 (Pioneer)
• BD-r 50GB: $150 (10 Pack – Verbatim) or $20 (1 Pack – Sony)

So, to store our first 50GB of information we’re already looking at a price tag of $170, using the lowest priced BD-rw and a single 50GB duel layer BD.

The standard hard drive has come a long way from it’s roots. There are many different styles, sizes and speeds all competing for your money. Also, with the technological introductions of USB and Solid-State drives, we’re seeing even faster price drops on the latest (sometimes greatest) hard drives. 1TB (terabyte, or 1,000 gigabytes) drives are now running around the $75-$100 price tag for the standard 7200rpm drive. Some 2TB drives, distributed by companies such as Toshiba and Seagate, are coming in around the $150 mark. To achieve the back-up potential of one of these hard drives (1TB model), you’d need to burn 20.48 disks of information. If you were to use the Verbatim disks (round down from 20.48 to 20, and assume Verbatim disks have a 100% success rate) you’d need to spend around $450. With that $450, you could of backed up nearly 6TB of information on internal hard drives; or slightly less for external hard drives.

After trying to get Windows 7 to install, XP Pro to install, and after that Ubuntu (even Ubuntu failed) on an older Windows laptop, I gave up. Each one had a different bitchy reason as to why it would refuse to install. After a few hours of trying every trick in the book I basically said f it. I had really hoped Windows 7 would have installed, because I think its a GREAT effort from Microsoft, best they’ve done since XP dropped over 8 years ago. Cest la vie.

I guess my Mac-hating was pretty justified over the years, but now theres no reason to not consider one from Apple. The software compatibility / availability is pretty on par now, and Leopard OSX 10.5+ REALLY flies compared to their older versions. I went with the white 2.0 ghz core duo and added 4 GB of ram into it. I wasn’t concerned really about a 13″ screen (its pretty big and viewable), at home I hook it into my 52″ LCD if I need to see more.

Being 64 bit, Leopard can handle every bit of that RAM too. 32 bit OS like XP and Vista cannot use more than 3GB of ram, which was always a point of stupidity to me. Why would software have such a limitation? Now I can run what I want without worrying that I am going to run out of memory. It has BootCamp standard, which means I could install XP/Vista if I chose to for dual boot purposes. Like if I needed to use something in Windows.

Honestly? I haven’t even reached for an install disc, and I don’t think I am going to. I am even considering getting a 24″ iMac this year to replace my aging desktop.

Pete and I have a feeling Microsoft will be on the way out in the next 5 or 10 years. It takes forever to explain, but using another OS for an hour like OSX or Ubuntu and its clearer to see why; it all just works.

I had a lot of time to think during the convention, comparing and contrasting us from other developers. It wasn’t until I took my car into Jiffy Lube this weekend that I put it all together.

You see, like Jiffy Lube, we provide a service. You bring your car to them, they dissect and analyze the cars performance, problem areas, etc, and discuss the solutions with you. They complete all of this in under a half hour. You can take your beater, BMW, or tricycle. They are qualified to service any vehicle. In a way, its not that different from developing websites.

When a client comes in the door, they have an idea. Whether its big or small, its an idea. We’re here to help that idea become a reality, to provide a value added service for you. Of which, we employ many of our programming toolsets and human talent in order to execute the idea to its fullest extent. It doesn’t matter what idea you bring to us, we’re going to pursue every possibility in building a solid, stable working relationship with the client so that both parties get what they want and more importantly, have fun while doing it. Everyone working in unison, a well oiled machine, just like a Jiffy Lube team.

When this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you’re going to see some serious shit.

Small town, small company. Big talent, big ideas. You don’t have to be some fifty plus sized company in a NYC loft to be big time.

If you think small, you’ll be small.

Folks know value when they see it too, which is why they come to us. There are a lot of patchwork web companies around the world. What is a patchwork web company? Well, in simplest terms, a patchwork web company is one that slaps together images and premade code for a cheaper price just to complete a contract. This leaves the customer unsatisfied long term, and their website is a house of cards waiting to implode. For example, most people are content getting by by selling someone a Wordpress site with a design template for $2000 or less. Short term, it pays the bills for the shop, and feels good for the client to pay so little. But as time moves on, they will see they got what they paid for. Locked into the framework unable to scale or adapt new ideas, unreliable hosting uptime, and no true ‘ownership’ of their website.

If you can’t change aspects of the site, then you don’t really own it!

In these terms, it always reminds me of my favorite Tom Green skit, Undercutters Pizza.

There’s always someone out there somewhere, ambulance chasing, bidding low to win your favor and screwing you in the end.

That’s heavy, Doc.

Right. So what does it all mean? Caveat emptor, you get what you pay for. We may be a little bit higher than other companies, but we’re going to stand behind you and your site because that’s what you deserve. Inclind has a vested interest in your future, not hitting the road once you’ve paid us. Your future is our future. It’s a symbiotic relationship.

We’re poised for big things this year. You’re welcome to join us.

Hit it, Marty.

This is where I heard a statement that kind of jarred me.

“Oh I know, I make MySpace layouts….” – it brought my brain to a halt.

It wasn’t anything personal with her, but it was the realization I had that there are likely 1000s of young people just like her also doing the same. Some people are even making a career / making money off making MySpace layouts.

So why is this harmful to impressionable minds?

For starters, MySpace was never designed with the intent that a user would be able to toss the site theme in favor of something of their own design. To make one, you basically have to unlearn everything you knew about HTML and CSS in regards to site layouts or themes. For those who haven’t done anything with websites before, learning all the ins and outs of how to get a myspace layout to work are filling their heads with useless crap. Other social networking sites such as Virb are designed to allow the user to apply their own stylings in a non-insane way. I was actually quite impressed with Virb because it also allows you to disable all custom layouts at your discretion- something MySpace can’t do.

My best advice to her was to ditch MySpace layouts all together, and purchase a cheap web hosting account with Wordpress. She would then at least have full access to change anything in the site layout while learning invaluable knowledge and design at the same time. That’s how I got started 12 years ago on Geocities (remember them?).

Could you imagine if there were sites that let you code your own add-ons, and it required you writing some screwed up PHP or Coldfusion that wasn’t accepted anywhere else in the world? How about a home builder who didn’t follow industry standards when building your home?

Can you believe some colleges still teach web design using tables and code generating software? Crazy isn’t it? It was like that when I was there and from what I’ve heard, not much has changed.

The thought of people having to do absurd CSS and table structuring just to make the myspace layout look a certain way just disturbs me. We have standards for a reason, and one of those reasons is to not repeat the sordid browser wars of the 90s which is where a lot of that mess stems from.

So for all you folks out there looking to get into web design, young or old, if you’re going to do something do it right. Refer to the giants: Zeldman, Meyer, Snook, Cederholm, etc… strive for greatness.

Every business requires teamwork. It doesn’t matter what field you are in. Music, medical, law, military, web development, even marriage. Nothing is successful without the mutual backing of each other toward the end goal. Support comes from respect, not the requirement thereof based on a job title. Command it, don’t demand it. It starts with you!

There are 4 major factors of an individual that calculates how successful teamwork will be:

1. Respect
2. Personality
3. Commitment
4. Communication

When 1 person has these qualities, and you match them with others who do as well, you get solid team chemistry, team dynamics. This creates success.

It’s not about having a group and saying, ‘get this done’. You can’t force people to work together just because you say they have to. Remember when you were assigned group projects in school or college? Didn’t always go so well did it? You’d have a couple people not pulling their weight, another who let someone else do all the work just to pass.

It’s also not about assembling experts and throwing money at them to solve a problem.

Without chemistry and team dynamics, it just won’t work. What you’ll have on your hands is a revolving door environment, people coming in, quickly going out. New hires, quick fires, low morale.

Team dynamics is a team that can play off of each others strengths in order to support each others areas of weakness. What you have then is a tight unit where the rate of failure drops to nearly zero. Look at Google. Everyone there isn’t the best in everything, most of them are good programmers with very creative personalities and commitment to what they do. Even when Google started, Larry Page and Sergey Brin had such a solid foundation that their college project evolved into taking over the world. But Google is good, so thats okay! What I mean here is, think of all the designers who try to program, and all the programmers who try to design. On their own, they usually do great at one, poor at the other. But put them together and focus on each others strong areas (programming and design) and the end product is infinitely greater than what it was before. Each persons weakness is the others strength, together they form a successful unit. Team dynamics are a force multiplier!

Earlier I mentioned that it doesn’t matter what field you are in, that teamwork encompasses any area. So lets draw a parallel with another industry, music.

Off the top of your head, can you think of any bands that have been around a while? Lets see:

• Rolling Stones
• Rush
• Metallica
• AC/DC
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• The Smashing Pumpkins
• Guns ‘n Roses
• Pearl Jam
• Megadeth

These are some of my favorite bands who have accumulated massive success for the last 20 years, some even more than that. But there are two on the list that don’t have something in common with the rest.

While all bands have had at least 1 lineup change, only two have a revolving door type environment. Guns ‘n Roses and Megadeth have changed their lineups at least every 2 to 3 years since they started. In particular, Axl Rose and Dave Mustaine (both frontmen) keep a stranglehold on everything from writing, playing, mixing, and deciding pay percentages. They don’t really care for the input of the others, and in their mind, they are the star of the show.

So, what happened?

Both Axl and Dave did not respect their bandmates nor attempt to communicate with them on major issues or pending work. The result ended up being band members coming and going. Their poor, controlling, megalomaniacal attitudes brought dreams and careers to an end. Everyone knows that when Slash and Izzy Stradlin quit Guns ‘n Roses, the band was effectively dead. Why? The chemistry had dissolved, you didn’t have passionate, creative people working together anymore, you just had a bunch of guys playing instruments. That just doesn’t work. Sure, you can still see them in concert today, but the only original member is Axl, and its basically just a name and a memory. Same with Megadeth. The chemistry is gone. Imagine how many more albums they could have done if they each possessed the 4 qualities I mentioned at the start of this article!

It’s the same way with web development. You can put anyone on the keyboard and write code, put anyone in front of Photoshop, anyone can give orders. But its just not the same as having a strong team who has a desire to work together.

This is why Inclind is successful at any undertaking and every client is happy with us, why we’re the best web development company in Delaware, and one of the best in the region. We’ve accomplished everything we put our minds to, or asked to do, big projects to small projects to personal things like helping each other outside the office or just hanging out. We aren’t just a face and a title, we’re human beings here to help you and help each other. We don’t just take your money and run, we make it worth your while. Your satisfaction and success is shared by us.

Let us help you »

www.kevinquillen.com

I am waiting on a few more books to come in. I now have roughly 3 on order every 2 weeks. I should be getting in ‘No Country for Old Men’, and ‘Slash’ this week.

Everyday since ’99 the problem has grown. With purpose… With good intent… quietly…. With overwhelming energy. A phenomenon.

Then THWAAAP, it bitch slaps you.

Doesn’t that suck? The invisible enemy. Constantly moving through the tunnels beneath your feet. More aware. With growing ranks. Positive, smiling executioners. All prospering together.

It’s to the point where some can’t qualify. Eaten alive. The energy to much. Cowering in the corner. Talking to themselves. You know the type.

“Loud as a motorbike, but wouldn’t bust a grape in a fruit fight.”

Laugh. Be that person. Paranoia sucks.

Vague references. Fake façade. Bullshit. I don’t have time for it. I just took five minutes to try and…

I SUCK AT IT.

Repeat with me, “I’ve got 99 problems, being a bitch ain’t one“.

Now, that was entertaining. Click your heels Dorothy.

There are lots of retail software suites that can accomplish the basic protection you need for your computer. But lets take a look at some free offerings that you can find on the internet that can do just as good of a job and be used in conjunction with Norton type packages, adding an additional 60-80% more protection.

Firstly, lets start at the largest point of entry on your computer other than your inbox, the browser. Most people unwittingly use Internet Explorer, since it comes packaged in with Windows. Version 6 (XP) and to an extent, version 7 (XP/Vista) are very lacking when it comes to protection from spyware and adware on the internet. Those open to change should switch to Firefox, the best browser in town and second most installed browser on computers in the world (and that number is climbing by the day). Firefox is totally free and will let you install plugins made by users, and this is where the value lies.

From the plugins page, search or look for the following plugins:

AdBlock Plus – Ever been annoyed by all those ads and banners on the internet that often take longer to download than everything else on the page? Install Adblock Plus now and get rid of them.

With this plugin installed, right-click on a banner and choose “Adblock” from the context menu – the banner won’t be downloaded again. Maybe even replace parts of the banner address with star symbols to block similar banners as well. Or you select a filter subscription when Adblock Plus starts up the first time, then even this simple task will usually be unnecessary: the filter subscription will block most advertisements fully automatically.

NoScript – Winner of the “2006 PC World World Class Award”, this tool makes Firefox the safest browser around.

Winner of the “2006 PC World World Class Award”, this tool provides extra protection to your Firefox.

It allows JavaScript, Java and other executable content to run only from trusted domains of your choice, e.g. your home-banking web site, and guards the “trust boundaries” against cross-site scripting attacks (XSS).

Such a preemptive approach prevents exploitation of security vulnerabilities (known and even unknown!) with no loss of functionality.

KeyScrambler Personal – KeyScrambler Personal encrypts your keystrokes at the kernel driver level to protect your login information from keyloggers.

When you type on your keyboard, the keys travel along a path within the operating system before it arrives at your browser. Keyloggers plant themselves along this path and observe and record your keystrokes. The collected information is then sent to the criminals who will use it to steal from you.

KeyScrambler defeats keyloggers by encrypting your keystrokes at the keyboard driver level, deep within the operating system. When the encrypted keystrokes reach your browser, KeyScrambler then decrypts them so you see exactly the keys you’ve typed. Keyloggers can only record the encrypted keys, which are completely indecipherable.

Unlike anti-virus and anti-spyware programs that depend on recognition to remove keyloggers that they know about, KeyScrambler will protect you from both known and unknown keyloggers. What’s more, KeyScrambler provides protection without getting in your way. You don’t have anything to learn about the program and you don’t have to do anything differently, but with KeyScrambler your important personal information will be a whole lot safer.

Why are these important? AdBlock Plus will allow you to filter out advertisements of any type on the websites you visit. Some advertisements, like Google Ads and Google AdSense, are harmless and their intent is just that, an advertisement. However, there are more sinister companies out there that create advertisements that look like real advertisements, and when you click and follow it to the website, any number of things could happen. You could be installing spyware, adware, or just had personal information phished from you. Popular phishing methods try to mimic familiar advertisements or alerts. The most typical type of phishing alert is something that looks like a standard Windows dialogue box that states ‘Click Here To Protect Your Pc Now!’. The average user tends to click on this, since it looks so much like anything else Windows would tell you in a dialouge box. With combined efforts of AdBlock Plus and NoScript, you can effectively eliminate 80% of these malicious efforts to infect your computer. NoScript allows you to permit/block websites at the domain level to run scripts, like Javascript, which is another method used in order to get into your machine.

So far, you’ve invested $0.00 in protecting your computer. Not bad, huh?

Next, try to monitor your browsing habits and those that use the computer, such as family members or friends. If they tend to visit popular sites like MySpace, CollegeHumor and the like, its possible they could run into malicious ads or phishing attempts. MySpace in particular is a hotbed of activity for spam, spyware, adware, virii, and phishing with hundreds of accounts getting hijacked daily. One of the most frequent ways this starts is by using template generator sites for your layout, or clicking images or ads in another persons generated layout. Some providers of these have malicious intent when deploying, in order to gain access to MySpace accounts for even more phishing and scam campaigns. You should educate those in your household that have internet access to sites like these.

If you use services online like Amazon, PayPal, or eBay, a simple email over MySpace could give away your personal information in under a second. You can use the plugins above as methods of stopping these attempts.

Typically, you can tell that you are getting a fake/spam email on an online web service like MySpace or YouTube one of the following ways:

1. It is from someone you don’t know (this alone should throw up a mental flag).
2. It is from someone you know, but sounds very cryptic / message is all jibberish with links.
3. It is from someone you know, but it doesn’t sound like ‘them’. i.e. they beg you to click on a link, or urge you to try out a strange website.
4. The content is something like “I got $50 Off Instantly By Clicking Here!”, with an image, or link.

Your computer security, online privacy, and identity are very important and it is critical to keep them in check. I hope you take some of the advice listed here to heart, because identity theft / fraud is the fastest growing crime in the world. You can take steps to prevent it from happening to you.