Kim Komando Show Tip of the Day - Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008

To make sure you continue to receive my e-mails in your Inbox (so they're not sent to a junk folder), please add kimstipreply@lyris.komando.com to your address book or safe sender list.

Kim's Club

Shop

Listen

Columns

Cool Sites

Tips

Buying Guide

Video of the Day

Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008 Your e-mail address will never be sold to anyone, ever. I promise!		Support this free newsletter—please visit our advertisers PAID ADVERTISEMENT IT'S AS SECURE AS ONLINE BANKING. "Brought to you by Citrix, GoToMyPC is the easiest, most secure and reliable way to access your PC from anywhere." —Kim Komando   • AES 128-bit encryption   • Dual and one-time passwords   • Firewall friendly Try GoToMyPC FREE for 45 Days! KOMANDO ESTORE FEATURED ITEM A ROLL-UP, INTERACTIVE USB CHESS BOARD! • Record, save & replay games • Portable with USB interface • Can play against the computer ORDER YOURS NOW! Storing your data long-term Is it necessary to always keep external hard drives powered on? Is there any time limit that they can be off? I store movies on my external hard drives. I don't want to lose any of my data. —Bob in Lake Charles, LA, listening on KAOK 1400 AM External hard drives are an easy way to store data. They're also perfect for making backups. But, as with any storage medium, longevity is a concern. The answer to your first question is no. You don't need to keep an external hard drive plugged in. The data remains on the drive even when powered off. I like to store my external hard drives out of the way. I don't like them cluttering my desk space. I just pull them out when I need them. So, don't be afraid to unplug them. Your second question speaks to longevity. No storage medium lasts forever. It will degrade overtime. And you will lose data. You can't just save and forget it. A hard drive's lifespan varies by how much it's used. A regularly used hard drive can last three or more years. Stored on a shelf, it could last 20 years. But that is under ideal conditions. Environment, handling and other factors will affect longevity. Hard drives last longer than most other media. CDs and DVDs tend to go bad after a few years. They're not meant for long-term storage. Thumb drives can retain data for around 10 years. But again, that's under ideal conditions. Storing your data It sounds like you plan to store your movies for a long time. I wouldn't rely on those estimated lifespans. Just when you think your data is safe, it isn't. A lot can go wrong with any storage solution. When it comes to storage, diversification is key. For long-term storage, you'll want to save data in multiple places. This will help protect against accidents. You probably don't have four or five external hard drives lying around. That many hard drives would also be expensive. So, you'll need to look at other media as well. Pick out your favorites I would start with triage. Dump your movie collection onto the external hard drives you have. And then go through them and pick the most important ones. Save those to a thumb drive or DVD. Also, think about keeping a backup outside of your home. No one ever anticipates a fire or flood. But those things happen. If all your backups are in the house, you could lose everything. You can decide where to store this offsite backup. A safe-deposit box is a good choice. But an easier solution would be online backups. And you can back up video to these services. Try services like Carbonite (one of my advertisers), SOS Online Backup and iDrive. More tips on storage: • The best long-term storage for a video will • What you need to know about network-attached storage • Storing photos in an extreme environment Tough times? I have help The economy is sliding, and taking some of my listeners with it. A lot of people are interested in making money on the Internet. They want to save money, too. I've got a bunch of ideas on my new Money Center. For instance, I have links to many free programs. Whatever you need to do, you should find a free program. I've got free coupons, and lots of other free stuff. Want some extra cash? I have many links to legitimate opportunities. Unlike the offers in spam, these have been vetted. They're Kim safe! Every day, Team Komando produces some of the best content you'll find anywhere on the Internet. Here is a sampling of what's new on our site today! • Today Only: Everyone loves a good video game! Well how about three? Enter today to win the THQ's Wii Video Game Trio. This game set ($150 value) makes a great gift for anyone with a Wii! Enter to win it today in the Giveaway of the Day Sweepstakes. • Video of the Day: Eating healthy is important. But everyone has their guilty pleasures. That said, this greasy snack might just be too much. • Cool Site of the Day: There's nothing like a game at the end of a hard day. OK, a glass of something wet is nice. Nonetheless, check this site. • Digital Minute, on your radio: MP3 players will top many gift lists this year. Find out about some great players that won't bankrupt you! • Free Download of the Day: Desktops are easy to clutter with files, folders and shortcuts. Magic Folder will help you get and stay organized. • Tip on the site: Should you unsubscribe to spam? Yes, if the sender is legitimate. Otherwise, you might be telling them your address works. Tomorrow's Tip, in your e-mail: Cellular broadband without a contract. Kim :) iCrime is on the rise! iPods are one of the top 5 most stolen gadgets! Did you know that 25% of all thefts occur from vehicles? How do you protect your iPod? Protect your iPod from being stolen! The Antii-Theft iPod Lock is a portable locking security case that prevents theft! CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR ANTI-THEFT IPOD LOCK! Other Items of Interest Compact Snap-Around Tripod Digital Camera Travel Tote

Reprint Permission | Advertise | Advertiser Comments | Subscribe to our Newsletter | Newsletter FAQs

Copyright © 2008, The Kim Komando Show. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of The Kim Komando Show is prohibited and strictly enforced. Newsletters may contain links to sites on the Internet owned and operated by third parties. The Kim Komando Show is not responsible for the availability of, or the content located on or through, any such third-party site. Information in this document is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and freedom from infringement. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document. We will not be liable for any damages of any kind arising from the use of this information, including, but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, and consequential damages. If you must, unsubscribe details are below. :/ To unsubscribe, use my online form. You may also unsubscribe by sending a request via postal mail. Please include your name, e-mail address and a printed copy of your Newsletter e-mail. Send to: Unsubscribe Kim's Newsletter 2711 N. 24th St. Phoenix, AZ 85008