Recommended Reading

Dispelling myths about data disposal

Source: CIO.com

Contrary to popular opinion, data storage is not cheap, according to two experts interviewed by CIO magazine.

Sure, the cost per gigabyte is attractive, making it seem like a no-brainer to upgrade to larger storage systems. But organizations also must factor in the costs of data management and the potential costs of e-discovery should a court require access to specific data. The more data on hand, the more an organization pays in indirect costs.

On a related note, the experts reject the idea that rules and regulations make it sensible to keep everything and that it’s not possible to tell the relevant data from the garbage.

A new tack on security: smarter users
Source: InfoWorld

InfoWorld blogger Robert X. Cringely proposes a new way to improve security at organizations everywhere: Require the tech equivalent of a driving test.

He notes that many of the most common security threats, such as malware and cyber scams, hinge on users who don’t know enough not to click on a suspicious link. A mandatory test could solve that problem.

According to Cringely’s readers, here are some topics to cover: e-mail 101, how to get to the command line, how to browse a hard drive via Explorer or the command line, how to handle error messages and when to call for help, and how to add and remove programs.

Must-haves for digital nomads
Source: Computerworld

Computerworld highlights a handful of gadgets tailor-made for people who work outside the traditional office environment.

Consider, for example, the LaCie Core4, a matchbox-sized device with three USB ports. At $10, it is an inexpensive way to supplement portable computers that are short on ports.

Meanwhile, the PlanOn PrintStik ps900 is a printer made for carrying. It is slightly smaller than a hoagie and weighs only a couple of pounds. It costs $200, or $300 for the Bluetooth-enabled version.

What would Emily Post do?
Source: Mercury News

Is a digital greeting card a satisfactory replacement for snail mail when it comes to acknowledging a friend’s birthday? Or is a wall-to-wall Facebook comment an acceptable or even preferable option?

Columnist Larry Magid ponders those and other etiquette puzzlers that arise in the social-networking world. It sounds quixotic, but Magid argues that such guidelines are needed to help us all avoid making social faux pas that could take a toll on our relationships or even our reputations.

“A lot has changed since 1922 when Emily Post wrote ‘Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home,’ but some things never change,” he wrote. “Politeness, kindness, respect and discretion will never become obsolete.”