tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24838799792618642542022-03-28T14:51:25.612-04:00Lingo TrekMarco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-4534626649939422822011-02-04T22:17:00.001-05:002011-02-04T22:21:04.581-05:00Mac App Store, A Pirate's Best Friend?Wolfire Games recently announced that their game app, Lugaru HD, has been pirated and sold by another company on the Mac App Store. What changes did the company make that fooled Apple? Apparently they changed the name from "Lugaru HD" to "Lugaru."<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />While Wolfire does make the source-code to the game available, they also explicitly state that they retain full commercial rights to the game. Three days after the complaint was made Apple has yet to respond to Wolfire Games and the counterfeit game is still listed as Lugaru. Most frustrating of all for Wolfire, the pirated game is selling at a lower price and ranked more highly on the store. <br /><br />The long delay in replying to the complaint, along with the fact that the app is still available does not speak well for Apple's commitment to fighting software piracy or protecting the intellectual property of software developers. You also have to wonder if the slow response would exist with a larger company, since Wolfire is relatively small and does not have the legal resources to fight the way a larger corporation would. <br /><br />It's sad to see a move designed to make game add-ons easier exploited this way. Wolfire was apparently thinking of it's users and fellow developers when they made the source code to the game open, presumably this is something they may wish to re-think for future games. <br /><br />For a company with a reputation of strict app rules, it's also sad to see Apple's slow response on this issue. Lest you think I'm an Apple basher I do in fact own quite a few Apple products, and am disappointed to see that Apple is acting like a software pirate's best friend and no friend of the underdog.<br /><br />Sources:<br /><a href="http://blog.wolfire.com/2011/02/Counterfeit-Lugaru-on-Apple-s-App-Store-developing">Counterfeit Lugaru on Apple's App Store</a><br /><a href="http://www.macworld.com/article/157652/2011/02/lugaru.html?lsrc=rss_news">Game clone raises questions about Mac App Store policing</a><br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-18170347648475692942011-01-14T18:18:00.000-05:002011-01-14T18:18:57.640-05:00How to Install MacPortsThe MacPorts project let's you bring <a href="http://www.lingotrek.com/2010/12/bringing-linux-to-mac-os-x.html">Linux to your Mac</a>. You could download the source code for your favorite Linux programs and compile them, but MacPorts brings the simplicity of installing to your Linux programs. Before installing MacPorts, or Fink, which we'll cover in a later article, you need to install the Apple <a href="http://www.lingotrek.com/2011/01/installing-xcode-developer-tools-for.html">Xcode Developer Tools</a>, see my <a href="http://www.lingotrek.com/2011/01/installing-xcode-developer-tools-for.html">previous</a> post for installation instructions.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Start by downloading the <a href="http://www.macports.org/install.php">DMG image</a> for the MacPorts version you need. Be sure to download the right one, because there is a different version for <a href="http://distfiles.macports.org/MacPorts/MacPorts-1.9.2-10.6-SnowLeopard.dmg">Snow Leopard</a>, <a href="http://distfiles.macports.org/MacPorts/MacPorts-1.9.2-10.5-Leopard.dmg">Leopard</a> and <a href="http://distfiles.macports.org/MacPorts/MacPorts-1.9.1-10.4-Tiger.dmg">Tiger</a>. Follow the prompts to install the MacPorts program on your computer. <br /><br />MacPorts can update itself and programs you install with a simple command. Let's start by opening a <b>Terminal</b> window, it's in the <b>Utilities</b> folder located inside the <b>Applications</b> folder. Double-click it to open a <b>Terminal</b> window that should be familiar to any Linux user.<br /><br />Start by updating MacPorts itself, this will update the program and the catalogue of available programs. Type <i>sudo port -v selfupdate</i> to update MacPorts. The MacPorts program is command-line only, but don't worry, the commands are simple, and the program takes care of any dependencies. <br /><br />Finding your favorite program is very easy. You can use the <a href="http://www.macports.org/ports.php">online search function at MacPorts</a>, or you can type <i>port search <b>programname</b></i>. For example, you can see if the <b>mutt</b> email client is available by typing <i>port search mutt</i>. This will return any programs with <b>mutt</b> in the name or description. <br /><br />Once you've got the name of the program you want to install, just type <i>sudo port install <b>program</b></i>. For example, to install the development version of mutt I'd type <i>sudo port install mutt-devel</i>. You don't have to worry about dependencies or required libraries, MacPorts will take care of that for you. <br /><br />You can update all your MacPorts installed applications by typing <i>sudo port upgrade outdated</i>. Be sure to use the <i>sudo port -v selfupdate</i> command first to update MacPorts before upgrading your applications. This way you'll get the latest version.<br /><br />If you do plan to compile programs yourself, either because it's not available in MacPorts, or for another reason, you can also use MacPorts to install dependencies for that program if they're available. Stay tuned, the my next post will cover installing Fink, a program similar to MacPorts.<br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-68226942264969696902011-01-13T20:29:00.001-05:002011-01-14T18:21:02.099-05:00Installing the Xcode Developer Tools for MacPorts and FinkApple's Xcode Developer Tools include a complete development environment. But even if you don't plan to develop Mac apps, you might still need to install the Xcode suite. For example, if you want to use <a href="http://www.lingotrek.com/2011/01/how-to-install-macports.html">MacPorts</a> or Fink to <a href="http://www.lingotrek.com/2010/12/bringing-linux-to-mac-os-x.html">bring open source Linux apps to your Mac</a>, you'll need the Xcode suite on your system.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Don't worry if you don't plan to compile anything yourself, the Xcode Developer Tools don't take up much space and won't significantly modify your Mac. You need the Xcode Developer Tools with either Fink or MacPorts because both programs essentially take the headaches out of compiling your own program, but they do still compile. <br /><br />Just insert your Mac OS X install DVD and click the shortcut to install the Xcode Developer Tools. This will open the setup program. Be sure to install the optional components for command line development. Be sure to restart your system after installing Xcode before you try using it, or before you install MacPorts or Fink.</span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-64383368470759726972010-12-07T11:36:00.001-05:002011-01-14T18:20:27.773-05:00Bringing Linux to Mac OS XMac OS X includes a lot of the programs and utilities you'd expect to find in your basic Linux or Unix system. But what about those open source programs you've come to depend on or prefer using from Linux? Sure you could compile them from source, and honestly sometimes that's the only way to do it. But, why compile it yourself when there's an automatic installation system available.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />There are two systems available to help you do this, <b><a href="http://www.lingotrek.com/2011/01/how-to-install-macports.html">MacPorts</a></b> and the <b>Fink</b> project. While they aren't technically incompatible it's a good idea to pick one system and stick with it so you don't forget which you used to install a particular program. What both of these programs do is compile and install the programs from source for you and help out with the dependency nightmare. <br /><br />Dependencies are other programs, normally libraries, required by a program before it can be installed. If you decide to compile from source yourself, then you'll need to worry about installing all the dependencies. Both MacPorts and Fink will automatically install dependencies for you. <br /><br />Upgrades are also simplified with this system. Instead of manually compiling and installing a new version, you can upgrade all your programs with a single MacPorts or Fink command. Set it up to run automatically so you can forget about upgrades.<br /><br />Finally, if you do need to compile something, for example because it's not available in your source system of choice, things are still easier. Instead of compiling dependencies by hand, you can use MacPorts or Fink to install the dependencies, then compile the program. In the next series of articles we'll cover how to download, install and use <a href="http://www.lingotrek.com/2011/01/how-to-install-macports.html">MacPorts</a> and Fink.<br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-16071306819179545622010-12-06T08:56:00.000-05:002010-12-06T08:56:56.108-05:00Integrating Emacs with the X11 Clipboard in LinuxThe last post covered integrating Emacs with your Mac OS X clipboard. Integrating Emacs with the X11 clipboard in Linux is a little more work, but not much. The programming has already been done thanks to an add-on in the form of an <i>.el</i> file. <br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Linux users will need to do a little installing and downloading. First you'll need to install a program called <b>xclip</b>. Like <b>pbcopy</b> and <b>pbpaste</b> it works as a go-between for the X11 clipboard and console based applications. If you're on a Debian/Ubuntu based distro, just type <i>sudo apt-get install xclip</i>. On Fedora/Red Hat type <i>su -c 'yum install xclip'</i>. Be sure to include the single quotes.<br /><br />Now we need to create a directory for your Emacs <i>.el</i> files. Emacs can be customized quite a bit, both by adding custom code to your <i>.emacs</i> file, and by using other add-ons that use the same programming language. These add-ons come in the form of <i>.el</i> files. First, let's make sure you don't already have an Emacs directory, type <i>cd</i> to switch to your home directory, then type <i>ls -a</i> and look for <i>.emacs.d</i>. If it's not there, then type <i>mkdir .emacs.d</i> to create it. Now download the <a href="http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs-en/download/xclip.el">xclip.el</a> file, it's a text file, so you can right-click it and click Save as, make sure to include the <i>.el</i> extension, or go to the page and check out the code first if you prefer. Now switch back to the command line, type <i>mv ~Downloads/xclip.el ~.emacs.d</i> and replace the first directory with the directory you saved the xclip.el file in.<br /><br />Finally we need to tell Emacs that the file is there. Type <i>emacs .emacs</i> to edit your configuration file. Add this line at the end of your file:<br /><i>(load-file "/home/username/.emacs.d/xclip.el")</i><br /><br />Save and exit Emacs. Next time you start up, you'll be able to copy and paste between Emacs and graphical X11 applications.<br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-202285827322440102010-12-04T17:50:00.000-05:002010-12-04T17:50:31.278-05:00Integrate Emacs with the Mac OS X ClipboardMac OS X includes a terminal version of Emacs. There are a few GUI versions if you're looking for an XEmacs equivalent, but that's another article. Integrating Emacs and your clipboard isn't too difficult, and once it's finished, you'll be able to copy and paste in to and out of Emacs.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />You're going to need to open a terminal to edit this file since it's hidden by default. In the ultimate irony let's use Emacs to edit it's own file. After opening the terminal window, type <i>cd</i> to make sure you're in your home directory. Then type <i>emacs .emacs</i>. Enter the code shown below, then save and exit Emacs. <br /><br />(defun mac-copy ()<br /> (shell-command-to-string "pbpaste"))<br /><br />(defun mac-paste (text &optional push)<br /> (let ((process-connection-type nil)) <br /> (let ((proc (start-process "pbcopy" "*Messages*" "pbcopy")))<br /> (process-send-string proc text)<br /> (process-send-eof proc))))<br /><br />(setq interprogram-cut-function 'mac-paste)<br />(setq interprogram-paste-function 'mac-copy)<br /><br />Next time your start Emacs you'll have copy and paste. The shortcut keys are still the same, so <b>C-k</b> will cut a line of text, then if you go to Firefox and press <b>CMD-v</b>, it will paste the text from Emacs. It works both ways with all applications. The secret is the <b>pbpaste</b> and <b>pbcopy</b> applications. These are Mac applications that interact with the terminal and clipboard, we're just adding this code in so that Emacs knows to use them to interact with the clipboard.</span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-46642226206212146762010-11-30T17:01:00.001-05:002010-12-04T17:51:55.066-05:00Enable Emacs Copy and PasteWhether you're looking for a new text editor, coming back to Emacs, or switching to Mac OS X and looking for something familiar, copy and pasting between Emacs and other applications can sometimes be problematic. In case you aren't aware Emacs is a command line cross-platform text editor. However, fans will quickly explain that it's quite a bit more than that since it can be extensively modified with a variety of add-ons.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />The basic Emacs might seem a bit bland to someone used to MS Word and other graphical word processors. But in reality it does have some advantages. For one thing, compared to MS Word, or virtually any other word processor, Emacs flies, even on old hardware. It can edit many different formats, anything from plain text files to HTML files, programming files, etc. <br /><br />The only barrier for new comers is a lack of playing nice with other applications when it comes to the clipboard. For instance, let's say you're browsing and want to save a link to your Emacs notebook, the default configuration will unfortunately not let you copy and paste from Firefox (or Safari, Chrome, etc.) to Emacs. Fortunately, there is a work around. On <a href="http://www.lingotrek.com/2010/12/integrate-emacs-with-mac-os-x-clipboard.html">Mac</a>, you just need to add some code to your <i>.emacs</i> file, which is the Emacs configuration file. On Linux, there's an add on, an <i>.el</i> file that provides support, along with a program called <b>xclip</b>. My next two posts will show you how to enable clipboard integration for Emacs on <a href="http://www.lingotrek.com/2010/12/integrate-emacs-with-mac-os-x-clipboard.html">Mac OS X</a> and Linux.</span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-82643569187470228572010-10-26T20:39:00.001-04:002010-10-26T21:23:17.100-04:00Barnes & Noble Nook Color, a Step Backward?Barnes & Noble has announced a new Nook Color. The previous Nook models have been examples of a new generation of e-reading devices. Let's take a quick look at the history before of e-readers before discussing why the Nook Color could be seen as a step backward.<br /><span class="fullpost"> <br />The previous generation of e-readers had LCD screens. This meant shorter battery life than the typical 1 week minimum of the Nook, Sony Reader and Amazon Kindle. It also meant more eyestrain, staring at a screen causes more strain than staring at a piece of paper. E-ink changed all that. The e-ink generation of reading devices promised and delivered the same reading experience as paper, plus extremely long battery life. The downsides of e-ink include a lack of color, and that like regular paper, since there isn't a backlight you need light to read. Benefits include reduced eye-strain since it's just like reading a traditional paperback, and no problems reading outside, since it's not an LCD screen. <br /><br />Now we have the Nook Color. Why do I say it's a step backward? The Nook Color doesn't use e-ink technology. It uses an IPS screen, like the iPad. This effectively removes the similarity to reading a book, adds the backlight, whether you want it or not, and reduces battery life to a paltry 8 hours. At the moment, the Nook Color looks like a device trying to be a tablet and an e-reader. It remains to be seen if it manages to fit both, or ends up falling short of either.<br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-237965150113309862010-10-12T12:13:00.000-04:002010-10-12T12:13:59.076-04:00Amazon Singles Brings Back Short StoriesToday Amazon announced a new Kindle store category. Kindle Singles are described as being <i>"twice the length of a New Yorker feature."</i> Kindle Singles will be between 10,000 and 30,000 words, and cost less than regular ebooks in the Kindle store.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />The price point and exact location in the store has yet to be announced. In a bold move Amazon categorized the announcement as a call to <i>"serious writers, thinkers, scientists, business leaders, historians, politicians,"</i> putting itself in the position of bypassing publishers for this new format. <br /><br />Kindle Singles show the advantage of ebooks. Traditional formats take into account printing, advertising and distribution costs, making shorter length works riskier. Kindle Singles can bring back old formats like short stories, and create new ones that weren't feasible in print.<br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-32411267380129356732010-10-05T21:36:00.000-04:002010-10-05T21:36:22.065-04:00Embed PowerPoint and Excel Spreadsheets Using Office Web AppsOffice Web Apps is Microsoft's answer to competitor products such as Google Docs. While not as full featured at the moment, Office Web Apps lets you work on Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations from anywhere. Microsoft recently released a feature that allows you to embed documents into a web page or blog. <span class="fullpost"><br /><br />The file must be shared to everyone and stored in a public folder. You can control the size of the frame used to embed the file on your site or blog. You can also customize the view in other ways. For instance by displaying a single sheet in a workbook. The embedded file can be display only, or you can allow visitors to interact with it, even type in it. You can even display a single chart from a spreadsheet, without displaying the rest of the sheet. <br /><br />For more details on the available options and specific procedures, check out the Office Web Apps help system.<br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-86688401743731449762010-10-04T18:42:00.002-04:002010-10-04T19:36:14.913-04:00Barnes & Noble Joines the Self-Publishing BandwagonToday Barnes & Noble announced the arrival PubIt!, their new ebook publishing platform. On the surface, this service is similar to Amazon's DTP, which allows authors to self-publish ebooks for the Kindle reading platform.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br /><b>The Basics</b><br /><br />Self-publishers can create content in Microsoft Word, both .doc and .docx files, HTML files and plain text. The PubIt! website has a list of supported features for each format. The MS Word support alone is an impressive list providing plenty of options. Once you have a book written and uploaded, there is an emulator that will show you how it would look on the Nook. Aside from supporting .docx and some extra MS Word formatting options, the process seems similar to Amazon's DTP service. <br /><br /><b>Royalties</b><br /><br />PubIt! has an interesting royalty policy. For books priced between $2.99 and $9.99, authors receive 65%, anything above or below and the royalty is 40%. This royalty policy is very competitive when matched up against Amazon DTP's standard 35% royalty program or the 70% program, which is calculated after delivery costs. It's also quite obviously an effort by Barnes and Noble to keep most of the ebooks offered for their Nook platform within a reasonable price range. It's a good bet that ebooks priced $2.99 and $9.99 sell better than their more expensive counterparts.<br /><br />The bottom line is that competition is good for everyone. Readers have an easier time finding the work of a particular author and more competitive prices. Authors have easy access to multiple outlets and significantly increased exposure for their work.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.PubIt.com/">PubIt!</a><br /><a href="https://dtp.amazon.com/mn/signin">Amazon DTP</a><br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-41443765998669508202009-09-28T12:37:00.002-04:002009-09-28T12:44:06.981-04:00Plain Clip and PureText: free text applications to remove formattingCopy and paste are such frequently used computer functions that most people rarely consider them, or wonder how they can make them better. Fortunately the authors of Plain Clip and PureText did think about these functions, and how they could improve them.<span class="fullpost">The function they perform is simple; they remove the formatting from any text on the clipboard. This might not sound very exciting, but these programs can be very useful to anyone that uses programs like MS Word, OpenOffice, Photoshop, InDesign, etc.<br /><br />Let’s start with an easy example of a student or researcher looking up information on the Internet and pasting it into a Word document. Those who have tried this know that unless a paste special function is used, the text pasted from the web will not match the text in the Word document. The font may be larger, different, smaller, another color or any number of other things. <br /><br />This can cause quite a bit of extra work to undo and is where these applications come in. Each works with a different operating system, Plain Clip for Mac and PureText for Windows.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stevemiller.net/puretext/">PureText</a> is easy to install, the zip file just has to be unzipped in the permanent location of the application. After double clicking it, a small icon will open in the Taskbar next to the clock. Right clicking that icon opens the settings window, in that window the program can be set to run every time the computer starts, and the shortcut key can be set. The shortcut key is used to paste text from the clipboard with the formatting removed, by default the key combination is Windows Key + V, but it can be changed as needed.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bluem.net/en/mac/plain-clip/">Plain Clip</a> performs a similar function on the Mac. To install, double click the dmg file downloaded from the authors website, and drag the Plain Clip application to the Applications folder. There are two ways to use Plain Clip. It can be placed directly on the Dock, and when the user wants to paste data without formatting, clicking the icon will remove the formatting from any text on the clipboard. The second option for those that use hotkey applications is setting a key combination to run it.<br /><br />Both of these applications are very simple and don’t include a lot of features, but they work well. Anyone that needs to copy and paste from multiple sources and maintain a consistent format will quickly come to depend on either program.<br /><br /><i>This content was originally published on</i> <a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-23507-NY-Computers-Examiner~y2009m9d13-Plain-Clip-and-PureText--free-text-applications-to-remove-formatting"><i>examiner</i></a>.<br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-42435519572142186412009-09-16T16:46:00.003-04:002010-08-28T17:02:16.203-04:00Business Benefits of Translating a Website by Marco VillarMost business with an Internet presence are interested in attracting a variety of clients, both local and international. While it’s certainly true that English is widely spoken, having a multilingual website can mean increased profit margins and brand recognition.<br /><span class="fullpost"> <br />Between the year 2000 and 2010 English content on the Internet increased by 281.2 %. That seems like an impressive figure until it's compared with an increase in content, during the same period, of 1,277.4 % in Chinese and 743.2 % in Spanish. Since quality content is available in a variety of languages it becomes imperative to have services and product descriptions available in a client’s native language.<br /><br />There is a definite appeal to clients when they see that time has been spent to take into account their needs. A translated website increases client confidence. When given the choice between two equal companies most people will choose the one that seems to be on the same page that they are. A website in their native language is more than just convenience. A properly translated website will take into account the culture of the reader, phrasing services and products in a way that makes sense.<br /><br />Consequently, it’s important that the site be translated correctly. If there are no native speakers with the necessary skill in-house, hiring a professional translator is a must. Machine translation can be useful to obtain a general idea of a document, but it is not yet up to par when it comes to marketing materials. A website is like a global company representative, the message it brings across can do just as much harm as good if the site is unclear or appears badly written.<br /><br />Translating a company website into another language will require an initial commitment in time and money. However the rewards of increased client confidence and new clients can be worth the effort.<br /><br /><br /><i>Source: "Internet World Stats": Top Ten Languages, 2010</i><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-3725782651054515"; /* Posts, bottom created 9/15/09 */ google_ad_slot = "8491727096"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; //--></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script> <br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-38494666419398308742009-09-05T10:19:00.002-04:002009-09-15T20:32:22.317-04:00Payment CollectionWhat happens if you’ve <a href="http://www.lingotrek.com/2009/08/steering-clear-of-deadbeat-clients.html">checked your client's background</a> and <a href="http://www.lingotrek.com/2009/08/payment-terms-and-purchase-orders.html">set payment terms</a>, but you still have trouble collecting after the project is over? Don’t despair, there are a few things you can do to collect your fee. <br /><span class="fullpost"> <br /><b>Reminder:</b> A simple step is to send the client a reminder. It’s surprising how many freelancers just sit waiting for a late payment. You worked hard for your client and delivered a service; don't be shy about reminding them that your payment is due. Make sure to be polite but firm when writing or calling a client to remind them of a pending payment, after all it’s important to behave in a professional manner.<br /><br /><b>Warning notice:</b> A client will often be more inclined to pay if they realize that you are going to take steps to collect your invoice. Before taking any additional measures, inform the client in writing that if your invoice remains unpaid you will be forced to take action to collect. Once again, there is no need to be impolite when informing them of this, even under these circumstances a professional attitude goes a long way. <br /><br /><b>Lists:</b> There are a variety of lists that you can add a non-paying agency or company to. Doing so makes it difficult for them to hire a freelancer in the future, which is why very often even telling them that you will add them to one or more of these lists will do the trick. The main lists are:<br /><br /><a href="http://translatorscafe.com/">http://translatorscafe.com/</a> (Hall of Fame and Shame)<br /><a href="http://proz.com">http://proz.com</a> (BlueBoard)<br /><a href="http://www.tcrlist.com/">http://www.tcrlist.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.paymentpractices.net">http://www.paymentpractices.net</a><br /><a href="http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/WPPF/">http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/WPPF/</a> (free yahoo group)<br /><a href="http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/translationagencypayment/">http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/translationagencypayment/</a> (free yahoo group)<br /><a href="http://www.bbb.org/us/Business-Search/">http://www.bbb.org/us/Business-Search/</a> (Better Business Bureau)<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-3725782651054515"; /* Posts, middle, created 9/15/09 */ google_ad_slot = "2014672739"; google_ad_width = 234; google_ad_height = 60; //--></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br /><br /><b>Legal action:</b> Legal action need not be expensive. For invoices less than $5000 (note: this amount varies by state), you can file a suit in small claims court. In most states there is a minimal fee of $15 to $25 to do so. You can also hire a lawyer to send the client a letter, in most cases the fee for this simple service is between $50 and $100.<br /><br /><b>Writers Union:</b> If you’re a writer or translator, you can join the writers union. There are many benefits of memberships; one of them is grievance assistance. During this process a union representative can assist you or negotiate on your behalf with the client. Quite often the initial letter from a large organization such as the Writers Union will be enough to get the client to pay you.<br /><br /><b>Collection agency:</b> One final option is a collection agency. In some cases it may be possible to obtain a discount on this service through various memberships, such as the ATA. If you decide to go that route there are two options. The agency can either charge you a fee, normally a sizable percentage of the debt, or they may be willing to buy the debt from you and attempt to collect it. If they opt for the latter, you’ll generally get very little on the dollar for your troubles, but it’s better than not getting any payment.<br /><br />It’s important to take steps to avoid situations where a client doesn’t pay you. Non-paying agencies or companies are a reality of working as a freelancer. It’s not a matter of if it will happen, but when. The important thing to remember is to remain professional and take steps to collect your fee. If after taking the steps described you are unable to collect payment, make sure as many freelancers as possible know that this company is not trustworthy by using the posting sites available. This will help your fellow freelancers as well as discourage future abuse of the varied services they provide.<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-3725782651054515"; /* Posts, bottom created 9/15/09 */ google_ad_slot = "8491727096"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; //--></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br /><br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-10877128896209779602009-08-31T01:34:00.002-04:002009-09-15T20:36:54.352-04:00Payment Terms and Purchase OrdersOnce you’ve checked a new client’s background and decided to work with them, it’s time to set payment terms.<span class="fullpost"> A client will always be willing to dictate these terms if you let them, but it’s important to have certain reasonable standards and keep control.<br /><br /><b>Protecting Yourself:</b> You can protect yourself with either a contract or a purchase order (PO) should the worst happen, and the client doesn’t pay you or tries to change the payment terms. Business clients will frequently offer one of these options before a project starts without you having to ask, which is generally a good sign. In the case of a contract, it’s important to read it very carefully before signing. If upon inspection you find something fishy, ask to have it changed, and if they refuse, move on. <br /><br />For instance, there are agencies that try to put a clause in their contract stating that payment will be issued when their client pays them. A clause stating something like that is completely unprofessional. Regardless of when the client pays them, you are providing a service to them, not their client; no reputable business waits for client payments to pay its employees or suppliers.<br /><br />A purchase order is an invoice that is given before the project starts. It includes the buyer and seller’s full information, payment terms, method, and delivery date. Unlike a simple e-mail or phone call, a PO explicitly and legally states that the client intends to purchase a product or service. <br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-3725782651054515"; /* Posts, middle, created 9/15/09 */ google_ad_slot = "2014672739"; google_ad_width = 234; google_ad_height = 60; //--></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br /><br />If you want to make it easy for clients to provide a purchase order, consider having a template document ready. It would include all your information, name, address, etc., payment terms, due date, and fees. All they have to do is fill in the template with their contact information, PO number, etc. and send it back.<br /><br /><b>Payment Terms:</b> Do you charge the client before, after or during the project? How many days after delivery does the client have to pay you? Standard payment terms in the U.S. are within 30 days, but when dealing with international clients it’s a good idea to do some research ahead of time. <br /><br />When to charge is entirely up to you, but if the project is very large or will take some time, keep in mind certain considerations. For instance, if the project will take up all of your time for four months, it’s hardly fair to expect you to wait until the end for payment. Whether payment would be monthly, or based on the percentage of the project completed is an issue to work out with your client.<br /><br />Paperwork isn’t pleasant, or always easy, but taking the time to do it correctly at the beginning of a project can save you from major headaches later.<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-3725782651054515"; /* Posts, bottom created 9/15/09 */ google_ad_slot = "8491727096"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; //--></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br /><br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-31591193211193285832009-08-29T23:22:00.003-04:002009-09-15T20:44:49.263-04:00Steering Clear of Deadbeat ClientsIn the current economy, translators, and freelancers in general, are frequently happy to get work from new clients and tend to over look initial paperwork. In some cases they’re afraid of “scaring” the client away, in others they simply don’t realize why it’s necessary. Keep in mind when a client contacts you for a new project taking certain steps before starting the project is a protective measure that ensures you’ll get paid.<br /><span class="fullpost"> <br />Remember, no one is doing you a favor; this is a service you are providing to a client. There’s no reason to be timid about asserting yourself or setting payment terms. Requesting a purchase order or contract will not scare away a legitimate business client. On the contrary, they will see that you're a professional and gain confidence accordingly. <br /><br />Before agreeing to a project with a new client, you should do a background check. There are lists available of companies that have a bad payment record, some are specifically for translators, and others aren’t. Some of these lists require some sort of payment, either membership to a translation site, or a yearly fee to see and add to the list. The fee is well worth it. You don't want to find out that your new client is unreliable after they owe you hundreds or thousands of dollars. <br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-3725782651054515"; /* Posts, middle, created 9/15/09 */ google_ad_slot = "2014672739"; google_ad_width = 234; google_ad_height = 60; //--></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br /><br />Company payment practice lists:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bbb.org/us/Business-Search/">http://www.bbb.org/us/Business-Search/</a><br /><a href="http://translatorscafe.com/">http://translatorscafe.com/</a> (Hall of Fame and Shame)<br /><a href="http://proz.com">http://proz.com</a> (BlueBoard)<br /><a href="http://www.tcrlist.com/">http://www.tcrlist.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.paymentpractices.net">http://www.paymentpractices.net</a><br /><a href="http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/WPPF/">http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/WPPF/</a> (yahoo group)<br /><a href="http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/translationagencypayment/">http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/translationagencypayment/</a> (yahoo group)<br /><br />Freelancers that aren't in the translation business can use this list as well. Chances are if these companies don't pay their translators they aren't going to pay their writers, editors, graphic artists, etc.<br /><br />Once you’ve checked one or more of the lists above and haven’t seen your new client there, it’s time to formalize payment terms. This is something that needs to be done before starting the project. How do you set up payment terms, contracts, PO (purchase orders) and other payment options? In the <a href="http://www.lingotrek.com/2009/08/payment-terms-and-purchase-orders.html">next post</a> we’ll discuss how to do that. How do you protect yourself to avoid non-paying clients? Share it in the comments section. <br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-79873389306743696572009-08-27T22:20:00.004-04:002009-09-15T20:45:40.039-04:00International Keyboard Layout for MacIn the previous post I discussed how to enter special characters in Windows. But what if you have a Mac? If you’re using a Mac, there are two options.<span class="fullpost"> The first is to use a series of shortcut keys to enter accents, each of them involves first pressing the Option key. A list of those shortcuts is provided below for your convenience. The second option is to use a special utility that will add an option for the US International keyboard layout to the Mac. This utility will make you Mac keyboard behave the same way the US International Keyboard pictured below does (for more details see <a href="http://www.lingotrek.com/2009/08/typing-special-characters-in-windows.html">this</a> post). This utility can be found here: <a href="http://www.brockerhoff.net/usi/">http://www.brockerhoff.net/usi/</a>. Installation is not difficult, follow the instructions on the author’s site to install it, and remember to log out and back in again before using your new keyboard layout.<br /><br />List of Mac Key Combinations<br />1. Acute accent: Option-e, for instance for á, you would press Option, then the letter e, followed by the letter a.<br />2. Cedilla (ç): Option-c.<br />3. Tilde(ñ or ã): Option-n, press the key combination, followed by the letter, for instance Option-n-a, will type the letter ã.<br />4. Circumflex (ê or î): Option-i.<br />5. Umlaut (ü or ö): Option-u.<br />6. Stroked o (ø): Option-o.<br />7. Inverted question mark (¿): Option-Shift-?.<br />8. Inverted exclamation point (¡): Option-1.<br /><br />Note: for capital letters add shift to the above combinations as needed.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mer4_IXlHto/Spc_h5uGvZI/AAAAAAAAABI/M69FMFskJQY/s1600-h/International+keyboard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mer4_IXlHto/Spc_h5uGvZI/AAAAAAAAABI/M69FMFskJQY/s400/International+keyboard.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Figure 1 - International Keyboard Layout</div><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-3725782651054515"; /* Posts, bottom created 9/15/09 */ google_ad_slot = "8491727096"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; //--></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-53904137170562951642009-08-27T03:17:00.003-04:002009-09-15T20:46:42.126-04:00Typing Special Characters in WindowsIf you’ve ever tried to type an accent, in Spanish or Portuguese for instance, using a standard US keyboard, you know it can be frustrating. One solution to this problem is to change the keyboard layout to match another country, like the Latin American or Spain layouts. This brings its own set of problems since the keys will no longer match what you see on your keyboard. <br /><span class="fullpost"><br />An alternative is to use a special layout called the US International keyboard layout, available on all versions of Windows; it will allow you to enter accents with a US keyboard layout. Generally, it can be found in the language and regional settings section of the control panel where you add a keyboard to your existing setup. It’s a good idea to remove the standard US keyboard and set US International as your default, otherwise they have a tendency of switching when you move from one program to another. To type an acute accent (é or í), you would enter a single quote (‘) followed by the letter e or i. The disadvantage to the US International keyboard is when entering an apostrophe or quotation (‘ or “), since these are used for entering accents, you would need to press the spacebar immediately after to get just the apostrophe or quotation. To give you a better idea of how it works, see the two keyboard layouts below, the first is your standard US layout, the second is the US International layout.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mer4_IXlHto/SpYyeiNUA1I/AAAAAAAAAAw/PcqmG-1PDtw/s1600-h/standard+keyboard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mer4_IXlHto/SpYyeiNUA1I/AAAAAAAAAAw/PcqmG-1PDtw/s400/standard+keyboard.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Figure 1. US Standard Keyboard Layout</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mer4_IXlHto/SpYyqIdWGQI/AAAAAAAAAA4/k59VxjXqPLM/s1600-h/International+keyboard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mer4_IXlHto/SpYyqIdWGQI/AAAAAAAAAA4/k59VxjXqPLM/s400/International+keyboard.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Figure 2. US International Keyboard Layout</div><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-3725782651054515"; /* Posts, bottom created 9/15/09 */ google_ad_slot = "8491727096"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; //--></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-25621214921680727062009-08-26T02:47:00.004-04:002009-09-15T20:53:17.456-04:00Time Machine for LinuxThe final entry in our series of backup articles will cover Linux. There are a variety of programs available for Linux in most categories, and backup programs are no exception. The tools to have a backup program like Time Machine on Linux have actually been available for quite some time. However some technical know how was required to use them. Fortunately there are several programs that put it all together in a simple interface. <br /><span class="fullpost"><br /><b>rsync:</b> If you’ll bear with me for a moment we’re going to discuss the basics behind these applications, if you prefer not to know feel free to skip this paragraph. The framework for a Time Machine like functionality has been built into Linux for some time and boils down to one program: rsync. <br /><br />It was originally designed to copy files across the network as efficiently as possible. It compares the differences between existing files in the source and destination directories and only transmits those compressed differences over the network. It can be used just as efficiently on one computer to backup from one drive to another. <br /><br />The programs I’m going to mention below are basically front ends that make it easier to use, however for the technically inclined there are quite a few articles out there on using rsync as your backup solution, like this one: <a href="http://www.mikerubel.org/computers/rsync_snapshots/">http://www.mikerubel.org/computers/rsync_snapshots/</a>.<br /><br /><b>The easy way:</b> There are now several easy to use applications that provide similar functionality to Time Machine. If you’re using any of the following Linux distros chances are you already have access to one or more of them: Ubuntu, Fedora/Redhat, Debian, or Mandriva. Your mileage may vary, however I found that the easiest to use was <a href="http://backintime.le-web.org/">Back In Time</a>. <br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-3725782651054515"; /* Posts, middle, created 9/15/09 */ google_ad_slot = "2014672739"; google_ad_width = 234; google_ad_height = 60; //--></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br /><br />It’s not difficult to setup, and integrates well with both Gnome and KDE. You can use it to backup both your regular user files, and it installs a shortcut so you can run it as root to backup the entire system. Finally, you can also schedule backups to run on a regular basis, ensuring that you’re covered at all times. <br /><br /><b>Alternatives:</b> Of course one of the nice things about Linux is the variety of programs. If you don’t like Back In Time, or want to try more than one program before deciding, there are two other well established alternatives, <a href="https://wiki.ubuntu.com/TimeVault">TimeVault</a> and <a href="http://code.google.com/p/flyback/">flyback</a>. Both are based on similar principles and allow you to schedule backups with specific settings. <br /><br />Linux is a very stable operating system, but that doesn’t make it immune to hardware failures. It’s just as important to backup your important files on Linux as it is on any other operating system. My advice is to research your options and pick the program you feel most comfortable with. Do you already have a Linux backup solution? Share it in the comments. <br /><br /> <!-- Begin BidVertiser code --><br /><SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript1.1" SRC="http://bdv.bidvertiser.com/BidVertiser.dbm?pid=37850&bid=637574" type="text/javascript"></SCRIPT><br /><noscript><a href="http://www.bidvertiser.com">pay per click advertising</a></noscript><br /><!-- End BidVertiser code --> <br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-78953783425670002302009-08-25T01:00:00.006-04:002009-09-15T21:00:31.249-04:00Backing Up Your MacSince Apple introduced Time Machine, backups have become quick and painless. Time Machine is a backup program built right into your Mac, assuming you have Leopard installed (10.5.x). There are other programs to backup your system and files that are also worth a look, whether you have Time Machine or are using an earlier system.<br /><span class="fullpost"> <br /><br /><b>Time Machine:</b> Let’s start with Time Machine. When you plug an external USB or Firewire drive into your Mac for the first time, Time Machine asks if you want to use it as your backup drive. I’d recommend devoting a drive or partition just to Time Machine. It will start by backing up your entire system, including programs, settings and documents. The beauty of Time Machine is that it backs up any modified files every hour and stores multiple versions of those files for you. <br /><br />What is the advantage of having multiple versions of a file? Well let’s say you’re working on a very large MS Word document, updating it on a daily basis, sometimes multiple times a day. Those familiar with MS Word know that some times large files can become corrupt, making it impossible to work on or open them. If Time Machine is running you can just restore a previous version of the file, and lose no more than one hour of work. There are dozens of other examples of how useful this feature can be.<br /><br /><b>Cloning:</b> There are other options you may want to consider even if you use Time Machine. The first is called <a href="http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html">Carbon Copy Cloner</a> (CCC). It can create scheduled backups, just like Time Machine, and can save multiple versions of a file for you. It’s one of the few programs that will even wake your Mac to backup. However it also has a feature missing from Time Machine, it can create a bootable clone. A clone is an exact copy of your entire hard drive.<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-3725782651054515"; /* Posts, middle, created 9/15/09 */ google_ad_slot = "2014672739"; google_ad_width = 234; google_ad_height = 60; //--></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br /><br /><b>Why you should clone:</b> Time Machine is excellent, but if your hard drive does crash, unless you have a spare drive or Mac handy, your work stops. Even with an extra hard drive it will take a minimum of three hours to install and restore your computer using Time Machine. However if you have a bootable external drive you can continue working right from your bootable drive, no down time. If your Mac’s hard drive doesn’t work, just plug the hard drive in while your Mac is off, then hold down the “option” key while it starts up.<br /><br />Be aware, if you have a PowerPC Mac you can only use a Firewire external, newer Intel Macs can boot from USB or Firewire. There are two other handy and frequently used programs that can also create a bootable clone. They are <a href="http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html">SuperDuper!</a> and <a href="http://www.econtechnologies.com/pages/cs/chrono_overview.html">ChronoSync</a>. Both programs can schedule backups, although SuperDuper! is a bit easier to use, and both can create a bootable clone of your hard drive. <br /><br />Whether you decide to use Time Machine alone, or in combination with a cloning program, I highly recommend scheduling regular backups. The initial investment in time and money can save you much more in the long run. Do you have another favorite backup program? Share it in the comments. <br /><br /><!-- Begin BidVertiser code --><br /><SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript1.1" SRC="http://bdv.bidvertiser.com/BidVertiser.dbm?pid=37850&bid=637574" type="text/javascript"></SCRIPT><br /><noscript><a href="http://www.bidvertiser.com">pay per click advertising</a></noscript><br /><!-- End BidVertiser code --> <br /><br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-46405567303209086422009-08-23T23:05:00.009-04:002009-09-15T21:18:02.699-04:00Time Machine for Windows?Time Machine is a utility Apple introduced for the Mac OS starting with 10.5. It backs up the entire system, programs, settings and documents, allowing you to restore your system if necessary. It also stores previous versions of a file for you, letting you return to a previous version if necessary, either because the file becomes corrupt or you changed your mind regarding the most recent revision. The good news is there are similar programs available for Windows. Some of them even have features not available in Time Machine. <br /><span class="fullpost"> <br /><br /><b>Save Modified Files:</b> <a href="http://www.mogware.com/filehamster/">FileHamster</a> does things a little differently than traditional backup programs, which are set up to run at specific intervals. After installation, you tell it what folder (or folders) to monitor and it will keep track of all the files it contains. <br /><br />When a file is modified or saved, it creates a backup version. This means that if you save your files regularly and something happens to them, or you want to revert to a previous version, you can lose significantly less time than even on a one-hour backup schedule. For more details on using FileHamster see <a href="http://office-software.suite101.com/article.cfm/version_control_made_simple">my article</a> on Suite101. <br /><br /><b>Remote backups:</b> Another option to add to your backup routine is <a href="http://thebackupmonkey.blogspot.com/">Bonkey</a>. It provides you with the ability to customize when and what files it backs up and the backup location. However, in addition to an external disk, you can also backup to Amazon S3, FTP, SFTP and Windows shares. <br /><br />Why would you want to backup to a remote location like S3 or an FTP server? Think about it, an external hard drive might save you from headaches if your drive fails, or you lose your laptop, but what if the worst happens? A fire, flood, or break in could be the end of all your data, files and records. It might not make sense to backup your entire system (including programs) to an Internet location, but you can backup your documents and important files.<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-3725782651054515"; /* Posts, middle, created 9/15/09 */ google_ad_slot = "2014672739"; google_ad_width = 234; google_ad_height = 60; //--></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br /><br /><b>Genie Timeline:</b> Another Time Machine alternative, <a href="http://www.genietimeline.com/">Genie Timeline</a> was just released. It aims to provide the same functionality for Windows, while adding additional features. For more details on the included features see my <a href="http://pc-tutorials.suite101.com/article.cfm/an_automatic_backup_solution">comprehensive review</a>.<br /><br /><b>Cloning:</b> Let’s say your hard drive does crash, or you have a technical side and want to upgrade the drive yourself. Reinstalling Windows isn't your only option. There are programs available that can be used to clone your drive or make an exact copy. <a href="http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/features.html">Drive Backup</a> has two options that make it very convenient to use. <br /><br />It allows you to continue to use your computer while the program clones your hard drive. This is an unusual feature since many cloning programs require you to restart and boot your computer using a special CD or DVD. It can also create a bootable CD, DVD or Flash drive, this way if you do need to restore from the clone, it’s easy to start up your computer. A more <a href="http://pc-tutorials.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_clone_a_windows_hard_drive">in-depth review</a> of Drive Backup is now available.<br /><br />Regardless of what you decide to use, it’s important to backup your mission critical files on a regular basis. There are plenty of backup alternatives available, both free and commercial. What backup solution works for you? Feel free to share it in the comments section.<br /><br /><!-- Begin BidVertiser code --><br /><SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript1.1" SRC="http://bdv.bidvertiser.com/BidVertiser.dbm?pid=37850&bid=637574" type="text/javascript"></SCRIPT><br /><noscript><a href="http://www.bidvertiser.com">pay per click advertising</a></noscript><br /><!-- End BidVertiser code --> <br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-11952656094901274722009-08-22T17:24:00.004-04:002009-08-26T02:48:51.960-04:00Painless BackupsWe’ve all had that friend, the one whose hard drive crashes unexpectedly, no backup. This of course makes you think, hey, I should start backing up my files. Some of us even start backing up right then and there, at least for a while. This normally consists of just dragging the files onto an external USB drive, or maybe burning a disc. The problem is that this requires thought; it requires that you remember to keep doing it. Let’s face it we’re only human, no one is going to keep backing up that way. Eventually the urgency fades; you forget about what happened to your friend, and become complacent about backups again.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br /><br />The solution is to use a backup program that will automate this for you. The “set it and forget it” mentality. It does require a little effort to setup, however after that generally little to no effort is required. Why should you use your hard earned cash to buy a backup program or a USB drive? The answer is pretty simple. Assuming you work on your computer, if your hard drive crashes it’s not just a matter of losing photos, music, or maybe some bookmarks. You’re losing time, money, and possibly clients depending on the timing. Imagine, your deadline on a three-week project is tomorrow; all the files are on your hard drive, no backup, and it crashes, taking three weeks of work with it. A little foresight, expense money and setup time can save you from this type of situation.<br /><br />There are backup programs available for all the major operating systems, Windows, Mac and Linux. I’ll be covering some of the options available for each in the next three posts. If you’ve heard of Apple’s new Time Machine backup program, you’ll be happy to know that there are similar programs available on both Windows and Linux. Some of these programs are freeware/donation ware, others have a free trial, either way I highly recommend choosing one to automate your backups on a regular basis.<br /><br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-55418970060874193572009-08-21T19:42:00.005-04:002009-08-30T17:11:28.582-04:00Should I Upgrade?With a new version of Windows and Mac OS coming out, a lot of people are wondering if they should upgrade, if you’re not in the IT industry and you use your computer for work, then the answer is no. Now before all the geeks and enthusiasts line up to shoot me, let me explain. <span class="fullpost">I think being an early adopter is great, on an entertainment or surfing computer, not on your main work computer.<br /><br />The reason why can be summed up in one word: bugs! It’s true that there are normally extensive beta tests on new software, be it a new operating system or the latest version of a productivity program such as MS Office, Adobe InDesign, etc. The problem is that beta testers only represent a small portion of the user base. Once the product is released to the general public, where each person may have a completely different setup or a different combination of programs, new bugs are bound to crop up. This is particularly true in the case of translators using software that is not commonly found on systems that are used for beta testing. On a side note, Linux users are not immune. Even with the “unstable” branch to test new software, the same reasoning applies, particularly for translators. There probably aren’t many “unstable” testers that use Heartsome, Swordfish, Wordfast Pro or OmegaT.<br /><br />What this boils down to is, upon releasing a new program or operating system version; bugs are going to be found. The question you have to ask yourself is, do you want to be the one to find a bug one hour before your deadline? That is why I recommend waiting until the first bug fixes are released before even thinking about upgrading a working system (think service pack one for Windows, 10.x.1 for Mac). If you want to tinker or check out new features, I suggest using a different machine, one your livelihood doesn’t depend on.<br /><!-- Begin BidVertiser code --><br /><script LANGUAGE="JavaScript1.1" SRC="http://bdv.bidvertiser.com/BidVertiser.dbm?pid=37850&bid=637574" type="text/javascript"></SCRIPT><br /><noscript><a href="http://www.bidvertiser.com">pay per click advertising</a></noscript><br /><!-- End BidVertiser code --> <br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2483879979261864254.post-33274639712704138222009-08-21T16:20:00.004-04:002010-10-04T18:01:29.305-04:00Welcome to Lingo TrekI'm a technical writer and translator, specializing in IT translations. After receiving degrees in English and Spanish I studied computer science and the IT sector in general, achieving among other certifications an MCSE, CCNA and RHCE. <br /><br />My experience includes authoring courses, help systems and technical white papers. I don't prefer any particular system, and have equal knowledge of Linux, Windows and Mac computing. I plan to cover topics of interest to translators, IT professionals and anyone that might want to keep up with the IT field. <br /><br />For a more detailed bio check out my profile on <a href="http://marcojv.translatorscafe.com">Translators Cafe</a>. If you'd like to contact me regarding a project, you can e-mail me directly at <a href="marcojv@lingotrek.com">marco@lingotrek.com</a>.<br /><br /><span class="fullpost"> <br /></span>Marco J Villarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332016759126150610noreply@blogger.com0